Lecturers

Vera Despotovic

Social worker, family psychotherapist and mediator. She completed specialist studies in mediation at the Faculty of Political Sciences (University of Belgrade). Employed at the Faculty of Media and Communications, Department of Social Work. More than twenty years of experience in using psychotherapy and mediation in working with couples and families in the Counseling Center for Marriage and Family of the City of Belgrade. In 2005, she initiated the introduction of mediation, as a new service, in the social protection system. She conducts mediation in family disputes, in working with juvenile perpetrators of criminal acts and injured parties, in cases of workplace harassment and discrimination. Developed and implemented specialized training programs in the field of family mediation, mediation between victims and juvenile offenders, mediation in cases of workplace harassment and mediation in cases of discrimination. Since 2010, she has been a lecturer at the specialist studies Innovations of Knowledge in the Field of Mediation at the Faculty of Political Sciences (University of Belgrade). Since 2011, a member of the working group of the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality for the creation of a mediation service in cases of discrimination. Author of numerous manuals and studies in the field of mediation.

Blazo Nedic

International accredited mediator, attorney, coach, and consultant, with over 25 years of experience in Serbia, Europe, and the USA. He graduated from the Faculty of Law (University of Belgrade), completed postgraduate studies at the Metropolitan University of London (UK), and master's studies at the Faculty of Law of Pepperdine University in Los Angeles (USA). Licensed mediator and accredited trainer for conducting basic and specialized training of mediators by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia, mediator on the list of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) and the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality. Certified by the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, ADR Group, JAMS International and World Bank. Member of the global network of mediators - ADR Center from Rome (Italy) and the Serbian National Association of Mediators (NUMS). Active in the field of mediation since 2002, since 2006 he has been dealing exclusively with out-of-court settlement of disputes, and as a mediator he has acted in several hundred commercial, property, labor, and discrimination disputes. Guest lecturer at the Mediation Clinic at the Faculty of Law (University of Belgrade). From 2001 to 2008, he worked as a legal advisor to the USAID Judicial Reform Program in Serbia, organized by ABA/CEELI, on legal reform and alternative dispute resolution projects. Member of working groups for drafting the Law on Mediation. Author of numerous professional publications and blogs, he regularly holds trainings and presentations on the topic of mediation and dispute resolution at domestic, regional, and international conferences and events. He conducts mediation in Serbian and English.