Vladimir Jelavić was born in Zagreb. He obtained his doctorate from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, writing the thesis on developing a methodology for optimizing the energy structure of urban agglomerations and environmental protection. He holds certificates for preparation of documentations for environmental and nuclear field activities. He has led a number of projects in the field of energy, environment protection, climate change policies, nuclear field and radioactive waste management.

He worked at the Energy Institute, at the National Office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as program leader for energy and climate and was a member of the negotiating teams for the accession to the EU, the Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement and the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution. At Krško Nuclear Power Plant, he worked as Croatian representative in two-member board of the Plant. He was leader and reviewer of projects and programs financed from UN-GEF and EU funds.

He has published numerous original scientific papers and has authored more than two hundred studies. He is a scientific associate and is a leading lecturer of the postgraduate study on energy and climate change. Among his more recent engagements is project leadership of development of technical bases for low-carbon strategy of the Republic Croatia until 2030 with a view to 2050.