Winning the Talent Race
Why the Best Talent Stays, Leaves, or Comes Back
The British-Slovenian Chamber of Commerce is organising a Tea with Reason at the Pre:plet Festival as part of the HR Arena.
The HR Arena addresses the questions organisations can no longer postpone: demographic change, psychological safety, workforce resilience, trust-based cultures, and the transformation of HR in the age of artificial intelligence. It is designed for HR professionals, leaders, and decision-makers who see HR not merely as a support function, but as a strategic driver of organisational stability, adaptability, and people development.
Our session will focus on the growing global competition for talent. Skilled professionals increasingly choose between employers, cities, countries, and career paths based on opportunity, leadership, culture, flexibility, and quality of life.
Through international perspectives, Slovenian data, experiences of Slovenians working abroad, and a high-level panel discussion, we will consider what attracts and retains talent and how Slovenia can strengthen its position in the global labour market.
BSCC members can use the code PREPLET26BSCC to receive a 30% discount on the regular registration fee. Register via this link.
Program:
9:30 – 9:45 | UK Perspective: Winning the Global Talent Race
Richard Elvidge, Managing Director, WGS Executive Search Limited
The global talent market is changing rapidly. Organisations are no longer competing only with local employers, but with opportunities across borders and continents. Executive mobility, remote work, technological transformation, and changing career expectations are reshaping how professionals decide where to build their careers.
Drawing on his extensive experience in executive search across the UK, Central Europe, and the Western Balkans, Richard Elvidge will discuss the trends shaping the competition for senior talent and what organisations must do to attract and retain the right people.
9:45 – 9:55 | Talent by the Numbers: Understanding Slovenia's Talent Competitiveness Challenge
Representative of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS)
Before discussing solutions, it is important to understand the facts. This short presentation will provide a data-driven overview of talent mobility trends, demographic developments, labour market challenges, and Slovenia's position within the broader European competition for talent.
9:55 – 10:05 | Voices from the Global Slovenian Community: What Makes Talent Choose a Country, a Career, or a Community?
Žan Dapčevič, President, VTIS Association & Chief Executive Officer, Academia
Drawing on insights from Slovenians who have studied and built careers abroad, this session will explore the motivations, expectations, and priorities of internationally mobile professionals. The presentation will examine what attracts talented individuals to international careers, what factors influence decisions about where to live and work, and what role employers, leadership, career opportunities, and quality of life play in those choices.
10:05 – 10:50 | Panel Discussion: Why the Best Talent Stays, Leaves, or Comes Back
Žan Dapčevič, President, VTIS Association & Chief Executive Officer, Academia
Richard Elvidge, Managing Director, WGS Executive Search Limited
Dr Helena Jaklitsch, State Secretary at the Office of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad
Marjana Krajnc, General Manager, Danfoss Trata
Building on the international perspective, national data, and first-hand experiences presented earlier in the session, this discussion will explore how organisations and countries can compete for talent in an increasingly borderless world. The panel will examine what talented professionals expect from employers, leaders, and societies today, how changing workforce expectations are reshaping organisational culture, and what Slovenia must do to strengthen its position in the global competition for talent.
While the discussion will address the experiences of Slovenians living and working abroad, it will also take a broader view of talent competitiveness, exploring what makes a country attractive to highly skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and future leaders.
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