G’day / Zdravo / Ciao!
My name is Ana – I am a multi-lingual, multicultural strategic communications and PR consultant, writer and advocate, with 20 years of global experience across communications, languages and storytelling, and lived experience as a migrant and a refugee.
At the age of 11, my family and I fled the civil war in former Yugoslavia and settled in Canada, only to return to Belgrade, Serbia a year later. My journey across the world didn’t end there. In 2016, I moved to Melbourne as a highly experienced, skilled migrant.
This early experience of displacement shaped my resilience and work ethic, and the ability to connect deeply with underrepresented communities, build strong networks and advocate for connection.
Purpose-driven, and impact and outcomes-led, I am a true communications generalist who connects the dots, sees the big picture, maps and improves processes quickly and delivers innovative solutions and results. A quick, creative thinker with a strategic mindset and care for my teams, people and community, I thrive in fast-paced environments, where problem-solving, people skills, diverse thinking and reputation matter. The writer and storyteller in me is passionate about uncovering impactful, human-interest stories and helping organisations develop effective, strategic ways of telling them, to build and maintain reputation.
With extensive experience in strategic communications and PR across private, public and NFP sectors in Australia, I understand complexity, risk and change, and bring deep expertise in working with multicultural and First Nations communities.
I love what I do, and bring deep emotional and social intelligence, curiosity and empathy to every project. My ideal team? People who genuinely care about the world we live in and each other.
Most of all – I enjoy meeting people in person, brainstorming and sharing experiences. That is why I started the Comms and Marketing Coworking Day in Melbourne – the only event where marcomms professionals come together for a full day of collaboration, connection and learning, in a supportive environment.
Would you like to hear more and chat about your projects? I’d love to grab a coffee.
I write and speak on migrant women empowerment and gender equity
As a migrant professional and a former refugee, I aim to inspire and motivate others through my work, mentoring and volunteering activities. Having grown up in a patriarchal society, I am passionate about empowering women, especially when it comes to their careers, mental health and creative expression.
I contributed to two books of women’s stories – Unity and Undefeated, as an author and co-editor. Both are available for purchase on the website.
My love for languages and writing led to my first career, while my curiosity fuelled my extensive travels. In 2015, I won a prestigious award for my travel blog, which led to numerous travel writing and speaking engagements. These included university lectures for students of tourism, panel presentations at conferences on blogging and storytelling, appearances on Serbian National TV (RTS), and feature articles in leading travel/lifestyle magazines for women in Serbia and the broader region. Check out some of the videos on my Media page.
I hold two Master’s degrees – in English language and literature (Europe), as well as in Strategic Communications (Australia).
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