Executive Committee
“My childhood dream of saving the Amazon rainforest is still not accomplished but my dream of connecting people and rising above their differences for a greater cause stayed the same.”
Exploring a Rain Forest — enjoy
Cultural diversity — take a look
Josipa Palac
Josipa Palac has had a heart for social impact since she was a young girl. Growing up in a family that opened its doors to help those in need, she saw first-hand the positive impact helping others brings. This ignited in her a passion to get involved with social change and to draw attention to problems in the world and to do her part to try to eliminate them and tear down barriers. This compassion, mixed with her focus and drive, is also what had her fighting for her first social cause back in primary school when she started her first NGO which focused on raising awareness to the problems faced in the eco-system and stressing the importance of people changing their living habits to help one another and nature. She was determined to show how easy it can be to unite and make a change – this determination is something that Josipa still has today. Over the years and throughout her travels in Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America, Josipa has recognized that humans all share a common thread, and she feels compelled to bring that awareness to those around her to provoke a social change.
Josipa pursued a BA in International Relations and Media Communications because she was drawn to the actual happenings of world politics, particularly human rights and humanitarian issues. These interests lead her to work at the UN where she gained firsthand experience organizing and participating in conferences and panel discussions as well as monitoring global media, media outreach and performing research. Although this was a wonderful opportunity, she had another realization – she wanted to do more active work on the ground with pressing issues in society. So, she decided to pursue a MA in Cultural Differences and Transnational Processes in the department of Social and Cultural Anthropology. She specifically focused on transnational migration and the issues and process of migration. Her thesis fieldwork was conducted in Vienna where she researched highly skilled migrants and their language acquisition with a special focus on policies that address migrants, how they are implemented, and how migrants see their participation in social, cultural, political and economic life in Vienna.
During her MA, Josipa did an anthropological research in Cairo, Egypt where she contextualized political and social changes in Egypt in relation to gender roles (post revolution and gender rights). Following her MA she worked for the Sri Lankan Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Austria to coordinate the first Presidential visit to Austria, after 60 years of bilateral relations, with a delagation of fifty, including four parliament ministers.
With her background and her passions it was a natural step for Josipa to begin an NGO so close to her heart. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of ICDO she leads the organization’s vision and mission for a world where cultural differences are celebrated and accepted.
Born
Zagreb, Croatia
Believes in
Goodness in People
Values
Compassion and Passion
Over the years and throughout her travels in Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East and North America, Josipa has recognized that humans all share a common thread, and she feels compelled to bring that awareness to those around her to provoke a social change.
Me about me
Visionary, passionate, professional, goal oriented, inspired and fearless =)
Achievement
MA in Cultural Differences and Transnational Processes, BA in International Relations, BA in Media Communications from Webster University
Goal
Oversee all the organizations work and ensure that ICDO mission and vision are fulfilled. Bringing people closer together and closing cultural gaps. To save the Amazon rainforest (not a joke)
I did…
Worked for the UN, CTBTO, Vienna, Austria and Sri Lankan Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka