Svetlana DJurdjevic Lukic was a distinguished analyst and expert on U.S. foreign policy, human security, and security studies, as well as a prominent figure in Serbian journalism during the 1990s. As the Co-founder and Director of the Public Policy Research Centre, she led numerous projects in the Centre with particular interest in those addressing key security challenges in the everyday lives of citizens of Serbia, especially those affecting young people, Roma, women, and the LGBT community. Her professional curiosity and gift for writing were reflected in her many publications, including monographs, book chapters, and academic articles. A tireless activist she participated in numerous Government working groups and expert forums. She worked closely with international organizations including the OSCE, UNDP, and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces.
Before co-founding the Centre, Svetlana worked as a researcher and consultant with the Department for International Development at the London School of Economics, the Institute for Foreign Policy in Philadelphia, the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the OSCE Mission to Serbia. She was also engaged in projects of the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia, as well as with the Institute of International Politics and Economics, the Institute for Strategic Studies, and the Vinča Institute.
Svetlana earned her Master’s Degree in Politics, Security and Integration from University College London and continued her professional development at Columbia University and the University of Oxford. She graduated in History from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. Before her tragic death she was scheduled to defend her doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade.
Svetlana left an enduring mark as a researcher, editor, mentor, and friend. Her dedication, intellect, and values remain a vital part of the identity and mission of the Public Policy Research Centre, today’s Centre for society and technology Re:People.