Mayor of Požarevac Saša Pavlović, founder and president of the Supervisory Board of Gomex Goran Kovačević and general director of Nestlé in Serbia Marjana Davidović won the titles of NALED's Best Members for 2025, in competition with more than 350 companies, local governments and civil society organizations, it was announced at this year's September meeting.
The awards were presented by the President of the NALED Board of Directors, Vladislav Cvetković, and the President of the NALED Executive Board, Dejan Đokić, in the presence of all the employees of the Executive Office, led by Executive Director Violeta Jovanović.
- Dear friends, thank you for being with us to continue the tradition of the September meeting even in this challenging year. Before you is our executive team and as you can see NALED lives what it says - 70% of us are women, strong and important, exactly the ones you described as the women of the future. We will not wait for that future, but we will create it as we have done so far - Jovanović pointed out before awarding the award.
The mayor of Požarevac, Saša Pavlović, who, through cooperation with the economy and as one of the founders of the BFC Club of Cities and Municipalities, dedicatedly works to improve the business climate in the local self-government he leads, was declared the Most Member in the Local Leader category. Under his leadership, Požarevac became one of the cities that set the standards for a good business environment in Southeast Europe, and at the same time nurtures a rich cultural and sports tradition, embodied in the famous Ljubičevski Equestrian Games. Pavlović is also recognized as a pioneer in solving property-legal issues at the local level, and as a host of NALED events and a representative at international conferences, he confirms that Požarevac has a significant place on the map of successful local communities.
Goran Kovačević, founder and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Gomex, was awarded in the Business Leader category. As a member of NALED's Board of Directors and a prominent patron of reforms, he has been actively contributing to NALED's work for more than ten years, especially in the areas of fair competition, inspection supervision reform and the fight against the gray economy. Thanks to his immediacy and openness, as well as his willingness to share his rich entrepreneurial experience, he contributes to solving even the most complex challenges through dialogue and partnership. Consistency in his work makes him a trustworthy interlocutor and an indispensable partner on the path of reform.
The Sustainability Leader recognition went to Nestlé Serbia General Manager Marjana Davidović, who heads the company with 20 years of successful business on the domestic market. Davidović works dedicatedly to strengthen sustainable values, equality and empowerment of women in the business environment. More than 60% of management positions in her team are held by women, and inclusivity and equality are pillars of Nestlé's corporate culture. As a member of the Alliance for Food and Agriculture, as well as the Alliance for Environmental Protection, she actively encourages reform processes, promoting ESG standards and green transition, while through cooperation with the Small Business Council, she contributes to strengthening the position of entrepreneurs. Her determination and dedication made her a symbol of female strength and sustainable leadership.
The September meeting of members and partners of NALED, which is traditionally held at the White House, this time took place in the context of our theme of the year - gender equality and economic empowerment of women. In the program part, the attendees were addressed by NJ.K.V. Aleksandar Karađorđević, head of the EU delegation in Serbia, Andreas von Beckerat, and president of NALED's Board of Directors, Vladislav Cvetković.
