Benjamin Ignac

Benjamin Ignac is a Roma activist and Oxford graduate in public policy, who has even worked at NASA during his career. Born in Germany, he moved at the age of six to the Roma settlement of Orehovica in Croatia, where he completed his primary education. He continued his remarkable academic journey by enrolling at Josip Slavenski High School, becoming the first Roma student there to earn top marks.

At the age of seventeen, he went to Norway to attend the United World College, where he obtained an International Baccalaureate diploma—an opportunity that opened the doors to various universities abroad.

He pursued further studies in the United States, earning a degree in geography from the University of Oklahoma, while working at NASA’s development center. Interestingly, he was not perceived there as a Roma, but rather as a European. After his student visa expired, he returned to Croatia and soon found an opportunity to work in Eastern Europe. He moved to Budapest to join the European Roma Rights Centre, focusing on the issue of racism against Roma and the strengthening of Roma identity.

In 2019, Benjamin was accepted into the prestigious Master of Public Policy program at Oxford University, where he was the only Roma student with a scholarship. After completing his studies, he moved to Germany and worked for the Open Society Foundations, where he managed funding for Roma movements across Europe. Later, he transitioned to working at Taylor & Francis, a company specializing in scientific research, where he continues to work successfully today.

Benjamin’s journey is a remarkable example of perseverance, courage, and dedication. Through his work and personal example, he highlights the importance of education and the opportunities it can bring, inspiring new generations of young Roma to believe in their dreams and overcome societal barriers.