COMMITEE MEMBERS 2025

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Born in Kranj, Slovenia — a town closely associated with Slovenia’s greatest poet, France Prešeren — Žiga brings a strong sense of cultural identity and pride in Slovenian heritage to his role within the community. After moving to Perth to advance his career in IT and management, Žiga gained valuable life experiences while broadening his skill set. This journey deepened his appreciation for the importance of cultural continuity and community connection, especially among fellow Committee Members at the Slovenian Club of Perth. With a genuine passion for preserving Slovenian culture and traditions, Žiga is dedicated to bringing people together and fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for both long-standing members and newcomers alike. As President of the Slovenian Club of Perth, he leads with a focus on unity, cultural preservation, and enhancing the club’s role as a social and cultural home for Slovenians in Western Australia.

Miriam’s Slovenian heritage comes through her father, who was born and raised in Žiri before migrating to Western Australia in the late 1950s. He later met Miriam’s mother, who is of Dutch heritage, and together they built their family within the local Slovenian community.

Growing up, the Slovenian Club and its members formed the family’s closest social circle, with culture, tradition, and community life playing a central role in Miriam’s upbringing. As a teacher and passionate traveller, Miriam has visited Slovenia several times, developing a strong appreciation for the country and its natural beauty.

Today, this connection continues through her own children, who are active members of the Slovenian Club, helping ensure that Slovenian traditions remain strong and alive in Australia.

Originally from Vrhnika, Slovenia — the birthplace of Ivan Cankar — Ana moved to Perth in 2017 to follow her passion for natural health and holistic wellbeing. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) and is currently building her career in holistic and natural health, with a strong interest in nature-based living, wellbeing, and meaningful community connection. As a committee member of the Slovenian Club of Perth, Ana serves as treasurer, event organizer, and is involved in social media, decoration, and visual design. She enjoys creating welcoming, thoughtfully styled spaces for club events that celebrate Slovenian culture and contributes her skills in design, styling, and website content to help the club look and feel its best.

Originally from Velenje, Jan recently moved to Perth, where he continues to develop his international engineering career while maintaining strong ties to Slovenia.

Jan holds a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology. His professional experience is primarily within civil engineering projects, and he is currently transitioning toward mining-related work as he broadens his expertise.

As Secretary of the Slovenian Club of Perth, Jan supports the committee through administrative coordination, documentation, and internal communication. He values community and cultural connection and strongly believes in the role of the club in bringing Slovenians together abroad. Jan is committed to supporting the club’s smooth, transparent, and effective operation.

Lidi moved to Perth from Brisbane in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the city and its welcoming community. She enjoys meeting new people and building meaningful connections. 

A true people person with a strong sense of care for the wider community, Lidi was delighted to discover the Slovenian Club of Perth and joined shortly after finding the club on Facebook. As one of the enthusiastic committee members, Lidi is eager to contribute to the club and looks forward to assisting with the organization of future events. She is committed to supporting community gatherings and helping to strengthen connections within the Slovenian community in Perth, all while promoting Slovenian culture through social media.