About The Host
The Voice Behind 'The Voices Of War'
Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslic
Maz founded The Voices of War in February 2021, driven by a deeply personal commitment to challenge the prevailing simplistic, polarised, and often misinformed narratives about war and conflict. Drawing from his own experiences as a survivor, soldier, and storyteller, Maz seeks to uncover the nuanced human dimensions of war and peace that are so often lost in public discourse.
His mission is simple but profound: to awaken in others a sense of our shared humanity—so that we might build a more peaceful world. Through The Voices of War, he amplifies the voices of those affected by conflict—be they survivors, perpetrators, peacemakers, or scholars—and explores more ethical, informed, and effective ways to engage with our local, regional, and global challenges
A Journey Forged by Conflict
Maz’s journey began in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where, at the age of ten, his peaceful childhood was shattered by the outbreak of war. As the city came under siege, he and his family spent months sheltering in a cellar. Eventually, he escaped with his mother and brother, while his father—a fighting-age male—remained behind to defend their homeland.
As refugees, the family spent three and a half years in Munich, Germany. There, Maz not only learned a new language but also came to understand what it means to lose a home, a way of life, and an identity—all while adapting to a foreign culture and navigating a new social reality. These early years offered a rare and intimate perspective on the lived experience of war and displacement.
In late 1995, after reuniting with their father, the family migrated to Australia.
From Soldier to Storyteller
Guided by a deep desire to serve, Maz joined the Australian Regular Army in 2004. Over the next decade, he served in Afghanistan and Timor Leste as an Intelligence Officer. After leaving the Army, he returned to Sarajevo with his partner, Esin, to co-found CrossFit Sarajevo, the country’s first official CrossFit affiliate. More than a gym, it was a not-for-profit initiative aimed at healing ethnic divisions through sport, community, and shared purpose.
Maz’s journey then took him to Sweden, where he completed postgraduate studies, and later to Iraq, where he led field operations for a British post-conflict development firm. His growing passion for ethical dialogue and meaningful communication saw him return to Sweden to teach Communication at the University of Gothenburg.
In 2020, anticipating the birth of their first child, Lara, Maz and Esin returned to Australia. He rejoined the Army as an educator, teaching ethics, interpersonal dynamics, and cross-cultural communication to specialist intelligence personnel. In his final year in uniform, he was appointed the Chief of Defence Research Fellow, focusing on the relationship between moral injury and moral responsibility in conflict. He retired from military service in early 2024.
Today
Maz now continues to teach interpersonal and intercultural communication in a civilian role while producing The Voices of War. He holds degrees in Politics (BA), Strategy and Management (MA), Communication (MSc), and Global Studies (MSc).
Outside of work, he’s most at home on the beaches of Sydney, chasing after his three children—Lara, Daryan, and Aydin—or enjoying a quiet moment with Esin.
If you’d like to get in touch or suggest a guest or topic, you can reach Maz at info@thevoicesofwar.com.