Meet the Creative Heroes

Martin is a former Technical Deputy Director at Metrostav and a former CEO of a successful Czech technology company. In 2022, Martin left his career to focus on family and later founded the NGO Domestici, connecting sport with support for palliative care.

Martin was nominated for creatively transforming the cycling concept of a “domestique”, a supporting companion, into a powerful social mission—helping people through the final stage of life. Through Domestici, Martin raises awareness, changes public perception, and builds a community around an often-overlooked topic.

Martin's achievements include completing the Race Across America 2024 to support palliative care, setting a fundraising goal of 10 million CZK, and creating a growing movement that combines endurance sport, storytelling, and solidarity.

Katrin is a young paramedic student, part-time hospital worker, and member of the non-profit organization Dnes pomáhám. Combining her passions for dance and animals, Katrin founded the Paws & Beats project to support animals in need through charity dance events.

Katrin was nominated for her creative approach to fundraising, turning dance into a meaningful community experience that inspires people to help. In 2025, Katrin organized a two-day Paws & Beats event in Brno, bringing together top dance lecturers, artists, actors, and dubbers who volunteered their time to support the cause. The event raised 27,500 CZK for the Kraj jinotaj shelter and received outstanding feedback for its atmosphere, energy, and positive social impact.

Jakub is a social entrepreneur and founder of Etincelle, a network of social enterprises employing nearly 200 people with health and intellectual disabilities across cafés, bakeries, farms, laundries, and service teams. Previously a reporter and editor for Czech Television, he later became recognized for his work in inclusive employment and social innovation.

Jakub was nominated as a Creative Hero for transforming outdated approaches to disability inclusion through community based businesses that provide meaningful work, confidence, and visibility in everyday public life. His work challenges stigma, changes public attitudes through daily interaction, and inspires companies and municipalities to adopt more inclusive employment practices.

Jakub's achievements were recognized with the EY Socially Beneficial Entrepreneur of the Year award for measurable social impact and long term systemic change.

Tereza is the founder of Srdcem Robinson, an organisation supporting families of seriously and chronically ill children, their siblings, and healthcare professionals. With more than 15 years of experience in media, PR, CSR, and strategic communication, Tereza leads projects focused on mental health, burnout prevention, and family support.

Tereza was nominated as a Creative Hero for transforming personal experience into impactful, professional initiatives that open difficult public health topics through empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Her achievements include delivering 89 care packages and hundreds of support sessions for affected families, leading the Healthcare Professional of the Future programme with 38 workshops nationwide, and collaborating with hospitals, ministries, and experts. Through coaching, partnerships, and awareness initiatives such as Glass Children Day, she creates meaningful and lasting social impact.

Milan is a hydrobiologist and nature-protection specialist who combines scientific research with practical water-management solutions. After completing a Ph.D. in reservoir ecology and fish populations at the University of South Bohemia, he worked at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences and now focuses on ecological monitoring, river revitalisation, flood protection, and biodiversity projects at VRV a.s.

Milan was nominated as a Creative Hero for inventing modular floating artificial islands that restore wetland habitats and significantly improve breeding success for endangered waterbirds. His eco-engineering solution addresses disappearing littoral ecosystems, fluctuating water levels, and nest predation. So far, 37 floating islands have been installed across Czech water bodies, benefiting around 10 bird species and creating measurable improvements in biodiversity and conservation outcomes.

Dana is a marketing and PR professional with 15 years of experience, specializing in strategy and event management. She is the co-founder of the Reuse Federation, a network promoting circular economy initiatives, and the founder of Kabinet CB – Circular House in České Budějovice, one of the Czech Republic’s first reuse centres.

Dana was nominated as a Creative Hero for combining hands-on sustainability projects with systemic change at local and national levels, including her role in the European Capital of Culture 2028 initiative. Dana’s work connects stakeholders, communicates complex environmental topics clearly, and drives practical action to reduce waste.

Dana's achievements include building Kabinet CB into a multi-branch social enterprise offering reuse, repair, and upcycling services, supporting projects like Housing First, and developing an innovative multi-level vision for a circular, community-based reuse hub.

Milan is a recruitment expert and social innovator who began his career at Grafton Recruitment, later becoming Regional Director for CEE. He founded Genixa to improve equal access to meaningful work for vulnerable groups, supporting over 1,500 jobseekers, and later created GoodCall, Recruitment Academy, and Career Restart.

Milan was nominated as a Creative Hero for transforming the overlooked challenge of cancer survivors returning to work into a scalable, structured solution that restores dignity, identity, and economic independence. His Career Restart initiative addresses stigma and systemic barriers in employment after illness by supporting both survivors and employers. So far, over 50 cancer survivors have successfully returned to work, with hundreds more planned.

Milan also engages 350+ companies, delivers training and webinars, and uses data-driven advocacy to influence long-term systemic change.

Eva is a visionary leader working at the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR), where she leads the digitalisation of state services. She previously co-founded Česko.Digital, a volunteer platform connecting top tech experts with public sector projects.

Eva was nominated as a Creative Hero for redefining public service through a combination of high-level digital expertise, empathetic leadership, and values-driven decision-making. Eva is recognised for attracting top private-sector talent into government by creating an open, purpose-driven, and agile working culture that modernises state IT services. Her leadership is shaped by her study of theology, which informs her ethical, human-centred approach to governance. Eva mentors teams, bridges public and private sectors, and promotes a vision of a modern, efficient, and caring state that serves citizens with both professionalism and compassion.

Roman is an entrepreneur and innovator who founded RESPILON in 2013, becoming one of the first to bring nanofiber technology into consumer products. He focuses on applying nanofibers to improve human health, safety, and everyday life through advanced filtration and protective materials.

Roman was nominated as a Creative Hero for his ability to translate cutting-edge nanotechnology into practical solutions with real-world impact, from medical respirators to life-saving protective equipment.His achievements include developing high-efficiency nanofiber respirators widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic and creating innovative products that block viruses and bacteria.

Through his company InfraHex, Roman also co-developed a thermal camouflage poncho used in Ukraine that reduces detection by thermal imaging by up to 96%, supporting soldier safety. More recently, Roman introduced NUENEX, a nanofiber-based drug delivery system.

Roman's work has been recognized for its technological, economic, and humanitarian impact.

Kateřina is a developmental biologist with a PhD from Charles University and head of the Group of Reproductive Biology at the Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. She is also the founder and CEO of Molecule 46, a biotech spin-off focused on fertility challenges.

Kateřina was nominated as a Creative Hero for translating fundamental research into real-world applications that improve assisted reproduction and address declining sperm quality in humans and animals. Her breakthrough innovation enables the separation of undamaged sperm for use in IVF, livestock breeding, and species conservation.

Backed by 15 years of research, Kateřina's technology is validated by IVF clinics and industry partners across Europe. Kateřina’s work is internationally recognised, earning multiple innovation awards and media attention.

Kateřina also actively supports women in science, combining world-class research with leadership in biotechnology and social impact.

Roman is an entrepreneur and deep-tech innovator, co-founder of Global DTP and Program Director of the Future Port Prague conference. He later founded Mewery, a food-tech startup developing cultivated pork using cellular agriculture combined with a microalgae-based growth medium.

Roman was nominated as a Creative Hero for pioneering a radically sustainable approach to meat production that eliminates animal slaughter while drastically reducing environmental impact. His work focuses on solving global food sustainability challenges through science-driven entrepreneurship.

Mewery has created a world-first cultivated pork prototype using porcine cells and microalgae, avoiding conventional animal-derived serum. The technology promises up to 92% lower carbon emissions and significantly reduced land and water use compared to traditional livestock farming. Roman has secured over €4 million in funding, built partnerships with leading universities and institutions, and assembled a world-class scientific team.

Roman's vision positions the Czech Republic as a leader in cultivated meat innovation.

Šimon is a youth climate leader and storyteller, and the head of Plant-for-the-Planet Czechia. He became the first Czech Ambassador of the international initiative at age 14 and later founded its national branch, where he now serves as director.

Šimon was nominated as a Creative Hero for mobilising young people and advancing forest restoration as a tool for climate justice, combining environmental action with social impact. His work focuses on large-scale reforestation and community development, especially a project in rural Ghana that integrates agroforestry, biodiversity restoration, and job creation. Šimon has helped support the planting of nearly 400,000 trees, funded largely by Czech donors, while also creating around 70 jobs and improving local infrastructure. In Czechia, he has educated over 2,000 young people through workshops and events.

Šimon's approach combines environmental science, storytelling, and youth empowerment to drive global solidarity and measurable climate impact.