Zeljko Knez, born on August 26, 1954 in Maribor, dr. of Science, M.Sc., Univ. B.Sc. ing. chem. tech., full-time prof. for chemical engineering at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the University of Maribor. In 1973, he graduated from the first high school in Maribor as the best student of his generation. He continued his studies in chemical technology at the University of Technology in Maribor, where he graduated in 1977. He continued his master's studies in chemical technology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology of the University of Ljubljana and completed it in 1979. Between 1977 and 1981, he was employed at TKI Pinus Rače, On the basis of this research, the synthesis of biologically active agents on an industrial scale was realized. In 1984, he received his doctorate at the University of Maribor. In 1981, he got a job at the University of Maribor, at the Technical College. In 1985, he was elected assistant professor in the field of chemical engineering, in 1990 as an associate professor, and in 1995 as a full professor.