Introducing Mr. Ivan Barbalić, the Newly Appointed Director General of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Public Employment Service
We are pleased to announce Mr. Ivan Barbalić as the freshly appointed Director General of the Public Employment Service of Bosnia Herzegovina, taking office since February 2024..
Mr. Barbalić brings with him a wealth of experience, having previously served as the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Russian Federation from 2012 to 2015 and as the Permanent Representative of BiH to the United Nations from 2008 to 2012. Notably, he held the prestigious position of President of the United Nations Security Council in January 2011. Additionally, from January 2019 to April 2020, he served as the Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton.
Educationally, Mr. Barbalić holds a degree from the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, and obtained his MA degree from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Studies of the University of Sarajevo and The University of Bologna. In 2021, he completed the Mid-Career Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was honored with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bridgeport, USA, in 2012.
His contributions extend beyond diplomatic and governmental realms. He co-founded the Sarajevo-based think tank organization ACIPS, serving as its President from 2003 to 2008, and has been the Honorary President of the European Movement BiH since 2009. Mr. Barbalić also played a pivotal role on the BiH Negotiation Team for the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union from 2005 to 2007, following his earlier work at the Directorate for European Integration from 2000 to 2001.
From 2016 to 2018, Mr. Barbalić served as the President of the Foundation for Democracy and Development, Sarajevo. Born in 1975, he is married with one child.
The WAPES community warmly welcomes Mr. Barbalić to his new role, anticipating his valuable contributions to the advancement of the Public Employment Service in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On the picture – Anka Rode, Head of Labour Migration, Slovenian PES (ESS), Miho Sepec, Slovenian PES (ESS) in charge for foreign workers, Boris Pers, President of Independent Trade Union of Slovenia, Mr. Ivan Barbalić, General Director of Public Employment Service Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mr. Samir Zuko, Assistant Director for international relations and the local labour market at Public Employment Service of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mr. Sinisa Veselinovic, Head of Department of Domestic Labour Market at Public Employment Service of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nicole Clobes, Consultant at WAPES