Mate Ugrina graduated from the Faculty of Economics in Zagreb and holds specific certificates related to the preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects: Cost - Benefit Analysis Training Program, Financial Management of the Structural Funds, FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction.

Since 2005 he has been involved in the preparation and implementation of internationally funded projects. For over 5 years he worked at the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting of EU Programs and Projects as Head of Department (accreditation of CARDS, PHARE, ISPA and IPA programs), and as the Director of the Project Preparation and Implementation Office, i.e. Assistant Director of the CFCA.

During that period, his duties included preparation of tender documents for the procurement of goods, services and works worth over 120 million euros, implementation of infrastructure projects worth over 60 million euros (Project of the Regional Waste Management Centre "Bikarac"; Project of water supply and wastewater system in the city of Karlovac, Railway Infrastructure Renewal Project, etc.), development of manuals and interinstitutional agreements on the implementation of EU programs, cooperation with EC audit missions, the State Audit Office and private audit firms, etc.

Since 2011 he has been working on Justice Sector Support Project and since mid-2014 he has been working on the Integrated Land Administration Project, both projects funded through the World Bank Loan, and as an independent expert in EU funded projects at the Ministry of Industry in Turkey on projects in the regional development sector. Since 2018 an expert has been working on EU-funded projects in the environment protection sector.

His specializations include preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects under the rules of the European Commission, the World Bank, the FIDIC Organization.