Chair of Knowledge Economy Network (KEN)
Boris Cizelj began his career as research assistant and junior lecturer on International Economic Relations at the University of Ljubljana (1966-1973), later became director of the Slovenian Centre for International Cooperation and Development, CICD in Ljubljana (1974-1986). He was Yugoslav Ambassador to Australia (1987-1991), and then served as Slovenian Ambassador to the EU, NATO and WEU (1993-1998).
Since 1999 he has been Board Chairman (Executive) of the Slovenian Business and Research Association (SBRA) in Brussels, Dean of the DOBA Business School of Maribor (2006-2012). From 2005 till 2011 he was chairing the European Regional Economic Forum, EREF, and from March 2011 he chairs the Board of Directors of the Knowledge Economy Network, KEN and its Secretariat in Brussels.
Boris is a researcher and regularly teaches interest representation, lobbying and negotiation techniques at 2 universities in Slovenia, and occasionally elsewhere (Joanneum, Graz; Alma Mater ECM, Salzburg; ECPD, Belgrade). His recent topics are European union, interest representation and negotiating techniques. He has participated in numerous EU-funded projects: CAPE, CASE, BISRTD, BIOENERGIS, WBC-INCO.NET.