[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585140294563{margin-top: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our keynote speakers perform at all corners of the world. You can view their performances, please click.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1585169686613{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Murat
Germen
Artist – Photographer
Biography
Murat Germen is an artist, academic and archivist using photography as an expression / research tool. Born 1965, he currently lives / works in Istanbul. Has an MArch degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he went as a Fulbright scholar and received AIA Henry Adams Gold Medal for academic excellence. Works as a professor of art, photography and new media at Sabanci University in Istanbul. Having many papers, photo series published on architecture / photography / art / new media in various publications; he has lectured at tens of conferences internationally.
His oeuvre focuses on impacts of over-urbanization and gentrification, dis/possession, new forms / tools / methods of imperialism, civic rights, participatory citizenship, sustainability of local cultures, human devastation of nature, climate change, global warming, water rights. Has two monographies, one published by Skira (Italy) and the other by MASA (Turkey). Has opened/joined over eighty inter/national (Turkey, USA, Italy, Germany, UK, Mexico, Portugal, Uzbekistan, Greece, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Poland, Iran, India, Australia, France, Canada, Bahrain, South Korea, Dubai, China, Sweden, Switzerland, Egypt) solo+group exhibitions. More than 400 editions of the artist’s several artworks are in personal collections of eminent art collectors inter/nationally, in addition to several that are in Istanbul Modern, Proje4L Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art (Istanbul), Centre of Contemporary Art in Toruń (Poland), Benetton Foundation’s Imago Mundi – Istanbul Codex, Yapi Kredi Bank Culture and Arts Center (Istanbul), Odunpazari Modern Museum (Eskisehir, Turkey), Evliyagil Museum (Turkey) collections.
Emre
Alkin
Economist, Consultant, TV commentator, Vice Rector at Altınbaş University
Biography
The era of making money by selling goods and services is over. Today’s winners are those who properly apply the concept of time.
With his unique style, Dr. Emre Alkin brings a fresh approach to his analyses of the economy. Alkin is able to explain economic developments (e.g., critical data, fluctuating foreign exchange rates and stock markets, hot money, etc.) that can occur on any given day in a lucid manner without boring or tiring the audience. He can convey his views about the economy and politics in an objective manner which he bases on reliable sources.
One might be tempted to think of Alkin as a classical “professor,” but this is far from the truth of the matter. He is a very energetic and open-minded person, always eager to learn, and is capable of making unexpected connections. In short, many people wait to hear his unique commentary before making decisions about the economy.
Alkin says that, in order to understand and predict what will happen tomorrow, one needs to understand the past correctly. He emphasises the importance of history when interpreting economic developments. According to Alkin, the era of making money by selling goods and services is over. Today, the only way to acquire a position of global leadership is to apply the concept of time correctly. This successful economist says that in order to gain power in the global market, strategies need to be developed where telecommunication, Internet, media and entertainment are applied together. He uses his academic knowledge and his business experience to promote the correct strategies for uncertain environments.
In addition to his academic work, Emre Alkin is also a TV commentator. Being a member of the board of directors in different sectors and providing consultancy to various companies, he always has his finger on the pulse of the worlds of business, academia and the media. The versatility of his commentary and his ability to understand different perspectives is possible thanks to the variety of his business experience.
There is an unknown side to Emre Alkin’s story: he is also a musician. He gives highly entertaining and informative speeches on the newest developments in music, the economy, politics or cultural history, where he compares different sectors.
Who is Emre Alkin?
He graduated from İstanbul University’s Faculty of Economics in 1991 and completed his postgraduate education in 1993 at the same university. He became an associate professor in 1997 and a professor in 2002. Between 1999 and 2003 he served as the advisor to the President of the İstanbul Stock Exchange, as the Secretary General of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, and as a member of the Tax Council in 2003. He also worked for Çukurova Holding, Doğan Holding and Altınbaş Holding. He is a member of the board of directors of Yatırım Menkul Kıymetler and has been a member of the board of trustees of the Anadolu Foundation since 2000. He worked as a columnist for various newspapers and has appeared on numerous TV channels to give his analysis of the economy. He is a Vice Rector at Altınbaş University and Secretary General of the Turkish Football Federation.
Speech Topics
• What to expect from tomorrow’s economy
• The new economic order and balance
• Crisis and risk management
• Nothing will ever be the same again!
Şafak
Pavey
Politician, Diplomat, Human Rights Activist
Biography
Şafak Pavey, former Turkish MP is a highly respected figure in international diplomacy and a well known speaker. Pavey, is active in international human rights circles. She is an ambassador of tolerance and “positivism”, appreciated by all regardless of political perspective they represent . Pavey is a trusted activist for women, children, disabled, immigrant… in short “human” rights. In her own words, she is an “active citizen”.
As a child, Pavey was interested in art and communication and she studied art and cinema in Zurich. She lost an arm and a leg in a train accident, which has not discouraged her at all. On the contrary, she decided to work on behalf of handicapped groups including people with disabilities, minorities and immigrants and changed the path of her career. Pavey studied international relations and economics and worked to improve the well-being of humanity on a number of issues including human rights, humanitarian assistance and global peace.
A career of achievements from UN to the Turkish Parliament
Pavey started to work for the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights in 2003 and held various positions during the following 7 years. She was a humanitarian assistance officer in Algeria, Sahara, Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. She was the commissioner’s agent in Iran and Afghanistan. Pavey served as the Public Relations and Strategic Communication Projects Manager in Geneva and the Coordinator for Ted Kennedy Nansen Immigrants Awards Committee in Washington. She was later assigned as the Central European Chief Agent of the Office of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Immigrants in Hungary. In 2010, she served as the Secretary General for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Following and invitation by the People’s Republican Party (CHP), she was elected as MP from Istanbul. Pavey as of 2017 is back to her active citizen activities, such as the Women Leaders Forum, headquartered in Brussels. She currently works on security, women and immigration issues.
She wrote a book with her mother, journalist Ayşe Önal, about the accident she was involved, titled “Railway Platform 13” which became the “Book of the Year” in Turkey. A year later in 2008, she wrote “Refugee Rights in Iran” with Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi. She also served as an editor for two international publications and published “Wherever I Go The Sky Is Mine” (2011).
Who is Şafak Pavey?
Pavey was born in Ankara (1976). Graduated from Westminster University, London. She has a MA from the London School of Economics. She was acclaimed by the academic circles with her thesis titled “Property Rights of Non-Muslims in Muslim Countries”, and honored with the “Outstanding Young Person of the World Award”. She also received “International Woman of Courage Award” (2012) by the US Secretary of State. Pavey received the award from First Lady Michele Obama, while former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, supported with a long and comprehensive speech. Pavey speaks English, German, French, Italian and “international sign language.” She also speaks Arabic and Persian at an elementary level.
Speech Topics
- Universal Human Rights of Women, Children, Elderly and Disabled
- Philanthropy
- Global Migration and Social Cohesion Policies
- Working at the UN; A bird’s eye view of the world
- Humananistic Thoughts and Scenariosfor the Near Future
- Intercity Diplomacy
- Urban and Environmental Designs
- The Future of Security and Civil Security Issues
- Solutions for Inclusive Industrial Design
Bahadır
Kaleağası
President of the Paris Bosphorus Institute
Biography
“The EU initiative process has had a positive impact on Turkey’s present and future economically, politically and culturally.”
Dr. Bahadır Kaleağası is one of the few experts in Turkey who specializes in the EU and EU’s foreign economic affairs. Kaleağası views Turkey-EU affairs from a different perspective: “An alternative and an option are two different concepts. An alternative means an equivalent option. Currently, there is not an alternative to the EU from Turkey’s standpoint which would conveniently protect our national interests, strengthen our democracy, and create a more solid Turkey in the future. It is not so easy to create new ideas and alternatives on a global scale; therefore, we need to be much stronger in our claim for the EU.”
For many years, Kaleağası lectured training sessions on international protocol. In Turkey, he prepares and coaches chief executives of international companies for international meetings. In the training sessions, he addresses numerous topics, including macro-politics, economy, how to start a conversation, welcoming and saying farewell to guests.
In 1996, Bahadır Kaleağası has founded the TUSIAD European Union Representative Office in Brussels and was appointed the permanent delegate of TUSIAD and TİSK (Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations) in BUSINESSEUROPE – Representative Organization for European Business. Since 2008 he has served as the International Coordinator accountable for foreign affairs, in TUSIAD’s Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Washington DC and Beijing offices. He is the President of Bosphorus Institute – Paris, an academic member of the Institute for European Studies at the University of Brussels, the Turkish environmental protection organisation, the Honorary Chairman of the Brussels Energy Club – Brec and the member of many other corporate. Each year, he guests in many conferences and media broadcasts and provides counselling for international projects.
Bahadır Kaleağası is also a manager of Kalangos Foundation, an organization working especially on children’s heart health.
Who is Dr. Bahadır Kaleağası?
Dr. Bahadır Kaleağası is a graduate of Galatasaray High School – Istanbul, a former ABD exchange student of the AFS programme and an alumnus of University of Brussels and Istanbul University. Through years 1989-1996, he assumed roles as a researcher and a lecturer at the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Institute for European Studies in University of Brussels, where he had graduated with top Marks as a scholar. His academic research and lecture subjects were mainly focused on EU’s decision-making system, EU-US affairs and international economic affairs.
The European Commission’s Jean Monnet Scholarship and NATO Research Fellowship were bestowed upon Kaleağası within years 1990-1993 and he has been to Harvard, Georgetown and Jerusalem Universities as an academic guest through various semesters. He assumed the spokesmanship role in one of the conference groups during the Maastricht Treaty negotiations, which constitute the foundation of EU. He participated in many projects of the EU and European Commission’s Forward Studies Unit and provided counselling to several public and private business institutions, both on domestic and international platforms.
Bahadir Kaleagasi is an internationally published author with many articles. He is the co-author of the books; “Towards a New Europe” (Brussels, 1993), “Les Défis de l’Elargissement de l’Union européenne” (Brussels, 1994) and “La Turquie en Mouvement” (Paris, 1995), “La République Laïque Turque” (Paris, 2003), author of “From Single Market to Monetary Union” (IKV, 1995), “The Roadmap to Europe” (Dünya, 2003), “European Galaxy and the Turkish Star” (Doğan Kitap, 2007), “Future of Europe, Questions of the Youth” (Boyut, 2010), “Planet G20” (Doğan Kitap, 2012) and is a regular media commentator for global economy and politics in Bloomberg HT, Anadolu Ajansı-Finans, Radikal and Finans Dünyası.
Speech Topics
- Investment Planning
- Early Identification of Risks
- Corporate Profile and International Communications Strategy
- Corporate Brand, Social Responsibility and Social Reputation
- City and Location Branding
- International protocol and business relations
- International negotiating
- Publicity and communication
- International relations for directors of companies and NGOs
- Lobbying
- The EU and the world
- Turkey-EU relations
- Turkey’s international role, the EU process and internal dynamics
Ediz
Hun
Ecologist, Instructor Okan University / Actor
Biography
“Common sense and science will help us in creating environmentally friendly producers and consumers in order to enhance the welfare and quality of life of our people.”
Population growth needs to be more firmly controlled
Ediz Hun is one of the golden names of Turkish cinema. He was one of the most well-known faces of an era. When he saw cinema reaching a deadlock, he turned to a different career path. He built his future around tackling environmental issues, the number one topic for the world today. Upon returning to Turkey as a successful scientist, he even went into politics for the sake of the environment. “In today’s system of global values and the contemporary approach to management, there are three basic elements: democratisation, human rights, and environmental protection law focusing on human-induced environmental pollution. All three are issues that societies must resolve at once”, says Hun.
The world’s population is currently growing by 300,000-350,000 people, or 10 football stadiums, a day. Hun believes that environmental issues can be resolved by controlling population growth. “Istanbul has a population of 15-16 million. One person produces four to seven litres of waste a day depending on their age and eating habits. Assuming an average of four litres, Istanbul produces 64 million litres of waste a day. If we do not control population growth, it will be impossible to manage environmental issues and the resulting global climate change.”
Ediz Hun is a speaker in high demand – he gives 35-40 lectures annually and the topics vary according to demand. He keeps his audiences spell-bound on stage with his active and vibrant presentations. His presentations are between 45-55 minutes in length and end with a QA section.
Who is Ediz Hun?
Ediz Hun holds a degree in biology and environmental science from Oslo and Trondheim Universities in Norway. He became a lecturer at Marmara University in 1985. He served as a consultant to the Ministry of the Environment and as Istanbul Provincial Director of the Environment between 1991 and 1993. He became a member of parliament for the ANAP (the Motherland Party) in the 1999 elections. He Served as the Chairman of the Environmental Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. He gives environmental and ecology classes at Bahçesehir and Okan Universities. He has worked in the Turkish film industry for 36 years.
Speech Topics
• Global warming
• Ecology/Urban Ecologies
• Nature-human relations in socio-economic development
• Global climate change and the status of the world
•Friendship and Charity in Life
• World and Own Movies History
Gani
Müjde
Writer, Script Writer, Director, Cartoonist
Biography
“One of our teachers told us to look at people in the streets, write stories about them and develop characters for them in our mind. I make many observations. The characters I cast are real Turkish people.”
A coffee/laughter break with Gani Müjde
Gani Müjde is a talented name whose works have filled our lives with joy. He has successfully managed to pull off many “firsts” in a landscape where “new” is not easily accepted. The master humourist’s films, which he produces and directs, and his TV series and programs, for which he writes the scripts, are embedded in our memories.
Gani Müjde invites his audience for a coffee break where he tells amusing anecdotes from his life and comments on interesting newspaper headlines, as well as celebrity blunders. The positive way he looks at life transports you away from your daily routine and makes for a truly special experience.
Take a break and smile at life with Gani Müjde!
Who is Gani Müjde?
Gani Müjde was born in 1959 in Istanbul. He graduated from Mimar Sinan University’s Cinema and Television Academy. Müjde worked for Gırgır and Fırt magazines for eight years. He also worked as an editor at the magazine Laklak. He then went on to establish Limon magazine and began writing a column called “Peynir Gemisi.”
He now heads a writer’s group called Tükenmezkalem and owns a production company called Peynir Gemisi.
Speech Topics
• Conversations with humorous anecdotes
Emin
Çapa
Journalist, Television Producer
Biography
He studied journalism at Istanbul University. He completed his two postgraduate degrees on the subject of the EU. In 1989, he began working as Tempo magazine’s first permanent economics correspondent. He served as the Chamber Director at the Chamber of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers. He was one of the founders of Genç Radio, one of Turkey’s first private radio stations. Due to his interest in industrial relations and issues concerning salary, he worked for the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), after which he returned to journalism. He was Sabah Newspaper’s correspondent on industrial relations and the EU for five years. He began working as Advisor to the Chairman of TÜSİAD under the directorate of Muharrem Kayhan and later under the directorate of Erkut Yücaoğlu. Çapa’s hobbies and interests include amateur gardening, art history (art-politics and economic relations), military strategy, astronomy-astrophysics-astrobiology and history (especially the First and Middle Ages).
Emin Çapa is a well renowned commentator who is able to make economic issues appealing. With his engaging and lucid style of presentation and analysis, the CNN TÜRK Economy Director presents subjects normally seen as “difficult” to his audience using plain, comprehensible language.
Çapa has been working at CNN Türk in different positions since 1999. Çapa first served as Economic News Editor and has been working as Economics Director since 2004.
Çapa produces and presents the economics program “Paranın İzi (Trail of Money),” which is broadcast live every weeknight. The famous journalist also has a weekly program “Aklın İzi (Trail of Mind),” where, rather than complaining about Turkey, he focuses on different subjects of scientific interest. These subjects include topics such as “The first genius of the 21st Century and why is Turkey not educating any geniuses?”, “How big is big? Is Everest the highest mountain? What is the biggest star?”, “What is speed? The fastest creatures and man-made speed monsters”, “Why we age, can human ageing be stopped?”, “Foolishnesses that changed history”, “The fastest computers, how they can be so fast?”, “Luxury industries, why do we spend money on luxuries?”, “Are wars and the economy similar to each other? Similarities between countries defeated at war and bankrupted companies.”.
Çapa gives dynamic presentations at national and international seminars and organisations such as the Quality Congress, the Tourism Summit, the Izmir Quality Congress, the Marketing Summit and provides media training for senior managers of Turkey’s leading companies. He voluntarily organizes cultural trips with the themes “Palace and ritual”, “Harem and power”, “Empire and architecture”, “Sinan and Süleymaniye”, “Journey into the mind of a human (Archeological Museum)” for his friends and relatives.
Speech Topics
• Evaluation of the economy and financial issues
• Contemporary economic and financial commentary
Güven
İslamoğlu
TV Producer, Director
Biography
He produces documentary films and TV programs and explains to people that a life at peace with nature is possible. He raises our awareness of our natural and cultural heritage.
Güven İslamoğlu demonstrates to his audience issues of environmental importance to Turkey and the world with his TV programs that he produces and presents. His aim is to promote a life at peace with nature. “We cannot protect something that we don’t know exists,” says İslamoğlu, who has travelled every inch of Turkey and emphasises what an incredible country we live in, with our archaeological, historical and cultural heritage.
With his vast experience at TRT and various newspapers, he was able to play an active role in the establishment of CNN TÜRK. He produced documentary films such as “Ecevit, Kıbrıs, Yaralı Balina and Ağrı’ya By-Pass.” He placed the CNN TÜRK flag at the top of Mount Ağrı. He broadcast live from 4,200 meters for the first time in Turkey. He played an active role in many events that left their mark on Turkey’s national consciousness. Currently, he works as the senior reporter at the News Centre of CNN TÜRK. He has won many awards for his program “Her Yerde Bir Haber Var.” İslamoğlu currently produces and presents another program “Yeşil Doğa.”
İslamoğlu has had a highly successful journalism career reporting from a number of regions around the world that are fast-paced, journalistically speaking, to say the least. He is currently involved in reporting on the environment and working on news programs. İslamoğlu has won an array of awards, including the Progressive Journalists’ Association “Best Documentary Award,” the Istanbul Environment Council Federation’s “Environment Award,” ÇEVKO’s “Respect to the Environment Award,” EUROSOLAR’s “Sun Award,” regarded as the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize of Europe, the Berlin Media Ethics Council’s “TV Documentary Ethics Award.”
In his private life he also seeks to live in harmony with nature. İslamoğlu dabbles in carpentry and is a keen hiker, cyclist and catamaran enthusiast.
Who is Güven İslamoğlu?
Güven İslamoğlu graduated from the Press Department of the Anatolian University’s Communication Sciences Faculty. He worked as a director on the programs “Gün Başlıyor” and “Akşama Doğru” at TRT Ankara Television between 1989 and 1991. He played a part in the establishment of HBB in 1992. He served as a producer and director in the Special News Department. He took charge of the programs “Anten” and “Yüksek Tansiyon.” He worked as a director in Hürriyet Production between 1993 and 1994. He directed the programs “Arena” and “Prizma.” In 1995, he decided to work in front of the camera rather than from behind the scenes and began working for Show TV News Centre, where he reported on news items of special interest. In 1997, he was transferred to Star News Centre. He served as an executive producer in addition to working on news items of special interest. In 1999, he began working for CNN TÜRK and played a part in its establishment.
Speech Topics
What sort of a country do we live in?
• Ecology
• Renewable and alternative energy
• New trends in communication: electronic-digital-social media
• Corporate communication
• The Secret of Discovery
• Battles for Water
• Ecological and Sociological Effects of Global Warming
• Environment is The New Trend
• Ways to Achieve Sustainability
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