REGENERATION
When Sustainability
Is No Longer
Sustainable
Keynote | Workshop by:
Irena Ateljević, Ph.D.
Enter the inspiring world of Dr. Irena Ateljević - or simply 'Irena' to the many students, collaborators, and friends whose lives she's touched.
In her roles as a mother, sister, daughter, distinguished scholar, social entrepreneur, and senior policy advisor, Irena has devoted her life to studying, teaching, and embodying ways of living and acting in harmony with our planet and the wealth of life it nurtures.Irena's keynote and accompanying workshop, Regeneration: When Sustainability Is No Longer Sustainable, encapsulate insights
and learnings from her personal transformative journey as a tenured professor turned social entrepreneur and community builder.Through case studies and practical examples, Irena unpacks the "conventional" sustainability narrative, and argues for a more potent, holistic, and necessary approach that seeks to rejuvenate, renew, and restore our world: Regeneration.Drawing inspiration from the enduring wisdom of nature and her own lived experience, Irena designed the keynote and workshop to be a living organism, alive with relevance,
ever-evolving and adapting to the needs of a broad range of audiences, from educational institutions to business organizations.Take a look at the short video below depicting Irena's return to her roots while helping regenerate nature and community in her native Croatia.
KEYNOTE & WORKSHOP
While Irena's focus as a keynote speaker is conveying information in an engaging way and inspiring critical reflection on key themes and perspectives, as a workshop facilitator she focuses on creating an environment of active learning, where participants can delve into these concepts more intimately and apply their understanding in practical contexts.Every keynote and workshop is custom-tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of each audience, ensuring that the material is relevant, engaging, and ultimately valuable.Below is a sample outline from one of Irena's past workshops:
REGENERATION AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATIONThe Sustainability Mindset
a brief exercise to get a sense of the participants' current understanding of sustainabilitySustainability vs Regeneration
presentation and discussion of the differences between the two conceptsPersonal Transformation and The Story of Terra Meera
introduction to the lecturer's personal journey: leaving a lucrative academic position to build a center for regeneration in an area devastated by war
exploring how personal transformation is tied to the process of regenerationInteractive Session
reflections and Insights on the ways we can implement personal regeneration
REGENERATING OUR LIFESTYLESThe Degenerative Lifestyle
deep dive into how current societal norms and lifestyles contribute to personal and environmental degenerationPersonal Impact Assessment
participants analyze their own lifestyles in smaller groups, discussing their personal environmental impactThe Regenerative Lifestyle, Deep Ecology & Regeneration
Shifting from Anthropocentrism to Ecocentrism
Discussion: Reflections on our relationships with nature and how deep ecology principles can contribute to regeneration effortsPresentation:
examination of lifestyles that align with principles of regenerationWorkshop: Personal Regeneration Plan
participants develop a personal regeneration plan, outlining the steps they can take to align their lifestyles with regenerative principles
APPLIED REGENERATION AT SCALE: A CLOSER LOOK AT VANDANA SHIVA AND JOANNA MACY'S LEGACYPresentation
examining applied concepts of deep ecology, regeneration, and activism in Shiva and Macy’s works, including an introduction to systems thinkingAnalyzing Case Studies of successful regenerative initiatives worldwide
identifying the key factors that contributed to their successRegenerative Strategies
participants work in smaller groups to brainstorm regenerative strategies for various local, regional, and global initiatives
BIOGRAPHY
Holding a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, Irena devoted almost two decades to teaching at Auckland University of Technology and Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, as well as Wageningen University in the Netherlands.
Throughout her academic tenure, she was actively involved in global research and served as a senior policy adviser.
Irena spearheaded social projects in Auroville, South India, led a multidisciplinary team of scholars in a collaborative study of the tourism-identity nexus in Yunnan Province, China, examined the transformative role of tourism across Europe under the guidance of the UN World Tourism Organization, and developed a program of sustainable tourism policies and strategies for the Republic of Croatia.
Determined to bring theory into action, Dr. Ateljević transitioned from academia in 2011 to champion successful social-entrepreneurship projects such as Terra Meera, a Croatia-based hub for regeneration and human potential, Regenerate Europe, a multisectoral platform organizing an annual conference
and promoting pan-European regeneration and SHE - Šibenik Hub for Ecology, a women-led organic bistro serving exclusively locally-sourced, seasonal dishes.
Most recently, Irena partnered with Šibenik Knin County, one of Croatia's most beautiful regions, on a pilot project called Ajmo Lokalno (Let's Go Local). This innovative initiative aims to streamline the short food supply chain by connecting local food producers, hospitality businesses, and end customers through a user-friendly digital platform and app. The platform is slated for release by the summer of 2025.
Leading by example, Irena continues to educate, inspire, and spark personal transformation in others, all the while showcasing the transformative power of applied regenerative methodologies in real life.
CONTACT
Interested in learning more about Dr. Ateljević's keynotes, workshops and consultancy services including her availability? Drop us a note below.
Thank you for reaching out.
Looking forward to getting in touch with you very soon.