PEGJA ASHANIN GOLE holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Planning of Public Relations in the Public Sector of the Faculty of Social Sciences Management at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He graduated in political science from the Faculty of Sociology, Political Science and Journalism at the University of Ljubljana. He has more than 20 years of experience as a Strategic Communications Consultant and Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications in the public, public and private sectors in Slovenia and abroad. In public relations, he specializes in public sector communications, crisis and conflict communications, situation management, strategic communications planning, corporate communications, negotiation strategies and consulting services for top management in the field of strategic communications. Ashanin has been selected as a lecturer at the School of Applied Business and Social Sciences in Maribor, where he teaches Strategic Public Relations Planning and Situation Management and Crisis Communication. In addition, he teaches at various faculties, business schools and at domestic, foreign and international professional conferences.

He is the author of numerous scientific and professional articles on public relations, communications management, strategic management and strategic marketing. He co-authored a book with case studies on public relations in Slovenia in Slovenian and English “Slovenian Public Relations – Theory and Practice: 1990-2000”. He is a guest editor for the scientific sociological magazine “Theory and Practice”, the scientific marketing magazine “Academy MM” and other professional publications. He is a member of the Slovenian Public Relations Association (PRSS), which he chaired from 1997/1998, and later served as Secretary General from 1998 to 2000 and Vice President from 2000 to 2003, and from 2006 he is an ambassador of PRSS. He co-founded the Slovenian Public Relations Conference, where he was program director for eight years, and the Proactive Regional Professional Conference, which is held annually in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ashanin is a member of the International Association of Business Communications (IABC) based in San Francisco, USA. of the Public Relations Department of the Government and the Public Sector of Slovenia.

He has won several professional awards and recognitions in Slovenia and abroad, including.

– IABC Chapter Management Award of Excellence – for professional development, marketing and strategic communications;

– Silver Award, given by the Slovenian Advertising Festival;

– Bronze Effie Award (communication efficiency);

– Recognition of merits for the development of public relations in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

– Recognition of merits for the development of the profession of public relations in Slovenia;

– Special award for achievement in public relations (awarded on the 20th anniversary of PRSS).