Q: Who were your Digital Ambassadors?
A: In the Spodnje Podravje region, our digital ambassador was Milan Klemenc, director of the Local Energy Agency Spodnje Podravje (LEASP). He was chosen for his exceptional network and active role in driving digital transformation at local and national levels. As a member of the Ptuj City Council, he plays a direct role in developing the municipality’s digital transformation strategy. His extensive experience and strong ties with public administrations, ministries, and the private sector made him the ideal candidate. During the selection process, we prioritised communication skills, knowledge of the regional context, and the ability to connect diverse stakeholders, all of which Milan possesses.
Q: What was their role?
A: Milan played a central role in building bridges between public administrations, local citizens, and the broader T-JETA network. Working closely with our pilot municipality of Dornava, he promoted inclusive engagement based on the principle of ‘no one left behind’. He acted as both a representative voice for citizens and a communicator for public administration. This dual role ensured that local needs were not only identified but also considered in decision-making processes. Beyond Spodnje Podravje, Milan also contributed to scaling up JETforCE at a national level. As part of the Slovenian consortium of local energy agencies, he introduced project tools and approaches to other agencies and municipalities across Slovenia, thereby widening the project’s impact.
His key activities included:
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Collaborating closely with the pilot municipality of Dornava.
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Engaging with citizens and encouraging active participation.
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Communicating project tools and values to regional and national partners.
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Acting as a connector between stakeholders at all levels.
Q: What worked well?
A: Cooperation with municipalities was particularly successful. The Municipality of Dornava was highly engaged, and the digital tools developed during the project attracted significant interest from other municipalities in the Spodnje Podravje region. Through the Slovenian consortium of local energy agencies, these tools reached even more partners, demonstrating their potential for use in other municipalities across Slovenia. This extended the project’s influence well beyond the pilot region.
Q: What challenges did you face?
A: Direct engagement with citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, was the most significant challenge. Although the digital tool was made available, many people initially found it difficult to use. To address this, we created a simple, step-by-step user guide in Slovene, which made the tool more accessible. Milan supported this process by working closely with the pilot municipality to encourage citizens to try out the tool. As a result, citizens began using the tool to report their challenges, strengthening the dialogue between the community and the local administration.