Ariana Vela is one of the most recognized experts in EU funds and public procurement in Croatia and the region. Her 20 years of experience, excellent knowledge of the legal, institutional and financial framework in which projects are created are an invaluable asset that ensures that the company operates according to the highest professional standards. She participated in the preparation and implementation of more than 500 projects financed by EU grants, the largest of which is the so-called “Pelješki bridge”, i.e. “Road connection with southern Dalmatia”. She designed and launched the first Croatian portal on EU funds (euprojekti.info) and wrote the first book on the preparation and implementation of projects entitled “Management of ESI funds”. She specializes in solving complex problems in the implementation of infrastructural projects, irregularities in the field of public procurement and strategic planning, but with equal enthusiasm she approaches advising clients in projects from other sectors.
She is one of the few consultants who prepares and implements projects in all operational programs and programs of the European Union, and who participated in the creation of all strategic documents for the new program period, namely the National Development Strategy – Croatia 2030, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Croatia, and operational programs . She is an evaluator of educational programs at the Agency for Vocational Education and Adult Education, an external expert of the most famous consulting company in the world – McKinsey and Company, as well as a lecturer at numerous universities (in the phase of obtaining a teaching title – lecturer at universities).
She has an MBA in management, is a certified public procurement trainer, and is currently studying for a doctorate in business economics at the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka. At the EU Projects School – Institution for Adult Education, she holds the position of President of the Administrative Council and the position of lecturer at the programs of preparation and implementation of EU projects, public procurement, as well as programs in the field of project management. In the company AVELANT d.o.o. as CEO, she is responsible for the overall management of the company and the portfolio, strengthening the capacity of the entire consulting team, introducing innovations in work and operations, and managing large projects (so-called major projects).