Edward Ferguson and Anne-Charlotte Malm receive NALED Arrow Awards
British Ambassador Edward Ferguson and the Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Serbia, Anne-Charlotte Malm, are the recipients of the NALED Arrow Awards for 2026, recognition given to senior representatives of the international community for their contribution to improving the business environment.
The awards were presented at the 20th Assembly of NALED, in front of more than 200 representatives from the business sector, local governments, state institutions, civil society, and the international community.
H.E. Edward Ferguson received the award for his support to the reform process and public-private dialogue, with particular emphasis on the property formalization initiative “Svoj na svome,” as well as his advocacy for the economic empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality through the “Strong and Important” project.
His work with the Ethno Network, an association bringing together women dedicated to preserving traditional crafts, of which his wife Caroline is the diplomatic patron, was also especially noted.
“NALED Arrow is a great recognition for me and a confirmation of successful cooperation. NALED is a fantastic organization that manages to work with everyone, from the government and the opposition to the business sector and civil society, and to advance important reforms. It is especially meaningful that over the past year we have jointly focused on the economic empowerment of women and supporting female entrepreneurs across Serbia,” Ferguson said.
The second award went to Anne-Charlotte Malm for her contribution to EU integration and the development of sustainable and socially responsible business practices in Serbia, primarily through the project “More Efficient Public Procurement and Sustainable Supply Chains for Improving Competitiveness,” supported by the Government of Sweden and implemented by NALED.
Within this project, she supported the development of the ESG Hub, the establishment of the Council for Sustainable Energy, and initiatives aimed at improving sustainable supply chains, regenerative agriculture, the introduction of green and social public procurement, as well as the development of social entrepreneurship in Serbia.
“I am very honored and happy to receive this recognition, which also belongs to the Embassy of Sweden team. We are committed to supporting Serbia on its European path, and this award confirms that we are moving in the right direction together. NALED is a unique organization, and we greatly value the partnership we have built through joint projects and cooperation over the past years,” Malm said.
In addition to the Arrow Awards, the 20th regular and 9th electoral Assembly of NALED presented the new Strategic Development Plan until 2030, as well as the 18th edition of the Grey Book with 100 recommendations for improving the business environment and accelerating Serbia’s EU integration.
The event was addressed by the President of the National Assembly and former Chair of the NALED Board Ana Brnabić, the Ambassador of the European Union to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath, and NALED Executive Director Violeta Jovanović. On this occasion, a new composition of the Board of Directors and Supervisory Board was announced, which will lead the alliance’s initiatives for a competitive and sustainable economy in the next four years.
