Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic of Serbia
Srbija was under Osman Rule from 1389, gained autonomy 1815, and became Independent 1878 and a Kingdom 1881, after world war an autonomous republic in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and later part of Serbia and Montenegro. Independent in June 2006.
Also see Serbia heads and Serbia Parliament
1945-49 Minister of Education Mitra Mitrović-Djilas
1951-53 Minister of Education, Science and Culture
Graduated at Philosophy Faculty in Belgrade, clerk in the National Bank of Yugoslavia before World War II. She was a Partisan 1941-45 and working in the Headquarters of Tito's army. In 1948 she became manager of the Council for Education and Culture of Serbia and later Manager of the Federal Institute for Education. She was deputy to both Serbian and Yugoslav assemblies, and member of Central Committees of Serbia and Yugoslavia. She wrote many books. Married to Milovan Djias (1911-95) one of the best known disidents. (b. 1912- )
1945-51 Minister without portfolio Milka Minić
1953-58 Member of the Executive Council
Graduated at Philosophy Faculty in Belgrade, worked as a highschool professor before World War II. Member of the Communist Party from 1938, with Partisans 1941-45. After the war she was Secretary of the Belgrade City Committee of the Communist Party, President of the Control Commission of Serbia, President of the Serbian Commission for university, higher schools and scientific institutions, President of the Federal Council of Education . She was deputy to Serbian and Yugoslav assemblies and member of both Serbian and Yugoslav Central Committees. She was retired as a manager of thee Institute for Labour's Movement. Wife of Milos Minic (1914-2003), one of the most prominent Serbian Communist politicians. Their daughter Jelica Minic, is assistant Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia since November 2000. (b. 1915- )
1946-51 Minister of Labour Spasenija Cana-Babović
1951-53 Minister of People's Health and Social Politics
1953-63 Member of the Executive Council
Member of the Communist party from 1927, jailed because of her activities 1937-39, member of the Central Committees of both Serbia and Yugoslavia. Partisan 1941-45 and member of Military Committee of Serbia. First Chairperson of the Antifascist Women Front and deputy to Serbian and Yugoslav assemblies, later member of the Council of the Federation. Medal of the National Hero. She lived (1908-77)
1953 and 1958-63 Member of the Executive Council Bosa Cvetić
Graduated at Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty, member of the Communist Party from 1935. In jail several times because of her activities. With partisans 1941-45. After the war she was member of Serbian Central Committee, President of the Association of Women Societies of Yugoslavia and deputy to Yugoslav assembly. Retired as judge of the Constitutional Court of Serbia. (b. 1912- )
1958-63 Secretary for General Administration and Budget Mileva Planojević
Educated at Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty. Member of the Communist Party from 1940. With Partisans 1941-45. After the war she was Secretary of the Belgrade County Committee of the Communist Party, secretary and deputy President of the State Control of Serbia, secretary of the Central Council of the Yugoslav Unions. Deputy to Serbian and Yugoslav assemblies, member of Serbian Central Committee. (b. 1919- )
1963-67 Member of the Executive Council Katarina Patrnogić
Member of the Communist Party and Partisan since 1941, in fascist Italian-Albanian concentration camp in Tirana 1941-43. After the war she was member of Kosovo's Central Committee and Inspector of the Control Commission, Kosovo's secretary for finance and vice-Chairperson of the Kosovo's Assembly. Deputy to both Serbian and Yugoslav assemblies. Medal of the National Hero. (b. 1921- )
1963-67 Undersecretary for Culture Zagorka Stoilović
Graduated at Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty, with Partisans 1941-45. Member of provincial Central Committees of Kragujevac and Niš in Central and South Serbia and teacher in Political School for Youth. Member of Propaganda Committee of Central Committee of Yugoslavia and member of Ideological and Organisational Commission of Serbian Central Committee 1949-63. Chairperson of the Serbian Commission for high education 1963-67, and councelor at the Executive Council 1967-74. (b. 1921- )
1967-69 Member of the Executive Council Marija Križnar
Graduated at Technological Faculty in Belgrade. Member of the Communist Party from 1945. Worked in many companies as an expert for technology. She was deputy to Vojvodina's and Serbian Assemblies. Worked as an administrator in Serbian Assembly 1969-74. (b. 1921-)
1967-69 Member of the Executive Council Katarina Milosavljević
With Partisans from 1942, member of the Communist Party from 1943. Worked as a party aparatchik in many places in Central Serbia, becoming manager of the Health Center 'Bukovicka Banja' and Women's Expert School. She was secretary and later President of the Conference for Women's Public Activity. She was deputy to Orgaizational-political Council of the Serbian Assembly 1967-69. Member of Central Committee of Serbia. Administrator in Serbian Assembly 1969-74. (b. 1923- )
1968-72 Chief Secretary of the Communist Party Dr. Latinka Perović
Graduated at Belgrade's Philosophy Faculty and Faculty for Political Sciences. Member of the Communist Party from 1951. She was President of the Conference for Women's Public Activity 1960-64, President of the Commission for Ideological Work of the Yugoslav Central Committee 1965-66, and Secretary of the same Committee for reorganisation 1966-68. Member of the Serbian Central Committee. Like her colleague in Croatia, Savka Dabcevic-Kucar she was removed from office because Tito considered her views too liberal. She is counselor at the Institute for the Recent History of Serbia. Published many works on political topics. (b. 1933- )
1969-74 Member of the Executive Council Dr. Zora Protic-Sucić
Graduated at Faculty for Natural and Mathematical Sciences in Belgrade, doctorate in geology. Partisan from 1941, member of the Communist Party from 1943. Worked in Commission for Planning of Vojvodina 1945-52, then assistant at Faculty for Natural and Mathematical Sciences in Belgrade 1952-61, becoming docent 1961-68 and professor in 1968. Deputy to the Educational-cultural Council of the Serbian Assembly 1969-74. Published several expert books. (b. 1924- )
1974-78 Member of the Executive Council Olga Nikolić
Member of the Communist Party from 1948, graduated at High Political School in Belgrade. Member of the Central Committee of Serbia and it's Presidency. President of Belgrade's branch of the Conference for Women's Public Activity, and President of the Union of the social workers of Serbia. She lived (1928-2014)
1978-82 Member of the Executive Council Dr. Zivana Olbina
1982-86 Manger of the Institute for Social Planning
Profesor on Belgrade University, and also head of the Belgrade City's government 1986-88. Now works as marketing consultant.
1981-82 Secretary for Labour Marija Todorović
1982-86 President of the Committee for Labour
1982-86 Member of the Executive Council Milka Scepanović
Graduated at Law Faculty and High Political School. With Partisans from 1941, member of the Communist Party from 1942. Member of the Central Committee of the Organization of Communist Youth, member of the Revisional Commission of the Yugoslav Central Committee, member of Serian Central Committee and deputy to the Republic Council of the Serbian Assembly 1963-65. President of the Belgrade's Municipality of Stari Grad. (b. 1925- )
1986-89 President of the Committee for Urbanism, Dwellings and Communal affairs
1986-89 President of the Committee for the Legislature
1986-87 President-President of the Committee for Energetics, Industry and Construction Sojka Djordjević
1989-91 Secretary for Labour and Social Politics
Graduated at Law Faculty. She worked as a legal advisor in several companies, becoming judge at the Primary Court of the Pooled Labour 1975-77 and judge and secretary at the Court of the Pooled Labour 1977-86. Secretary within Secretariat of Economy 1987-89. (b.1949- )
1991-92 Minister for Labour, Veterans and Social Affairs Branka Jesić
Graduated at Philosophy Faculty. Consultant at Institute for Schoolbooks 1962-64. Worked as deputy principal in several high schools, then worked in administration of Belgrade's municipality of Stari Grad, Belgrade City secretary for education and culture. Member of the Main Board of the Socialist Party of Serbia and it's deputy to Serbian Assembly 1994-98. (b. 1937- )
1991-93 Minister for Science and Technology Dr Divna Trajković
Graduated at Faculty for Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Belgrade, doctorate in genome science. She was member of the Council for the Science of Serbia, Council of the Belgrade University and it's Scientific-lecturer Council. She is science counselor-researcher at the Institute for the biological studies 'Sinisa Stankovic' since 1985, and was Institute's manager 1989-91. Published more than 140 scientific works. (b. 1940- )
1994-2000 Minister of Health Dr. Leposava Milicević
Graduated at Medical Faculty. Worked as doctor at clinic in Kladovo 1977-78, and was manager of the General MEdicine Service at Health Center in Pozarevac 1978-94. 2000-01 she was Federal Yugoslav Minister of Religion. Member of JUL. (b. 1950- ).
1994-2001 Secretary-general of the Government
1994-98 Minister of Culture Dr Nada Popović-Perisić
Graduated at both Philosophy and Philology Faculties in Belgrade, doctorate at Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris. Worked in the Institute for literature and arts 1974-80, professor of Serbo-Croatian language in Bordeaux 1980-84, Lyon 1989-92 and at University Paris VII 1991-92. She was also teaching at University of Novi Sad in Vojvodina. She was vice-President of the Belgrade City government 1992-94. Manager of the Yugoslav Cultural Center in Paris 1998-2000. Member of Socialist Party. (b.1946- )
1996-97 Minister of Tourism Mirjana Stanković
Graduated at Belgrade's Economy Faculty. She was employee of the 'Putnik' travel agency since 1970, becoming manager of the foreign tourism 1980-88. Assistant general manager of the 'Yugotours' travel agency 1988-90, and general manager of 'Putnik' 1990-96. She was secretary for tourism in Belgrade's City government. Award 'YU-Manager of the year' for 1994. (b. 1947- )
1997-98 Minister of Information Radmila Milentijević
Federal Minister without Portfolio 1992-93 .(b. 1932- )
1997-98 Minister of Family Care Bratislava-Buba Morina
Graduated at Law Faculty in Nis, Serbia. Worked as legislator in Nis Police Department, counselor at Presidency of Yugoslavia, counselor for people's defence at Kosovo's Assembly, and counselor at Presidency of Kosovo and Ministry of Interior of Serbia 1989-92. She was Commissar for Refugees of Serbia 1992-2001, President of the Union of Women of Yugoslavia and chairperson of the Working Group for Humanitarian Affaris in Former Yugoslavia, seated in Geneva. Recently indicted for financial irregularities during her tenure as Commissar for refugees. Widow of the prominent pro-Milosevic Albanian politician Rahman Morina (1943-90). Member of JUL. (b. 1947- )
1998-99 Minister without Portfolio Maja Gojković
Graduated at Law Faculty in Novi Sad, Vojvodina. Working as a lawyer in her family's law firm since 1990. Member of Radical Party and vice-Chairperson of it's Main Board. Deputy to the Chamber of Citizens of Yugoslav Assembly since 1993 and it's deputy Chairperson 1993-94. (b. 1963- )
1998-2001 Minister of Economic and Property Transformation Jorgovanka Tabaković
MP 1997-2012 for the Radical Party until 2007 when she became Vice-President of the Serbian Progressive Party from 2008 and Governor of the Serbian National Bank from 2012 (b. 1960- )
1998-98 Minister of Family Care Rada Trajković
Removed from office after a quarrel with the leader of her party, Vojislav Seselj of the Serbian Radical Party. She is now member of the Serbian government in Kosovo, which is opposed to both Milosevic's Temporary Council, Hashim Taci's Albanian Government and the UN Temporary Administration. She is Serbian observer in Provisional Administrative Council of Kosovo, headed by UNMIK chief. (b. 1953- )
1998-2001 Minister of Local Self-Administration Gordana Pop-Lazić
Member of Radical Nationalist Party, SDS. Afterwards deputy to Serbian Assembly and in January 2004 her party put her forward as candidate for the post of Parliamentary Speaker and thereby for the position of Acting President. (b. 1956- )
Ca.1998-2000 Assistant Minister of Education Katarina-Kata Lazović
2000 Acting Minister of Education
2000 Minister of Education
Member of Socialist Party. (b. 1936- )
Ca.1998-24.10.2000 Deputy Minister of Informations Dušanka Djogo-Antonović
Graduated at Philology Faculty in Belgrade. Member of the University Board of Socialist Party 1990-95 and President of the Soicalist Party's Youth 1993-96. Wrote articles in many magazines. She was spokesman of the Belgrade City branch of Socialist Party. (b. 1969- )
Ca.1998-2000 Assistant Minister of Information Radmila Višić
Member of JUL.
Circa 1998-24.10.2000 Assistant Minister of Education for High Schools
1998-2000 Assistant Minister for Culture Ljiljana Sedlar
An actress, member of Belgrade Drama Theater, whose manager she was 1993-97
2000-01 Minister of Protection of the Environment Mila Rosić
Member of Socialist Party of Serbia. (b. 1967- )
2000-01 Minister of Family Care Dr. Slavica Djukic Dejanović
Graduate at Belgrade Medical Faculty, doctorate in neuropshychiatry. She was manager of the neuro sector of the Clinical Center in Kragujevac 1987-89, member of Center's board 1989-90, manager of the physhiatry sector 1990-92, vice manager of the Center 1992-93 and manager 1993-2001. She was deputy to Kragujevac City Assembly and to Serbian Assembly. Member of Socialist Party, it's vice-Chairperson 1998-2000 and acting secretary general May-April 2001. She was also pro-dean at Kragujevac University. Published more than 100 works. (b. 1951- )
2000-01 Minister of Health Dr. Nada Kostić
Member of Democratic Party of Serbia. When it was announced that she will not continue to be minister in new Djindjic's government, strikes hit most of the medical institutions in Serbia in her favour, but she was left out of the government anyway. (b. 1954- )
2000-01 Co-minister of Information Biserka Matić-Spasojević
Long time journalist of daily newspapers 'Politika'. Fired in 1999. because of her anti-Milosevic articles. Member of the Coordination Body for South Serbia. Since 11.5.2001 Yugoslav ambasador in Macedonia. She is not member of any party. (b. 1937- )
2000-01 Minister of Labour, Veterans' Issues and Social Welfare Dr. Gordana Matković
2001-04 Minister of Social Welfare Dr. Gordana Matkovic
Expert in demography. (b. 1960- )
2000-01 Minister of Religious Affairs Gordana Anicić
Member of Serbian Renewal Movement.
2008- State Secretary of Labour and Social Affairs
Secretary of Social Welfare and Child Care in the Belgrade City Administration 2004-06.
2001-03 Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Marija Raseta-Vukosavljević
(b. 1962- )
2001-04 Secretary-general of the Government Maja Vasić
2001-04 Assistant minister of Culture
2001-04 Assistant minister of Education and Sports Srbijanka Turajlić
University professor.
2001-04 Assistant minister of Social Welfare Dragica Vasiljevic-Vlaović
2002-03 Minister of Energy and Mines Kori Udovički
2014- Vice-President of the Government and Minister for State Administration and Local Self-government
Up till her appointment she was Head of the Government Agency for restructuring of public enterprises, Governor of the National Bank 2003-04 and Assistant Secretary-General of United Nations, Director of the Regional Bureau of UNDP for Europe and CIS and Assistant Administrator of UNDP 2007-12. (b. 1961-)
2002-04 Natural Resources and Environment Minister Professor Dr. Andjelka Mihajlov
Up till her appointment she was Head of the Directorate for government protection and afterwards University Professor
30.12.2002-04.02.2004 Acting President Natasa Micić
President of the Assembly 2001-2004 and became Acting President because the attempt to elect a President has failed twice. (b.1965-)
2004 Minister of Education and sport Ljiljana Côlić
Philology and Philosophy PhD, Turkish language professor. (b. 1956-)
2004-06 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ivana Dulić-Marković
2006 Deputy Prime Minister
PhD , widow and mother of two children. (b. 1961-).
2004-06 Deputy Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Vesna Ilić-Prelić
2006-08 State Secretary of Public Administration and Local Self-Government
The title of Deputy Minister was replaced with that of State Secretary in 2006.
2004-06 Deputy Minister of Finance Vesna Arsić
2006-08 State Secretary of Finance
2006 Acting Minister of Finance
As the State Secretary of the Ministry she took over after the resignation of the former minister. Vice-Governor of the Yugoslav National Bank 2000-04.
2004-2006 Deputy Minister of Health Nevena Karanović
2006-08 State Secretary
09.11.2006-14.11.2006 Acting Minister of Health
MP in 2004 and from 2004 one of the 6 members of the Presidency of the G17 Plus Party. (b. 1961-)
2005-07 Assistant Minister of Defence Snežana Samardžić-Marković
2007-12 Minister of Youth and Sports
2011 Acting Minister for the National Investment Plan
Director-General of the Council of Europe Democracy Directorate from 2012. (b. 1966-).
2007-08 Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technologies Aleksandra Smiljanić
2007-08 Minister of the Diaspora Milica Čubrilo
2007-08 Minister of Science Ana Pešikan
2007-08 State Secretary of the Interior Mirjana Orašanin
2008 Acting Minister of Interior
She acted after the Minister was seriously injured in a car crash on 26 January until a new government took office 7 July. (b. 1956-)
2007-08 State Secretary of Justice Snezana Malović
2008-12 Minister of Justice
Former civil servant in the ministry. (b. 1976-).
2007-08 State Secretary of Economy and Regional Development Jasna Matić
2008-11 Minister of Telecommunication and Information Technologies
2011 Acting Minister of Economy and Regional Development
Advisor to the Prime Minister 2001-02 and held various other posts in Serbia and abroad. (b. 1964-).
2007- State Secretary of Labour and Social Affairs Snežana Lakićević-Stojačić
Secretary for Youth and Sports in Vojvodina 2000-07
2008-11 Minister of Finance Diana Dragutinović
Vice-Governor of the Central Bank 2004-08. (b. 1958-)
2008- State Secretary of Youth and Sports Ivana Kovačević
2012 Acting Minister of Youth and Sports
2008-12 Secretary General of the Government Tamara Stojčević
2012 Acting President Slavica Đukić-Dejanović
2012-14 Minister of Health
2016- Minister without Portfolio
Dukic-Dejanovic is Vice-President of the Socijalističke partije Srbije, and as President of the Skupština 2008-12, she took over as Head of State when her predecessor resigned. (b. 1954-)
2012-13 Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Integration Suzana Grubješić
2012-14 Minister of Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Zorana Mihajlović
2014- Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Transportation and Construction
2012-13 Minister of Youth and Sport Alisa Marić
2014-16 Minister of Agriculture Snežana Bogosavljević Bošković
2014- Minister Without portfolio for European Integration Jadranka Joksimović
2014-06 Assistant Minister of Justice Nela Kuburovic
2016- Minister of Justice
2016- Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Ana Brnabic
29 June 2017 - Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of Serbia
Last update 04.10.17