Coping & Resilience International Conference October 3-6, 2009, Dubrovnik - Cavtat, Croatia
Keynote lectures:
Phillip Zimbardo, Ervin Staub, Michael D. Clark, Lena Dominelli and Cynthia Eriksson.
Venue: Hotel Croatia Cavtat Luxury Resort in Dubrovnik
The Brisbane Institute of Strengths based Practice Inc (BISbP)
in collaboration with
Society for Psychological Assistance (SPA)
The Coping & Resilience International Conference was held from October 3-6, 2009, in Dubrovnik-Cavtat, Croatia. The conference brought together an interdisciplinary group of practitioners, researchers, community activists, and academics who focused on the theme of human coping with a wide range of challenging life circumstances, as well as the resilience individuals exhibit in the face of adversity.
Conference Overview:
The main objectives of the conference were to:
Advance evidence-based practices for promoting resilience and fostering hope.
Explore the complex interplay of individual, family, community, and social responsibility factors that contribute to resilience.
Provide direction for future research and practical applications in the field.
Create an inclusive platform for knowledge exchange, where attendees could learn from each other’s experiences and insights.
The conference aimed to strengthen collaboration and networking among professionals from various regions and fields of expertise, and it attracted participants from across the globe. It was a unique opportunity for those involved in the study and practice of coping mechanisms and resilience to share their work and engage in meaningful dialogue.
Venue:
The conference took place in Cavtat, a scenic town located just south of the historic city of Dubrovnik, which is famous for its stunning Adriatic coastline and rich cultural heritage. The picturesque setting of Cavtat, often referred to as the “pearl of the southern Adriatic Sea,” provided an inspiring backdrop for the event.
Key Themes Discussed:
Resilience in the Face of Adversity: How individuals and communities cope with traumatic events and life challenges.
Building Hope: Approaches to cultivating optimism and resilience in various settings, from personal to societal levels.
Interdisciplinary Approaches: The integration of different disciplines—such as psychology, social work, public health, and community development—to foster resilience across different contexts.
The Coping & Resilience International Conference 2009 provided a valuable forum for advancing the understanding of resilience and promoting best practices in coping strategies worldwide. It served as an important milestone for professionals committed to improving the well-being and mental health of individuals and communities around the globe.
CONFERENCE PRESIDENT
Venkat Pulla, Ph.D., MAASW (Accredited)
Brisbane Institute for Strengths Based Practice (BISbP), Australia
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Dinka Corkalo Biruski, Chair
Department of Psychology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Ajdukovic
School of Social Work, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Lesley Chenoweth
School of Social Work, Griffith University, Australia
Dusko Sekulic
Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Raija – Lena Punamaki
University of Tampere, Finland and European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)
Michael Wessells
Columbia University, USA
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Dean Ajdukovic, Chair, SPA, Croatia
Peter Binyon, Vice Chair, BISbP
Dragan Bombek, BISbP
Petra Drazic, SPA
Dubravka Horvaticek, SPA
Dragan Jusupovic, SPA
Chris Montgomery, BISbP
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Zahava Solomon, Israel
Yael Danieli, New York, USA
Sven Hessle, Stockholm, Sweden
Veronika Ispanovic, Belgrade, Serbia
Juergen Nowak, Berlin, Germany (TBC)
Merle Friedman, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nora Sveaass, Oslo, Norway
Dean Ajdukovic, Ph.D. – a professor of psychology at the Department of Psychology and the Head of the Chair of Social Psychology at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. He has previously served as the Chairperson of the Department and the Director of the Postgraduate Psychology Program. Dr. Ajdukovic possesses extensive experience in working with refugees and victims of organized violence, as well as in social reconstruction and mental health interventions within communities affected by violence and social transition. His work has particularly focused on supporting families exposed to violence.
He has authored over 90 publications in academic journals and books in Croatian, English, Macedonian, Russian, and Albanian. In addition, he has lectured at numerous centers of excellence across the United States and Europe. Dr. Ajdukovic serves as a consultant and trainer in various countries, providing expertise in psychosocial program development and evaluation, trauma and violence, NGO strengthening, and community crisis interventions. His expertise has been sought in countries experiencing significant upheaval, including Albania, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ingushetia.
Dr. Ajdukovic is the president of the Society for Psychological Assistance (SPA), a regional mental health NGO based in Zagreb, Croatia. He has been a member of the Council of the International Society for Health and Human Rights (ISHHR) since 1998, and has held leadership roles as past president (2003-2005) and board member (1997-2007) of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS).
Venkat Pulla, Ph.D. – the President of the Brisbane Institute of Strengths-Based Practice. He is an accredited Senior Practitioner of Social Work, widely recognized both in Australia and internationally as a dedicated trainer in human values and strengths-based social work practice frameworks. Dr. Pulla also serves as the Vice President of the Australian Association of Social Workers and is a member of the accreditation panel for social work schools in Australia.
Dr. Pulla has over 14 years of experience teaching social work and several years of training public sector management through DFID Projects in metropolitan India. During his time in India, he was awarded a Fellowship from the Ashoka International Foundation in Washington, which enabled him to become an international activist and lecturer. For two years, he traveled to countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and the USA, where he presented on the interconnectedness of human rights, social work, and global development issues.
He moved to Australia in 1992, where he became the founding Head of Social Work at the Northern Territory University in Darwin. Since 1996, Dr. Pulla has worked extensively with refugees and migrants, serving as the Acting Coordinator of the Brisbane Migrant Resource Centre. He later transitioned to the public sector, working in child protection and other areas. Currently, he holds a senior social work position within the Disability Services of the State of Queensland.
The Croatian edition of Philip Zimbardo’s book The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil was released in 2009 with the title Luciferov učinak: kako dobri ljudi postaju zli.
It was published by TIM press, a Zagreb-based publishing house
The Croatian translation was completed by a group of psychologists, including Dea Ajduković, Dinka Čorkalo Biruški, Margareta Jelić, Željka Kamenov, and Mirjana Krizmanić.