Adriatic Institute For Public Policy: The Senior Leadership

Natasha Srdoc received her MBA with distinctive honor from McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley University, Waltham, Greater Boston, Massachusetts. Srdoc's early business and work experience includes Deutsche Bank AG in Koln, Germany, Consultant to establishing the first investment fund in Slovenia, General Manager at Texpartner, Croatia outsourcing partner to United Colors of Benetton. Srdoc gained international banking experience as Accounts Manager for International and Major Businesses at Corporate Credit Department for HVB Bank Group, Zagreb, Croatia.

In 2003, Srdoc led the efforts to launch

Croatia

's first independent free market think and advance free market initiatives in

Croatia

and Southeast Europe. A group of advisors and leaders from business, media and think tanks were recruited to launch the Adriatic Institute and the International Leaders Summit. Through the efforts of Adriatic Institute, Srdoc launched The Adriatic Business Council that consists of entrepreneurs and private companies focused on advancing market reforms based on the rule of law. Srdoc also recruited the region’s leading diaspora in the

United States

to engage in the region’s reform initiatives.

Through her leadership, Adriatic Institute for Public Policy was listed in the Global Survey of Think Tanks - a study of the University of Pennsylvania as Southeastern Europe’s top think tank, Eastern Europe's top 30 and one of the most influential think tanks in the world out of a group consisting of 6,300 think tanks in nearly 169 countries.

Srdoc is the co-founder and co-chair of the International Leaders Summit - a unique platform bringing together successful reformers, free market proponents, entrepreneurs and joined by business, media and political leaders to advance pro-growth reform initiatives and principled solutions. Through Srdoc and Anand Samy's vision, the International Leaders Summit (ILS), a transatlantic initiative which focuses on building synergy in advancing pro-growth policies and strengthening security has held six annual events in venues including the European Parliament in Brussels,

Belgium

, Ljubljana,

Slovenia

(co-hosted by Prime Minister Janez Jansa of

Slovenia

) and Zagreb,

Croatia

. Strategic ILS economic roundtable events have been held in Belgrade, Prague, Rijeka, Warsaw, Washington, DC and Zagreb.

Srdoc is a regular contributor to The Economist Group's Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Her monthly reports published by The Economist Intelligence Unit cover

Croatia

’s annual report, economic and political overview and monthly contributions on the state of

Croatia

’s economy. The monthly reports are included in EIU’s research products for investors, business, media and government leaders.

Srdoc has been speaking and presenting the urgency for a strengthened rule of law, protection of property rights and free market initiatives in

Croatia

and southeast Europe. She has spoken at events and conferences in Europe and the

United States

hosted by Atlas Economic Research Foundation, CRCE, The Heritage Foundation, Institute of Economic Affairs, International Policy Network, Open Europe, The Reason Foundation and other free market organizations. Srdoc participated in a debate event co-hosted by Roger Helmer, MEP,

at The European Parliament in Brussels in October 2006 that focused on

Croatia

's judiciary and the state of

Croatia

's economy. Srdoc's interviews, articles and commentaries have been published in Europe and the United States through The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Le Temps, Business HR, Finance, Globus, Jutarnji list, Nacional, Novi list and broadcast media - BBC, HTV, RTL -TV, NOVA TV and C-SPAN and regional media.

Srdoc has briefed elected officials in Europe and the

including US Senators, US Members of Congress, Members of Parliament,

and Members of the European Parliament on issues ranging from the Balkans, economic reforms and strategies to combat corruption in eastern Europe. Srdoc has also participated in strategic meetings and briefed prime ministers within Europe and senior administration officials in The White House, Washington, DC on southeast Europe.

Srdoc co-authored a book with Joel Anand Samy for

Croatia

and southeast Europe titled "Flat Tax - The Case for Tax Reform". Srdoc’s efforts in advancing the flat tax resulted in eastern Europe’s policymakers and reformers using Srdoc’s Flat Tax book when applying the specific tax reform. Srdoc’s articles on the flat tax and tax reform have been translated into the languages of Arabic, Chinese, French and Russian and the languages of the Balkan region.

Natasha Srdoc serves on the advisory board of Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and is a contributor to the Swiss-based daily business newspaper, Le Temps.

Srdoc speaks in the following languages of Croatian, English, German and Italian.

Joel Anand Samy is the co-founder and co-chairman of the International Leaders Summit - a unique platform bringing together successful reformers, free market proponents, entrepreneurs and joined by business, media and political leaders to advance pro-growth reform initiatives and principled solutions. Through Anand Samy’s vision, the International Leaders Summit (ILS) which focuses on building synergy among like minded leaders and effecting positive change has held five annual events in venues including the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, Ljubljana, Slovenia (co-hosted by Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia) and Zagreb, Croatia and strategic ILS economic roundtable events in Belgrade, Prague and Warsaw.

In 2004, Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy co-founded the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy committed to advancing economic freedom in the Balkan region. Through Anand Samy and Srdoc’s leadership, the Adriatic Institute for Public Policy has engaged in a robust endeavor to promote the foundation of the rule of law, judicial reforms, protection of property rights and combating corruption and organized crime in the post-communist and post-war Balkan region. The Adriatic Institute for Public Policy was listed in the January 2009 issue of Foreign Policy’s 2008 Global Survey of Think Tanks - a studyof the University of Pennsylvaniaas Southeastern Europe’s top think tank, Eastern Europe's top 25 and one of the 407 most influential think tanks in the world out of a group consisting of 5,500 think tanks in nearly 170 countries.

Anand Samy spearheaded a private initiative that supported emergency relief and economic projects as well as strategic reconciliation endeavors in conflict regions including Asia, Africa and the Balkan region. His fact-finding mission to Kosovo in September of 1998 regarding the plight of ethnic Kosovar Albanians in the former Yugoslavia was highlighted in US media and led to meetings in Washington, DC with US Senators and members of Congress. Anand Samy supported Lady Thatcher's leadership role in advocating for the independence of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia and the suitable case for intervention in the Balkans. In 1996, he initiated two documentaries in partnership with an ABC affiliate in Michigan and developed a special week-long news feature on Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia's Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

After the Dayton Peace Accords were signed in 1995, Anand Samy's vision led World Development and Empowerment to augment a major endeavor in the former Yugoslavia specifically in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina including rebuilding an orphanage in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and promoting economic reforms in the post-war region.

During the 1990's, Joel Anand Samy was involved in the State of Michigan's welfare reform initiatives working with reform proponents and the office of Michigan Governor John Engler that later became a national model for the United States. He advised members of the US Senate and House of Representatives in preparing the Welfare Reform Bill that was signed into law in 1996.

Anand Samy initiated and developed the "One More Mission" Project to Vietnam (1992-1993) in partnership with Zondervan/Harper Collins Publishers and International Aid. The One More Mission publishing and video project highlighted former Vietnam Veteran's return to Vietnam. One More Mission was co-authored by Dr. David Roth, former public affairs officer to General Colin Powell.

As Vice President of Jonathan and David, Anand Samy also served as Treasurer/Trustee of The Jonathan and David Foundation, a private foundation. His efforts at the Jonathan and David Foundation led to implementing new educational, medical assistance and micro-financing projects in South Asia. Anand Samy also led the marketing communications and advertising activities as senior executive at Zondervan - HarperCollins Publishers, a division of News Corporation.

In the business arena Anand Samy served as President of an internet based travel/tour company, senior marketing executive to Harley Wagner Marketing Communications, and vice president of marketing of the start-up Tickets Plus, Inc.

Anand Samy has been featured on CNN and the affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. His interviews and commentaries have appeared in the Detroit Free Press, The Economist, The European Voice, The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times and USA Today and regional media in Eastern Europe including The Balkan Insight, Business HR, Finance - Slovenia, Nacional, B92 Radio, HRT-TV, Nova TV and RTL-Croatia and media groups in Poland, Serbia and Slovakia.

In 2005 Anand Samy and Natasha Srdoc co-authored "The Flat Tax - The Case for Tax Reform". Anand Samy speaks to audiences in Europe and the United States on the significance of advancing economic freedom, strengthening security and expanding trade.

"The Adriatic Institute for Public Policy and its partners that are dedicated to strengthening the rule of law and advancing economic freedom, welcome Monica Macovei's strong pledge in supporting vital reforms in the post communist and post-war Balkan region," said, Natasha Srdoc, co-founder and president of the Adriatic Institute. "Macovei's experiences and her brave work in confronting the Balkan challenges will certainly benefit principled reform leaders in addressing the EU's enlargement policy, reviewing new accession countries and augmenting a strict verification process that calls for real reforms in candidate nations. Over the past four years, the Adriatic Institute and its partners have witnessed the positive results of increased external pressures applied to Croatia through engaged and principled leaders."

Macovei was hailed by prominent media, think tank and political leaders in Europe as post-communist Eastern Europe's most effective justice reformer. Macovei's principled leadership, dedicated work and perseverance led to the indictment of Romania's former Prime Minister and senior politicians. In November 2008, Macovei was presented the" Woman of Europe 2008 Award" for her dedication to fighting corruption in Romania and the region. The annual award was set-up by the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Macovei completed her Master of Laws from the University of the State of New York and Central European University and graduated from the Bucharest University, Law School, JD, magna cum laude in July 1982. In 1997, Macovei was a fellow in the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship, USA. She took further courses at the University of Birmingham, Faculty of Law and Abo University in Finland.

Her notable experiences and distinguished early career includes holding the office Public Prosecutor in Romania, Lecturer at University of Bucharest on Constitution Law, Consultant to the Romanian Helsinki Commission, Senior Legal Advisor to the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and founding member of Transparency International Romanian Chapter.

From 1995-2002, Macovei served in the Council of Europe, Human Rights and Legal Directorates and trained members of the judiciary, private lawyers, journalists and local authorities on rule of law and other judicial issues. During this period the member states covered through the Council of Europe included Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Albania, Moldova, The Czech Republic, Georgia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Armenia.

During the years 2000-2002 she also served as Expert of the Council of Europe, Monitoring Unit conducting missions on behalf of the Secretary General in where freedom of expression raised serious concerns and thereby drafted and defended reports before the committee of Ministers.

From 2002-2004, she served as the Council of Europe's Judicial Reform Resident Expert in Bosnia and Herzegovina managing the Council of Europe and European Commission's joint projects focused on strengthening the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary.

As Romania's Justice Minister from 2004-2007, Macovei set-up the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office to investigate high-level political corruption in Romania and fraud against the EU funds. Her bold efforts led to implementing a comprehensive - National Strategies and Action Plans for the Reform of the Judicial System and the fight against corruption in Romania. Macovei initiated legislation, organized and led the implementation of judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures. Macovei's unprecedented reform initiatives played a vital role in boosting Romania's EU accession process.

Macovei participated in the Adriatic Institute's strategic meetings in Washington, DC with reformers, political leaders and the senior management of the World Bank. Romania's justice reformer also spoke at the Fifth and Sixth Annual International Leaders Summit that took place in the European Parliament on November 2008 and November 2009. Macovei addresses audiences on both sides of the Atlantic and relays principled solutions in augmenting judicial reforms and anti-corruption measures.

Email: office@adriaticinstitute.org