ETC Honours Tamara Salajic with Inaugural Leadership Award

June 15th, 2026

This past weekend at the inaugural Women and Girls in Sport Leadership Conference, the Karina Trkulja Leadership Award was presented for the first time ever. The award was created to celebrate and recognize members of the Edmonton Tennis Community (ETC) whose contributions reflect the values of the organization.

This year, the award was presented to Tamara Salajic.

Tamara is a first-generation Canadian whose parents immigrated from the former Yugoslavia in search of new opportunities and a better future. Her first example of leadership, she says, was her mother: "She came to Canada not knowing English, and taught me the strength, resilience, and work ethic I still bring with me today." 

Tamara was accepted to the University of Alberta at the age of sixteen, where she earned a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Business Economics and Law. She then began her professional career at the Derrick Golf and Winter Club, working in data analytics and program support, where she built a strong foundation in operations, reporting, and member services. It was there she met Kristina Sanjevic, who later introduced her to Karina. When Karina first approached her about joining ETC, Tamara had her doubts. She had never worked in marketing before and told Karina as much. Karina's response stayed with her: never say you can't, never say never.

Tamara stepped into the role of Marketing Coordinator at ETC in January 2024. Since then, she has contributed to the organization's marketing initiatives, community engagement efforts, and the promotion of tennis programs throughout the city, often working behind the scenes to bring ETC's events and programming to life.

"Karina was the first person who truly invested in me and gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and become who I am today. That is what leadership is to me: someone who sees the potential in others before they see it in themselves, and leads with empathy, with purpose, and with courage."

— Tamara Salajic, Marketing Coordinator, Edmonton Tennis Community

Alongside her work with ETC, Tamara serves as Office Manager at a non-profit counselling clinic focused on aiding survivors of sexual abuse, where her role extends far beyond traditional office administration. She oversees a wide range of organizational functions, including operations, human resources, finance, technology, communications, event planning, and strategic projects. Passionate about community impact, she is dedicated to building systems and processes that allow organizations to better serve the people who rely on them.

Leadership does not always look the way people expect it to. Sometimes it is loud, visible, and commanding. But sometimes the most powerful leaders are the ones who lead quietly, consistently, and with humility. Tamara is one of those leaders. She does not seek recognition or attention, and she does not need to be the loudest voice in the room. Instead, she lets her actions speak for her. She shows up, works hard, supports those around her, and leads by example.

"What makes Tamara so special is her ability to bring everything to life. There is no task that I've given her that she didn't complete and exceeded my expectations. Tamara understands that leadership is not about being in charge, it's about making those around her better. She makes everything easy; she earns respect through her quality of work and creates a positive impact within our organization."

— Karina Trkulja, Executive Director, Edmonton Tennis Community

When Tamara first learned she would be receiving the award, her instinct was to protest. To her, this recognition was never about one person, but about the community that helped build the path that brought her here. It is a fitting reminder that quiet leadership often leaves the deepest and most lasting impact. ETC is grateful for everything Tamara has contributed to this community, and proud to honour her with its first-ever Leadership Award.