The Minister of Science and Education, Prof. Pavo Barišić, Ph.D., appointed Mr. Goran Kezunović as the new Director of the Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNET on February 15, 2017, for a term of four years. Mr. Kezunović assumed his duties on March 1 and was appointed Director based on the Report of the Commission for the Public Tender Procedure for the Appointment of the CARNET Director. He succeeded Mr. Zvonimir Stanić, who had been CARNET’s Director since 2004.
Goran Kezunović graduated in 1999 from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. He joined CARNET from the Croatian Chamber of Economy, where he served as the Head of the Cyber Security Department.
Until 1999, he worked as a student in CARNET’s R&D Laboratory at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. After that, he worked for the Zagreb – Rijeka Motorway where he initiated the construction of an optical network along the motorway. In 2001, he established the Informatics and Telecommunications Department in Croatian Motorways. At H1 Telecom, he established the Telecommunications Network Sector and organized the connection of the first users. In the following years, as a private entrepreneur at Dictus Telecommunications, he created telecommunication solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. Since 2009, at the Zagreb – Rijeka Motorway, he was in charge of launching the Demerje toll plaza and toll system maintenance. From 2013 to 2016, he worked as an ICT consultant.
“I am aware that this is a highly important institution which conducts or participates in numerous important projects concerning science and education systems in the Republic of Croatia, and I will ensure that all good projects continue, but also improve in accordance with financial and technical resources,” said the new CEO.
As the main priorities and guidelines for his future work, he emphasized an analysis of the institution's current situation regarding finance, technical equipment, and personnel. Special attention will be paid to existing and planned projects, particularly those financed by EU funds.
We would like to use this opportunity to thank the former CEO, Mr. Zvonimir Stanić, for his twelve-year leadership during which CARNET has accomplished exceptional results and launched numerous praiseworthy projects, among which we are especially proud of the e-Schools project: Establishing a System for Developing Digitally Mature Schools (pilot project).