Aspen Annual Conference 2023
Values: A New Trend of the Digital Era?
The goal of the conference is to provide an overview of political, economic, and social development not only of the Czech Republic but also in the context of Central Europe. Panel discussions within the annual conference are based on expert studies and, in addition to analyzing the state of the region, highlight the most significant problems in the observed areas and offer concrete recommendations for improvement. Business experts, members of the academic and non-profit sector in the conference panels are traditionally supplemented by members of the government.
The conference will be divided as usual into two blocks. In the morning international block, we will focus on topics such as Values-based Leadership and Defense of Values in the Digital Age, addressing the pressure exerted on these values in our Central European region due to the influence of the digital era. In the afternoon part, we will address current challenges for the Czech economy and society and the conditions we create for our citizens and businesses. Discussions based on expert studies will focus on the transition of the Czech Republic to a green economy, the digitalization of Czech small and micro-businesses, and the cooperation between school principals, founders, and local services. The bases for the individual panels will be expert studies prepared exclusively under the auspices of Aspen Institute Central Europe in cooperation with Boston Consulting Group, Daniel Koštoval, Global Arena Research Institute, and PAQ Research, discussed within the expert groups of Aspen Institute Central Europe.
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8:30
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9:00
Registration
9:00
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9:05
Opening
🔴 Ivan Hodáč, Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Aspen Institute CE
🔴 Pavel Řehák, President, Aspen Institute CE / Founder, Direct family
🔴 Milan Vašina, Executive Director, Aspen Institute CE
9:05
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9:30
Values-Based Leadership: Challenges of our World
Keynote speech and individual interview:
🔴 Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic
9:30
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10:20
Values: A New Trend of the Digital Era?
Individual keynote speeches and joint interview:
🔴 Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford
🔴 Tomáš Halík, Professor, Charles University / President, Czech Christian Academy
10:20
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10:35
Break
10:35
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11.35
Defending Values in the Digital Age
The panel will be based on a study by Aspen Institute CE and Daniel Koštoval
🔵 Video Message: Daniel Koštoval, Senior Fellow, Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations
Panel discussion:
🔴 Petr Dvořák, former CEO of Czech Television and TV Nova
🔴 Jakub Landovský, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO
🔴 Aleksander Mokrzycki, Advisor, NATO Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies / Deputy CEO, PFR Ventures
🔴 Tomáš Pojar, Advisor on National Security, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic
🔴 Magda Vášáryová, Founder of SFPA and VIA CULTURA, Politician, Diplomat and Activist
11:35
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12:30
Lunch Break
12:30
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13:30
Transition to a Green Economy: A Way to Prosperity?
The panel will be based on a study by the Aspen Institute CE and Boston Consulting Group
🔵 Video Message: Tomáš Wiedermann, Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Panel discussion:
🔴 Kamil Čermák, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, ČEZ ESCO
🔴 Petr Hladík, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic
🔴 Jan Juchelka, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Komerční banka, a.s.
🔴 Jana Matesová, Economist / former Czech Representative to the World Bank
🔴 Jiří Švejcar, Partner and Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
13:30
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13:50
Break
13:50
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15:00
Education: Success Lies in Cooperation between School Principals and Statutory Authorities
The panel will be based on a study by the Aspen Institute CE and PAQ Research
🔴 Keynote speech: Mikuláš Bek, Minister for Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
🔵 Video Message: Karel Gargulák, Analyst, PAQ Research
Panel discussion:
🔴 Přemysl Janeček, Principal, Primary school in Pozlovice town
🔴 Jiří Kulhánek, 1st Deputy Governor, Ústí nad Labem Region
🔴 Robert Plaga, Chairman, National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education
🔴 Erika Zelenková, Principal, Preschool Čtyřlístek in Kadaň town
🔴 Jan Zeman, Analyst, PAQ Research
15:00
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15:20
Break
15:20
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16:30
Digitalization: How to Support Small Czech Businesses?
The panel will be based on a study by the Aspen Institute CE and the Global Arena Research Institute within Strive Czechia, a joint initiative of Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and CARE Czech Republic.
🔴 Keynote speech: Věra Jourová, Vice President, European Commission
🔵 Video Message: Michal Kořan, Founder, Global Arena Research Institute
Panel discussion:
🔴 Jan Břížďala, Councilor, Vysočina Region
🔴 Pavla Francke, Founder and CEO, HAAKON
🔴 Věra Jourová, Vice President, European Commission
🔴 Tania le Moigne, Country Manager CZ/SK, Google
🔴 Tomáš Prouza, President, Confederation of Commerce and Tourism of the Czech Republic / Vice-President, Czech Chamber of Commerce
16:30
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16:45
Final Recommendations
🔴 Pavel Řehák, President, Aspen Institute CE / Founder, Direct Family
🔴 Milan Vašina, Executive Director, Aspen Institute CE
The conference will be chaired by Michala Hergetová.
Values-Based Leadership: Challenges of our World
9:05 - 9:30
In today’s world, values-based leadership plays an increasingly significant role as we face numerous challenges and issues, such as a lack of trust in institutions, inadequate environmental protection, social inequality, and many others.
- How important are values alignment and leadership strategies during times of war?
- What should today’s leaders, not only in politics, focus on when making difficult decisions in times of crisis?
- What impact do technologies have on values in contemporary society?
Keynote Speech and Moderated Dialogue:
- Petr Pavel, President of the Czech Republic
Values: A New Trend of the Digital Era?
9:30 - 10:20
Keynote speeches in this block will address current challenges in society, with a primary focus on the role of values in the context of the rise of technology use across all areas of everyday life.
- How do digital technologies influence interpersonal relationships and values associated with communication and interaction?
- What influence does constant access to information have on our values and perception of reality?
- In what ways do digital technologies influence the dialogue on democracy, freedom, and human rights, which were key themes of the Velvet Revolution?
Individual Speeches and Moderated Dialogue:
- Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, Oxford University
- Tomáš Halík, Professor, Charles University / President, Czech Christian Academy
Defending Values in the Digital Age
10:35 - 11:35
The panel discussion is based on the study “Global Challenge Faced by the West: It Is Essential to Invest in Security and Defense Capability in Order to Be Able to Safeguard our Independence” from Aspen Institute CE and Daniel Koštoval.
Video teaser: Daniel Koštoval, Security Analyst, Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations
To defend our security and liberal-democratic values, it is essential to change the attitudes of the defense sector – especially in the light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, which has shown how fragile democracy is and the constant care and protection it requires. It is also crucial to combat the spread of disinformation and cyberattacks to ensure the protection of democratic systems. Over the last seven decades, the EU has played a significant role in stability on our continent. Its main task is to uphold the values on which the EU was founded (democracy, freedom, equality), respect for human rights and contribute to peace and security worldwide.
- How are international relations changing?
- What threats do we face in today’s digital age, and what is the role of the defense industry in the context of defending our values?
- How do Central European states perceive NATO membership, especially in the context of ongoing wars?
The required steps to protect our values and way of life will be discussed by:
- Petr Dvořák, former CEO of Czech Television and TV Nova
- Jakub Landovský, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO
- Aleksander Mokrzycki, Advisor, NATO Advisory Group on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies / Deputy CEO, PFR Ventures
- Tomáš Pojar, Advisor on National Security, Office of the Government of the Czech Republic
- Magda Vášáryová, Founder of SFPA and VIA CULTURA, Politician, Diplomat and Activist
Transition to a Green Economy: A Way to Prosperity?
12:30 - 13:30
The panel will be based on a study “Czech Path to Net Zero: A Challenge or an Opportunity for Our Economy?” by the Aspen Institute CE and Boston Consulting Group.
Video Teaser: Tomáš Wiedermann, Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
The transformation towards carbon neutrality (greenhouse gas emissions) or “clean zero” is accelerating. This process may pose a threat to society and traditional economies, but at the same time, it presents unprecedented opportunities to gain ground in new markets. Countries that secure a significant position in this new market will elevate their economic standing at the expense of those that fail to establish such positions. Following last year’s expert study, prepared in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group on the topic of the Future of the Job Market by 2023, we have decided to advance this topic further this year. We have developed a new study on the subject of the Czech Path to Carbon Neutrality: Challenge or Opportunity for Our Economy? The study reflects on the many aspects associated with the transition to a green economy, such as the potential for green technologies to accelerate economic growth and strengthen the role of Czech companies in Europe and the world during the transformation of industry and services. Failure to manage this transformation will result in a relative decline in GDP growth compared to other countries. These and other findings and recommendations arising from the aforementioned study will be discussed during our annual conference in 2023.
- How much investment will be required by 2050 to keep pace with other countries?
- Can we become a hub for innovation in the field of the green economy?
- What can our government, industry, and society do to better prepare for such a significant transformation?
The topic will be discussed by:
- Kamil Čermák, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, ČEZ ESCO
- Petr Hladík, Minister of the Environment of the Czech Republic
- Jan Juchelka, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Komerční banka, a.s.
- Jana Matesová, Economist / former Czech Representative to the World Bank
- Jiří Švejcar, Partner and Associate Director, Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Statutory Authorities and School Principals: Success Lies in Cooperation
13:50 - 15:00
The panel discussion is based on the study “Educational Challenges Need to be Addressed within a Single Team Comprised of the Statutory Authorities, School Principals and Other Services” from Aspen Institute CE and PAQ Research.
Video Teaser: Karel Gargulák, Analyst, PAQ Research
Elementary school principals and their founders are key figures in our education system. They, in their roles as managers, oversee education at the regional and local levels. The relationship with local services (social activation services, low-threshold facilities, etc.) which help reduce educational failure, is also important. The impact of this cooperation has a significant influence on students’ academic performance, overcoming socioeconomic conditions, and the overall quality of life in the communities themselves. Examples of best practices will provide specific recommendations on how to establish effective cooperation among key bodies at the local education level (founder, elementary school principal, local social services, educational counseling facilities, etc.) and how, in the digital age, to achieve their efficient integration in the areas of education, social services, and quality pedagogical work in schools to support values such as inclusion and equal access to education.
- Who is responsible for the quality of education?
- Why is cooperation between principals, founders, and other services, as well as the sharing of best practices, important?
- How to help school principals with excessive administration?
These and other questions will be addressed by experts in the field of education during the panel discussion.
Keynote Speaker:
- Mikuláš Bek, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
Panel discussion:
- Přemysl Janeček, Principal, Elementary school in the town of Pozlovice
- Jiří Kulhánek, First Deputy Governor, Ústí nad Labem Region
- Robert Plaga, Chairman, National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education
- Erika Zelenková, Principal, Preschool Čtyřlístek in the town of Kadaň
- Jan Zeman, Analyst, PAQ Research
Digitalization: How to Support Small Czech Businesses?
15:20 - 16:30
The panel discussion is based on the study “Micro and Small Enterprises in the Czech Republic on the Path to a Digital Future” from Aspen Institute CE and the Global Arena Research Institute, prepared within the Strive Czechia program, a joint initiative of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and CARE Czech Republic.
Video Teaser: Michal Kořan, Founder, Global Arena Research Institute
Small and micro-enterprises (MSEs) in the Czech Republic are currently facing many challenges and pressures, arising not only from the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions but also from other challenges. These include high competition not only in the offline world but increasingly in the online environment as well. MSEs are also threatened by a lack of qualified employees. Digitalization is therefore crucial for their continued prosperity and for sustaining the competitiveness of the Czech Republic. The expert study on the topic of “Micro and Small Businesses in the Czech Republic on the Path to a Digital Future” formulates recommendations for key stakeholders and the government administration. Based on the provided qualitative and quantitative data, research, and conclusions, the study aims to help MSEs develop their businesses and succeed in the digital economy through digital skills and tools, access to finance, strengthening critical mentoring and networking skills.
- What is the role of Czech small businesses in the national economy, and what challenges they face in digitalization, from motivation and financial constraints to a lack of labor and regulatory complexity?
- What do MSEs need the most, what threatens them, and what role can digitalization play?
- What is the role of AI and its future potential in increasing productivity and economic growth for small businesses and subsequently the entire economy?
Keynote Speaker:
- Věra Jourová, Vice President, European Commission
Panel discussion:
- Jan Břížďala, Councillor, Vysočina Region
- Pavla Francke, Founder and CEO, HAAKON
- Věra Jourová, Vice President, European Commission
- Tania le Moigne, Country Manager CZ/SK, Google
- Tomáš Prouza, President, Confederation of Commerce and Tourism of the Czech Republic / Vice-President, Czech Chamber of Commerce
Global Challenge Faced by the West: It Is Essential to Invest in Security and Defense Capability in Order to Be Able to Safeguard our Independence
by Daniel Koštoval, The Prague Center for Transatlantic Relations
Czech Path to Net Zero: A challenge or an opportunity for our economy?
Tomáš Wiedermann, Jiří Švejcar, Peter Ondko, Jan Siuda, Matyáš Theuer (Boston Consulting Group)
Pavel Řehák, Milan Vašina, Kateřina Polanská (Aspen Institute CE)
Educational Challenges Need to be Addressed within a Single Team Comprised of the Statutory Authorities, School Principals and Other Services
PAQ Research
Micro and Small Enterprises in the Czech Republic on the Path to a Digital Future
Global Arena Research Institute
MIKULÁŠ BEK
Mikuláš Bek is the Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic. From 2011 to 2019 he served for two terms as the Rector of Masaryk University and was also the Vice-President of the Czech Rectors Conference for education. He represented the Czech Republic in the council of the European University Association. In 2018 he was elected as a senator for the constituency of Brno-city and became first the Vice-Chairman and later the Chairman of the Senate Committee on European Union Affairs. Before assuming the position of Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports in May of this year, he served in the government as the Minister for European Affairs, and in the second half of 2022, he successfully led the Czech Republic's presidency of the EU Council.
JAN BŘÍŽĎALA
Jan Břížďala is a member of the Vysočina Region Council responsible for education, youth, and sports, as well as information technology and communication technology. After graduating from the Faculty of Science at Charles University, he worked as a high school teacher of mathematics and chemistry at the Třebíč Gymnasium and the Pozďatín Agricultural School, which he founded during his university studies. He has been involved over the long term in the field of education, creating electronic study materials, textbooks, and contributing to the development of competition tasks and Olympic competitions for talented students. He has held a public office in the leadership of the Vysočina Region since 2020.
KAMIL ČERMÁK
Kamil Čermák is the Chairman of the Board and CEO of ČEZ ESCO, a company that provides comprehensive energy services to businesses, cities, and municipalities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Over the years, he has worked as an editor and moderator at Czech Television, a spokesperson and advisor to the then-Minister of Industry and Trade, Vladimír Dlouhý, the Business Director of Czech Telecom, and the Business Director of Czech Airlines (ČSA). In 2005, he joined ČEZ and initiated business activities in Poland. He later served as the Chairman of the Board of Economia publishing company for four years. Since 2016, he has been leading ČEZ ESCO and was awarded the Smart City Personality of the Year in 2018. He is also the Chairman of the Board of the Modern Energy Union and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Emission-Free Future. He is externally engaged in lecturing on Corporate Governance and leadership. Additionally, he is a member of the Collegium of The Memory of Nations at the Post Bellum organization.
PETR DVOŘÁK
Petr Dvořák studied technical cybernetics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague and earned an MBA degree from the University of Chicago in 1999. Until the end of September 2023, he served as the head of Czech Television for twelve years. During his mandate as CEO, Czech Television launched three new channels and significantly expanded and improved its in-house production, leading Czech Television to become the most-watched television group in the Czech Republic. In 2014, he was elected to the leadership of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and later served as its Vice President. Before joining Czech Television, he worked as the CEO of the commercial television Nova. He also held the position of Vice President for Television Broadcasting at CME, the parent company of television Nova, and was responsible for TV stations in the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, and Slovakia. He also collaborated with PPF, a significant international investment group.
PAVLA FRANCKE
As a former cross-country skier, Pavla and her husband founded their own business in 2019: HAAKON, which produces cross-country skiing poles. The impulse for this move was the excessively high market prices of poles and their low-quality craftsmanship without the possibility of purchasing spare parts. They decided to offer the highest possible quality at affordable prices under the HAAKON brand and introduced an innovation in the market called the tube replacement guarantee. The HAAKON brand has an ongoing collaboration with the Technical University in Liberec and specializes in the production of cross-country and Nordic walking poles. Today, they export their products to Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and Canada and are the official partner of the junior national team in cross-country skiing and biathlon. Pavla is responsible for marketing communication and business development in the company and in 2022, she placed second in the Enterprising Woman competition.
TIMOTHY GARTON ASH
Timothy Garton Ash is Professor of European Studies at Oxford University, an Isaiah Berlin Professorial Fellow at Oxford’s St. Antony's College, and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He also directs the Dahrendorf Programme for the Study of Freedom at St. Antony's. He is the author of ten books on contemporary history and political literature, including a new book Homelands: A Personal History of Europe. He writes a column on international affairs in The Guardian and is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books, among other publications. He has received a number of awards for his writing include the Somerset Maugham Award, Prix Européen de l'Essai and the George Orwell Prize. He was awarded the International Charlemagne Prize in the service of European unification in 2017.
TOMÁŠ HALÍK
Tomáš Halík is a professor at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, the President of the Czech Christian Academy, and the rector of St. Salvator Church. During the communist regime, he was involved in religious and cultural dissent. After 1989, he embarked on lecture tours and study trips to all continents and served as a visiting professor at universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard. Pope John Paul II appointed him as an advisor to the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers, and Pope Benedict XVI granted him the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness. He is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and various other institutions. He has received numerous literary and other awards both at home and abroad, including the honorary title "Man of Reconciliation" for his contributions to Christian-Jewish dialogue and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland. In 2014, his lifelong work was recognized with the Templeton Prize, and in 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford.
PETR HLADÍK
Petr Hladik has several years of experience in the environmental field. In Brno, where he was responsible for environmental matters, he played a key role in initiatives such as the promotion of green roofs and rainwater harvesting. During his tenure as the First Deputy Mayor, he developed and implemented an action plan for achieving carbon neutrality in Brno. This led to projects like the installation of hundreds of solar panels, the construction of a modern automatic waste sorting line, the construction of a third boiler for energy recovery from waste or a bio-waste collection system, and the preparation for the construction of a biogas station. Thanks to these and other projects, the city received several awards, including the E.ON Energy Globe and the title of a Smart City. Petr Hladík is the Vice-Chairman for the Environment of the KDU-ČSL and was involved in preparing the government's policy statement in this area.
IVAN HODÁČ
Ivan Hodáč is Founder, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and former President of Aspen Institute CE. He was Secretary-General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) from 2001 to 2013. He was also a member of a special Advisory Group of experts, which was advising the European Commission in negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States (TTIP), and advisor to the Czech Government on European issues. He is also senior advisor at Teneo CabinetDN, a leading consultancy on the EU. The Financial Times listed him among the most influential personalities in Brussels politics. Before joining ACEA, he was Senior Vice-President and Head of the Time Warner Corporate office for Europe. He was previously Secretary-General of the trade organization IFMA/IMACE, Senior Economist at Didier & Associates and Assistant Professor at the College of Europe, Bruges.
PŘEMYSL JANEČEK
Přemysl Janeček, after graduating from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ostrava in 2008, entered the field of education as a teacher at the Starý Hrozenkov Elementary School and Kindergarten. In 2013, he was appointed to the position of principal of the Pozlovice Elementary School. In the year 2017, the founder decided to merge the elementary school and kindergarten in Pozlovice, which created a new entity, the Pozlovice Elementary and Kindergarten, and Přemysl Janeček remained as the principal. In his position he focuses on creating a positive environment for all stakeholders - pupils, teachers and parents. He attaches importance to innovative teaching methods in the school and active cooperation with parents and the principal, as he believes they are key to achieving common goals and continuous improvement of the school.
VĚRA JOUROVÁ
Věra Jourová is Vice-President of the European Commission and European Commissioner for Values and Transparency (since December 2019). During the period of Executive Vice-President Vestager's temporary withdrawal from the Commission, Vice-President Jourová was also given steering and coordination responsibility for "A Europe Fit for the Digital Age". She first took up her post as European Commissioner for Justice, Consumer Protection and Gender Equality in November 2014. As former Czech Minister for Regional Development (January-October 2014), she is currently the most important Czech representative in EU institutions. Prior to becoming Minister, she was a Member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and also worked in the private sector or as Deputy Minister of Regional Development.
JAN JUCHELKA
Jan Juchelka is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Komerční banka (KB). He has been with KB since 1999, initially serving as a member of the supervisory board, and then gradually progressing to become Director of the Prague Business Division of corporate banking and a member of the board. He also worked at the Société Générale headquarters in the field of Corporate and Investment Banking, where he held the position of Managing Director and Senior Banker for Central and Eastern Europe. He is a member of the CCEF, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Modrá pyramida, Chairman of the Board of the Jistota Foundation, and as of June 2023, President of the Czech Banking Association. He has received prestigious awards such as Manager of the Year, Responsible Leader of the Year, and Banker of the Year. He was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Mérite for outstanding contributions to the French nation in 2023.
JIŘÍ KULHÁNEK
Jiří Kulhánek is a Czech politician and educator, originally by profession a teacher. He became the youngest head of a district office in Chomutov in 1993. From 1998 to 1999, he served as a member of the supervisory board of the Regional Development Agency of the Ústí Region. In 2002, he was elected as a representative and mayor of the town of Kadaň and became a member of the statutory bodies of several municipal companies. He has been the Deputy Governor of the Ústí Region for social affairs, socially excluded areas, and security since 2020. He has also served as the Chairman of the commission for the municipal heritage reserve and development, member of the committee for social and socially excluded areas, and member of the working group for the upcoming Affordable Housing Act. He has additionally acted as the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Historical Sites of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.
JAKUB LANDOVSKÝ
Jakub Landovský is a Czech lawyer, political scientist, and university lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University in Prague. He has served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to NATO since 2019. Between 2015 and 2019, he held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, responsible for the management of the Defense Policy and Strategy Section, where he played a crucial role in the development of defense and security principles and strategies for the Czech Republic. He previously worked as an advisor to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Czech Chamber of Deputies. He also worked as a lawyer at the Forum 2000 Foundation and as a consultant at the development center of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Development Programme (UNDP). From 2000 to 2002, he served as an assistant to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Former Yugoslavia.
TAŤÁNA LE MOIGNE
Taťána le Moigne manages the representation of Google in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. She has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, and her resume includes roles at companies such as Microsoft, Abakus or Digital Equipment. She received the "Personality of the Czech Internet" award from the Lupa.cz website in 2009. She has consistently ranked in the Hospodářské noviny survey "25 Most Successful Women in the Czech Republic” since 2008 and Forbes magazine has included her among the 50 most influential women in the Czech Republic since 2012. She is also active in the nonprofit sector, serving on the boards of organizations such as Aspen Institute CE, Odyssey Mentoring, Young President Organization, Dobrý anděl and Raiffeisenbank. She is dedicated to education in the fields of leadership and children's education. In her company, 4bambini, she has introduced four board games for preschool children that focus on important life values.
JANA MATESOVÁ
Jana Matesová graduated from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and spent 16 years of her professional career working for the World Bank. There, she held positions ranging from consultant to the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director. She was also a member of the advisory group for the President, where she advised on international financial architecture and negotiations for the G7, G8, and G20 groups. She later became the Deputy Sherpa of the European Council for negotiations in the G20 group. In the Czech public sector, she has served as the Deputy Minister of Education and as an advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, among other roles. In the 1990s, she was involved in launching the first internationally accredited MBA program in Czechoslovakia (CMC-Graduate School of Business) and subsequently served as the Director of Research, International Programs, and PR there. She has received several domestic and international awards for her research including a scholarship to Oxford University and one from the World Bank.
ALEKSANDER MOKRZYCKI
Aleksander Mokrzycki, Deputy CEO of PFR Ventures, has over 20 years of experience in finance, asset management, and venture capital. He played a pivotal role in the creation of PFR Ventures, the largest Fund of Funds in CEE. PFR Ventures acts as an investor in nearly 70 local and international funds, supporting over 650 startups and companies. Aleksander also serves as a member of the advisory group to the NATO Secretary General on emerging and disruptive technologies. His experience includes advising on the establishment of the NATO Innovation Fund. Prior to his current role, Aleksander held the position of Deputy CEO at BPH TFI (GE Capital Group), a banking asset management company. He also served as the CEO of one of the first venture capital funds in Poland.
PETR PAVEL
Petr Pavel is a Czech politician and retired army general who serves as the fourth President of the Czech Republic as of March 2023. After the Velvet Revolution, he worked as the Deputy Military and Air Attaché of the Czech Republic in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. He completed special courses at the Staff College in Camberley, the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and King's College London. He also participated in the UNPROFOR mission in former Yugoslavia and later returned to international service for the Czech Republic. He served as Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Army from 2012 to 2015. He held the position of Chairman of the NATO Military Committee between 2015 and 2018, becoming the first representative from former Warsaw Pact countries to assume the highest military position within the North Atlantic Alliance. Throughout his years of service, he received numerous high-level Czech and international honors and awards.
ROBERT PLAGA
Robert Plaga is the current Chairman of the Council of the National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education. From December 2017 to December 2021, he served as the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, and before that as Deputy Minister of Education for Higher Education, Science and Research from 2015 to 2017. He is a graduate of the doctoral program in economic policy and administration at Mendel University in Brno. He was a lecturer at Mendel University from 2002 to 2015 and participated in the establishment of the Technology Transfer Centre, where he subsequently served as Director. He also has experience as Councillor of the South Moravian Region and the City of Brno.
TOMÁŠ POJAR
Tomáš Pojar serves as an advisor for national security in the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic. He also held the position of Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Czech Republic up until August 2023. Between 2014 and 2022, he worked as the Vice-Rector at CEVRO Institute, and simultaneously provided consultation in the fields of defense and security. He completed his studies in Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University and Counter-Terrorism Studies and Homeland Security at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Israel. He began his career in 1995 at the non-governmental humanitarian organization Člověk v tísni (People in Need), which he later led. He remained with the organization until 2005 when he joined the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served as Deputy Minister for Bilateral Relations and then as the First Deputy Minister for Security Matters, EU Affairs, and Bilateral Relations with European States. He was the Czech Ambassador to Israel from 2010 to 2014.
TOMÁŠ PROUZA
Tomáš Prouza is the President of the Confederation of Commerce and Tourism of the Czech Republic, Vice President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of EuroCommerce and a Czech economist. Before returning to the private sector in 2018, he served as State Secretary for European Affairs at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic (2014-2017) and as Coordinator of the Digital Agenda of the Czech Republic (2016-2017). His previous experience included working as a financial services expert and later as a senior expert at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., serving as Deputy Minister of Finance responsible for financial markets, the European Union and fiscal policy, and co-founding and running two successful startups.
PAVEL ŘEHÁK
Pavel Řehák studied International Relations at the University of Economics in Prague and received his MBA at Northwestern University. He previously worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company for seven years, then worked as an advisor to Česká pojišťovna, where he eventually joined and worked for seven years, of which three years as CEO. In 2013, he left Česká pojišťovna and founded the investment company VIGO Investments with former colleagues from McKinsey. Together with his partners, he bought the Czech branch of the loss-making Slovenian insurance company Triglav and the Direct pojišťovna brand in 2014 to establish a completely new Direct pojišťovna. Direct is now the fastest-growing insurer and the largest Czech-owned player on the market. Apart from developing his business activities, he helped the Czech government cope with the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic while creating a mathematical model for the spread of Coronavirus disease and supporting several key projects in prevention and emergency response to the pandemic. Last but not least, Pavel is President of Aspen Institute Central Europe.
JIŘÍ ŠVEJCAR
Jiří Švejcar is a partner in the Prague office of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He has been active in strategic consulting for top management for more than 20 years. From 2003 to 2015, he worked for Accenture where he was responsible for strategic consulting for financial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe. At BCG, Jiří specializes in the digital transformation of financial institutions and leads the Digital Technology and Data Sector of the Czech office. In addition to commercial strategic projects, particularly in the financial sector and energy, he is also involved in pro bono projects with a social impact.
MAGDA VÁŠÁRYOVÁ
Magda Vášáryová is a prominent Slovak actress, politician, and diplomat. In 1989, she accepted Václav Havel's offer to serve as an Ambassador to Austria. After the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, she played a role in establishing the Slovak Foreign Policy Association and served as its director for seven years. From 2000 to 2005, she served as the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Poland, followed by a position as the State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. She founded the VIA CULTURA Foundation and the Institute for Cultural Policy. In 2016, she was awarded the Hanno R. Ellenbogen Public Service Award and recognized for her lifelong fight against corruption. She is also a recipient of the Order of Ľudovít Štúr, 1st Class. Currently, she lectures at Cevro Institute in Prague.
MILAN VAŠINA
Milan Vašina has been Executive Director of Aspen Institute Central Europe since 2020. He spent most of his professional career in telecommunications. He remained loyal to his employer for more than two decades, as Marketing Director and later as CEO of Slovak Telekom. He served as CEO of T-Mobile Czech Republic from 2011 and CEO of both markets – T-Mobile Czech Republic and Slovak Telekom from 2016. Since leaving top management in 2018, he has worked as a consultant and coach. He currently also serves as a Member of the Advisory Board of the Czech Government on Digitalization, Senior Adviser at Rockaway Capital, Member of the Board of Directors of the Dobrý anděl (Good Angel) foundation and member of the Science Council at the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Economics and Business in Prague (VŠE).
ERIKA ZELENKOVÁ
Erika Zelenková has been the Principal of the Čtyřlístek Preschool in Kadaň since 2014. She graduated from the Faculty of Education at Charles University with a degree in early childhood pedagogy and a degree in school management. She worked for sixteen years as a teacher in a preschool in Chomutov. She subsequently served as an inspector for the Czech School Inspectorate for six years. She cooperates with professional institutions and organizations. She provides professional guidance to aspiring teachers and school principals for the National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic. Within the framework of the Local Action Plan for the Development of Education in the territory of the Kadaň Regional Municipality, she leads a working group where she networks and connects preschool teachers in the area. She is part of ateam of the international Erasmus+ project. She collaborates there on the development of education and training methodology for teachers and parents. One of the aims of this methodology is to raise parents' awareness of the possibilities of cognitive development of the child, with the support of children's socio-emotional skills at school, but also subsequently in the home environment. It focuses on creating conditions to make the most of each child's potential, taking into account their individual capabilities. The basis for successful education of children is mutual cooperation between the school, the family, the founder and a wide range of external social partners.
JAN ZEMAN
Jan Zeman graduated in pedagogy from the Faculty of Arts at Charles University. He works as an education analyst at the research organization PAQ Research. His primary focus is on educational inequalities and mapping best practices in education. As part of his work, he travels to various regions, engaging in discussions with people about data, experiences, and emotions related to addressing educational underachievement. He has authored an education strategy for the town of Tábor and conducted analyses of the field structure of secondary schools and the shortage of teachers. He has also prepared a study for Aspen Institute describing specific activities in areas where all the stakeholders collaborate to ensure that disadvantaged children receive a successful education and that schools provide quality education that is reflected in educational outcomes.
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Annual Conference: The Shape of (Central) Europe 2022
Read the report from this year’s Annual Conference that official topic was THE ROLE OF VALUES IN TURBULENT TIMES.
The Shape of (Central) Europe 2021
The Aspen Annual Conference took on December 2, 2021 & the main topic of this year’s conference was The Future of Civil Service.
Kam kráčíš, Česko 2020
Zápis z výroční konference Aspen Institute Central Europe 2020 k restartu střední Evropy.
The Shape of (Central) Europe 2020
Report from the Aspen Institute Central Europe annual conference on the restart of Central Europe.
Kam kráčíš, Česko 2019
Výroční konference Aspen Institute Central Europe 2019 v Pražské křižovatce. Ze čtyř panelů hodnotících vývoj České republiky a směřování regionu střední Evropy vzešla konkrétní doporučení vládě ČR.
The Shape of Central Europe 2019
Read the English summary of our 2019 Annual Conference held at Prague Crossroads!
Kam kráčíš, Česko 2018
Výroční konference Aspen Institute CE 2018 v Pražské křižovatce. Všem účastníkům děkujeme!
The Shape of Central Europe 2018
Read the English summary of our 2018 Annual Conference!
Aspen Annual Conference 2017 – The Shape of (Central) Europe
Aspen Institute CE Annual Conference focused for the first time on Central Europe. See our expert report presented at the conference!
Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In | Annual conference 2016
See the materials for the second edition of the annual conference Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In, which took place on November 10.
Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In 2015 | Conference summary and materials
Read a short report and access the materials presented at the Czech Republic: The Shape We’re In annual conference
Aspen Annual Conference 2014
The conference commemorated the momentous events across Central and Eastern Europe 25 years ago and the enormous geo-political changes that followed.
Annual Conference 2013
The Aspen Institute Prague Annual Conference celebrating 20 years of the Czech Republic will take place on October 9 and 10, 2013 in the Czech National Bank
Aspen Prague Launch Event
The Aspen Institute Prague commenced its operation in Central Europe on Thursday, July 19, 2012.
The support of our partners is crucial to sustaining the work of Aspen Institute Central Europe. We are appreciative and thankful for their help!
