Annual Gala
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Friday, November 13, 2026 at The Peninsula Chicago. Hosted by Jelena Gavrilović and George Petkovic.
Actress
Master of Ceremonies
A Serbian actress whose work reaches from Belgrade theatre stages to international film and television. She acts in five languages and is known to a generation of children as the Serbian voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen.
Jelena Gavrilović is a distinguished Serbian actress with an extensive career spanning film, television, and theater. Her international work includes roles in the British feature film Gassed Up directed by George Amponsah, the MGM+ series Robin Hood (as the Saxon goddess), and the U.S. fantasy series The Outpost. She appeared alongside Salma Hayek in the American thriller Everly and starred in the Italian RAI Fiction film L’angelo di Sarajevo.
Jelena is also widely recognized for her voice work in animated films, most notably as the Serbian voice of Elsa in Disney’s Frozen. Her exceptional performance earned her recognition by Disney Studios as one of the top 25 voices for the role worldwide.
Her diverse filmography also includes the acclaimed horror film A Serbian Film. A multilingual performer, Jelena acts fluently in English, Russian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian.
Vice President, Americas at Air Serbia
Master of Ceremonies
An airline and hospitality executive with two decades in international business, and a longtime organizer of charitable galas for the Serbian community in New York. George also serves on the gala’s planning committee.
George Petkovic is an international airline and hospitality executive with more than two decades of experience in business development, luxury hospitality, operations, and global market expansion.
As Vice President, Americas for Air Serbia, George leads the airline’s operations and commercial development across the region and has played a key role in establishing and expanding Air Serbia’s presence in North America. His work brings together aviation, international business, and longstanding relationships with corporate, government, diplomatic, and industry partners.
Prior to joining Air Serbia, George built his career in New York’s luxury hospitality industry, holding leadership positions at Trump SoHo New York, The Chatwal, Four Seasons Hotel New York, and Waldorf Astoria New York. His experience spans international sales, hotel operations, brand development, and luxury guest experience, working with clientele and partners from around the world.
Beyond his professional career, George has maintained a strong commitment to philanthropy and the Serbian community. He was a founding member of a Serbian philanthropic organization in New York, where he later served on the Board for two years, and has organized numerous charitable galas and community events throughout New York.
His philanthropic involvement is also deeply personal. George led an initiative to rebuild the school in the village where he grew up in Serbia, giving back to the community that shaped his childhood and helping provide a better educational environment for future generations.
Having traveled to approximately 90 countries, George brings a distinctly international perspective to his professional, philanthropic, and community work. He holds degrees in Business and Economics and Hotel Management and is also a licensed New York real estate professional specializing in high-end real estate.
Seats at The Peninsula are limited. Reserve yours, or support the academy from wherever you are.