PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Education and civil-society professional with over two decades of experience working with children, young people and families across school, community and national NGO settings. Since 2021, he has worked at the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (ZPMS), supporting and coordinating national programmes and strengthening the network of local member associations. Previously, he spent more than a decade at ZPM Krško, where he developed youth programmes and coordinated regional delivery of participation and education initiatives such as the Children’s Parliament and Europe in School. He is also a long-standing volunteer and group leader within the TOM telephone counselling programme for children and adolescents and has served in governance roles at national and European level, including as Vice-President of ZPMS and as a Board member of Eurochild (2019–2025).
 

CORE EXPERTISE
- Child and youth participation; civic and democratic education
- Programme design, delivery and evaluation (multi-stakeholder, school–community–NGO)
- Network coordination and capacity-building of local associations
- Volunteer management and safeguarding-minded practice in youth settings
- Fundraising and membership development (board-level experience)
- Facilitation, training and mentoring (youth and adult learners)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (ZPMS), Slovenia | Professional Associate / Programme & Network Development
   2021–present
   Supports the delivery and development of national programmes for children and adolescents.
   Coordinates and strengthens collaboration within the nationwide network of local member associations.
   Provides implementation support to local organisations, schools and partners involved in ZPMS programmes.
- Association of Friends of Youth Krško (ZPM Krško), Slovenia | Professional Associate (programmes for children and youth)
   2010–2021
   Designed and delivered regional programmes for children and young people in cooperation with schools and institutions in the Posavje region.
   Coordinated regional implementation of the Children’s Parliament and Europe in School programmes.
   Linked local associations, schools and stakeholders to expand reach and participation.
- People’s University Krško (Ljudska univerza Krško), Slovenia | Adult Education Trainer & Mentor
   2002–present
   Delivers adult education and mentors participants from vulnerable groups, including Roma learners.
- Public schools (Krško, Sevnica, Blanca), Slovenia | Teacher of Geography and Social Sciences (early career)
   2001-2012
   Taught a range of social-science subjects and supported students through exam preparation, fieldwork and knowledge competitions.

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
- Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (ZPMS) — Vice-President (2014–present)
- Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth (ZPMS) — Board Member (2012–present)
- ZPM Krško — President (2023–present)
- ZPM Krško — Board Member (2006-present)
- Eurochild — Board Member (2019–2025)
- Eurochild — Chair/Lead, Fundraising Subcommittee; Lead, Membership Subcommittee (during board term)
- Eurochild — External Member, Child Participation Subcommittee (present)

VOLUNTEERING & YOUTH SUPPORT
- Annual organiser and pedagogical leader of children’s holiday and health-resort programmes (28 years; approx. 1998-present), working directly with youth volunteers and with children and young people participating in the programmes.
- Long-term counsellor in the TOM telephone counselling programme for children and adolescents; group leader in Krško.
- Mentored student research projects and supported geography knowledge competitions with national-level results.

EDUCATION
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts (Slovenia) — Studies in Geography and Sociology (coursework completed; finalisation pending)
- Gimnazija Brežice — General upper-secondary education (Matura)

COMMUNITY & CULTURE
- President, Federation of Cultural Associations of Krško (Zveza kulturnih društev Krško).
- Recipient of awards for long-term cultural engagement, including the Silver Prešeren Plaque and Linhart/Gallus distinctions (amateur culture).