President of Croatia, Her Excellency Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic visits Bio21

17 August 2017

This morning, Bio21 hosted the visit of the President of Croatia, Her Excellency Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and her entourage.

The President was accompanied among others by His Excellency Mr Damir Kusen Ambassador, Ms Anamarija Kirinić Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Ms Natalija Hmelina Chief of Cabinet of the President, Office of the President and Ms Zdravka Bušić State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Prof. Margaret Sheil Provost (Acting Vice-Chancellor), The University of Melbourne; Prof. Michael Parker, Director, Bio21 Institute; Prof. Karen Day, Dean, Faculty of Science; Prof. Iven Mareels, Dean, Melbourne School of Engineering; Prof. Ivan Marusic, Deputy Dean (Research); Prof. Frances Separovic, Deputy Director, Bio21, Faculty of Science; Assoc. Prof. Uta Wille, Group Leader, Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science and members of the Bio21 research community were there to welcome the President. 
 
During the President's visit an MOU was signed between the University of Melbourne and the University of Zagreb to facilitate research collaboration and PhD pathways. As one example, the MOU will aim to increase student recruitment between both institutions with a focus on engineering and science doctoral students.
 
During the Bio21 visit the President and selected delegates from her entourage visited the Magnetic Resonance and Advanced Microscopy platforms.
 
Her visit to Australia follows a visit to Zagreb in Croatia by Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (in July 2017) undertaken to strengthen bilateral relations with Croatia. During her visit the President has primarily engaged with the Croatian Community in Australia and has also visited Canberra (State Parliament, Government House, Canberra Space Centre, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve); Sydney (Macquarie University) Shrine; Melbourne (The Shrine, The University of Melbourne Bio21 Institute). 

Through her visit the President hopes to raise the profile of STEM both in Croatia and in the local Croatian community. Connections to Croatia already exist through our very own Deputy Director, Frances Separovic and other members of the Bio21 community.

We are very honoured to have hosted the President Her Excellency Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. To learn more about Her Excellency, you can read her biography here

News of the President's visit to Australia can be see here.