About Us
OUR VISION
Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation (DIEF) protects and enhances the natural beauty, biodiversity and ecosystems of the Dalmatian islands by:
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Raising funds from people and businesses with strong connections to Dalmatia, to support the best local initiatives working to sustain the diverse natural assets of the islands.
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Supporting projects that bring both economic and social benefits to local communities, and which can be scaled up and replicated across the region.
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Building a strong network of people, united in boosting the work of local environmental champions.
Our People
A Steering Committee (SC), composed of founding and actively involved donors, directs the strategy. They analyse and approve grants and use their personal networks to broaden the base of supporters. The SC has a wide array of backgrounds and interests, but all share a passion for protecting and restoring Dalmatia’s outstanding natural beauty and fragile environment.
Our Executive Director oversees the day-to-day management and coordination work on the ground, supported by scientific and technical advisors and the SC.
LOCAL TEAM
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Inga Jurin
Executive Director
A native of Zadar with family connections to the islands of Silba and Ugljan, Inga has dedicated her career to sustainable development and community engagement. Her academic background combines Culture and Tourism with Entrepreneurship in Tourism, with specialized research focused on developing sustainable tourism models for island communities.
Through years of project management in the NGO sector, she has developed practical approaches to bridging environmental preservation with community needs. At the Dalmatian Islands Environment Foundation, she focuses on creating valuable, sustainable solutions that benefit local ecosystems and communities. Her work is driven by the belief that environmental preservation must go hand in hand with community engagement to create a lasting positive impact in the region.
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MAŠA PAVIČIĆ
Communications and Fundraising Coordinator
Maša’s diverse background points to one thing she is most passionate about: communication. She’s fluent in six languages and has enjoyed expressing herself using the written word since she was little.
Living in Amsterdam for six years was the experience that helped her hone these skills the most. After working there as a freelance tour guide and copywriter, she decided to return to Dalmatia to integrate what she had learned.
Her Master’s in Cultural and Natural Heritage in Tourism allows her to work in tourism with a strong focus on sustainability. She enjoys connecting with people from different cultures and loves learning from others. Her greatest hope is limiting the effects of climate change and preserving the Earth for future generations.
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Marko Pećarević
Head of Advisory Board
Marko is the Head of the Advisory Board. For the last twenty years, he has worked in environmental conservation, with experience in Southeast Europe, Switzerland, the EU, the Caribbean, and the US in the design and implementation of conservation projects. His experience includes working from a donor perspective, as a project grantee, as a local implementing organization, and as a consultant, as well as working in public, private, and non-governmental organizations.
Through strong family ties to the Dalmatian islands and professional experience, Marko is aware of the complexity of the relations between people and nature in this area, mostly in trying to meet the demands coming from tourism and fishing industries with those that deal with nature protection. He believes that only through community involvement, education and strong partnerships can one expect to achieve lasting results.
Marko is a biologist with an MA in Conservation Biology and an advocate for best fit taking precedence over best practice.
