Ivan Vrdoljak

Vrdoljak was born on 22 June 1972 in Osijek, where he finished elementary school, gymnasium and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering from which he graduated in electrical engineering. He also studied at the Academy for Political Development, Croatian branch of the Council of Europe from 2000 to 2005.

After the graduation he started to work for RPM Engeharia company in Brazil as a designer in AutoCAD computer program. He later came back to Croatia and worked in "Nova livana" company in Osijek as an engineer trainee in automation. He then transferred to a company Neo inžinjering where he became a project manager in the process automation and management. In 2001 he together with his associates founded company ATO inžinjering in Osijek, where he was the director.

He is a member of the Croatian Hunting Association (Croatian: Lovački savez Hrvatske) and Hunting Club Mursa (Croatian: Lovačko društvo Mursa). He actively plays football.

Ivan Vrdoljak and Waldemar Pawlak

Ivan Vrdoljak become secretary of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) branch in Osijek in 2000 and a member of the Croatian People's Party Osijek-Baranja County council. A year later he was elected member of the Central Board of HNS, and in 2002 president of the HNS Osijek branch. In 2004, he was elected to the position of the HNS chairman of the Slavonia and Baranja Regional Alliance, and also as a councilor in Osijek-Baranja County assembly. In 2006, he was elected as a councilor in Osijek city council. In the Osijek election in 2008 the coalition HNS-HSU-Green party won around 9 per cent of the votes under his leadership. He served as deputy mayor of the city of Osijek in charge of social affairs and the economy after he formed a coalition with 2008 elections winners. As of 2011, he is the Minister of Economy in the Cabinet of Zoran Milanović.