Mr. Sci. Ljiljana Klinger, the principal of the Matija Gubec International School, was born in Zagreb, Republic of Croatia, where she also received her education. After completing high school, she graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, obtained a teaching qualification in Mathematics, and then earned a Master's degree from the Faculty of Education, specializing in Educational Management. Ljiljana Klinger, Master of Education, gained her professional path and experience in three key areas in education: as a teacher, principal, and shaping educational policies during curriculum changes.

She has been leading Matija Gubec Primary School for 17 years, which serves as a training ground for the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Kinesiology in Zagreb. She founded the Matija Gubec International School, from preschool to the end of primary education, putting Zagreb and the Republic of Croatia on the map of world metropolises with international schools. Three years ago, a protocol was signed in collaboration with the University of Duluth in Minnesota, allowing students to come for a two-month internship at the school. Matija Gubec International School became the first certified school with halal meals, becoming a model for multicultural environments in Europe and the world. In addition to halal meals, the school kitchen established a menu that respects dietary habits influenced by various worldviews, thus preparing a special menu for vegans and vegetarians.

The school's openness to new curricula enabled the Confucius Institute in Zagreb to implement Chinese language and culture at Matija Gubec International School. She has also become involved in the work of the Association of Youth Judges, Family Judges, and Experts for Children and Youth with the aim of sensitizing and familiarizing this group of experts within the system with the demanding roles of teachers in risky and high-conflict family relationships. Mr. Sci. Ljiljana Klinger successfully fosters a multicultural atmosphere in the school, developing cultural and national identities within the School Curriculum, emphasizing the importance of learning about other cultures and respecting them. To achieve this goal, numerous collaborations have been established with various international and domestic institutions.

Mr. Sci. Ljiljana Klinger received the Ivan Filipović Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Croatian Parliament for her work.