Svetlana Smiljanic was born on February 15, 1978 in Lüdenscheid, Germany. She studied in Serbia and graduated in 2001 at the Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, on the Department of English Language and Literature. She defended her Thesis in 2007 at the Faculty of International Management at the European University in Belgrade and received the title Magister of International Management.

She earns her first work experience in education, and has been working in the insurance industry since 2004. Along with the development of her professional career in the insurance industry and her climbing the ladder in Wiener Städtische osiguranje, she was appointed as the CEO of VIG Real Estate in 2007, where she was responsible for the construction of the VIG Plaza business building in Belgrade, investment worth 45 million euros.

At Wiener Städtische osiguranje she has been performing several senior management positions. As the General Secretary of the Company she was in charge of organization and implementation of the strategical decisions of the Top Management. She was involved in the establishment of the company Wiener Re in Belgrade, as well as of the life insurance company Wiener Städtische osiguranje Life in Montenegro. Svetlana has been a member of the Management Board of Wiener Städtische osiguranje since 2011, which was renamed as Executive Board afterwards in order to comply with the applicable legal regulations.

She was member of the Board of Directors of Erste Bank.

She performs the function of the Member of Presidency of the Serbian Association of Economists.

She lives in Belgrade and speaks English and German languages fluently.