Born in Zagreb in 1957, Ivo Josipović earned degrees from the University of Zagreb in Law and Music, later becoming a prominent university professor, composer, and public servant.
Before assuming the presidency, Josipović served as a Member of Parliament and held leadership roles in cultural organisations, including Director of the Music Biennale Zagreb and Secretary General of the Croatian Composers Union. After his presidential term, he returned to teaching at the University of Zagreb and continued composing music, expanding his repertoire with around 60 compositions performed across Europe, the USA, Canada, China, and Japan.
As a politician, Josipović prioritised regional peace initiatives, anti-corruption efforts, and human rights advocacy. In academia, he is a Professor of Criminal Procedure and International Criminal Law at the University of Zagreb, with numerous publications on these subjects in Croatian and international journals.
At the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb, Josipović is a professor emeritus of Criminal Procedure and International Criminal Law. He has published several books, research papers, and articles on the topics of international criminal law, criminal procedure, and human rights, both in Croatian and foreign journals.
Beyond his academic and musical pursuits, Josipović is actively engaged in various cultural, legal, and scientific organisations both nationally and internationally. He holds positions such as patron of the European Academy of Arts and Sciences, Board Member of NGIC, member of the Club de Madrid and memberships in the World Academy of Art and Science and the Croatian Composers Society.
He continues to contribute to international conferences, lectures at universities worldwide, publishes legal research, and writes articles for newspapers and journals. Recognized for his contributions, Josipović has received multiple international awards and honorary doctorates in Arts, Legal Science, and Politics.
