Dr. Süleyman ELBAN was born on June 6, 1969, in Kırşehir. He completed his primary education in Germany and Kırşehir, and his secondary education in Kırşehir. In 1992, he graduated from Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, Department of Public Administration.

After serving as a research assistant at Abant İzzet Baysal University and as an Assistant Expert at the Prime Ministry’s Directorate of State Personnel, he began his career as a district governor candidate in 1994 in Eskişehir.

Between 1995 and 1996, he spent eight months in England for language and public administration training. Following his assignments as Acting District Governor of Edirne-Havsa, District Governor of Samsun-Yakakent, and District Governor of Elazığ-Karakoçan, he was appointed as Branch Director at the Directorate General of Local Authorities in 2003.

At the Directorate General of Local Authorities, he also served as Head of Department and Deputy Director General.

He holds two master’s degrees: the first in Local Governments from Fırat University Institute of Social Sciences in 2003, and the second from the University of Portsmouth (UK) in 2008, in Public Administration and the European Union, focusing on Public–Private Partnerships (PPP).

During his 13 years of service at the Directorate General of Local Authorities, he took part in the preparation of laws, as well as secondary and subordinate regulations, within the scope of local government reforms. He also served as an instructor in many training programs organized in the field of local governments and has published various articles on the subject.

In addition, he is the author of four published books: Municipal Revenues Law (August 2012), Applications of the Municipal Law (March 2013), Golden Guide to Municipal Legislation with Questions and Answers (October 2014), and Questions and Answers on Local Governments’ Revenues and Expenditures (May 2015).

He is married with two children and has a good command of English.

Dr. Cemil Tugay graduated from the Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 1989 and worked as a general practitioner in Çorum and Tire for four years. From 1993 to 2000, he completed his residency in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, receiving his specialist title in 2000 at İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital. In 1997, he served for one year as a research fellow at the Cleveland Clinic. He worked at Karşıyaka State Hospital between 2001 and 2005, and at Kent Hospital in Çiğli between 2005 and 2009. From 2009 onward, he practiced privately in Karşıyaka; he closed his clinic in Alsancak after being elected mayor. He is married with three children and speaks English and French. He joined the CHP in 2010 and has held various roles at the provincial and district levels, as well as leadership positions within the Turkish Medical Association and other professional organizations. He served as Mayor of Karşıyaka from 2019 to 2024. On June 4, 2024, he was elected President of the Healthy Cities Association of Turkey.

Ahmed M. El Wakil is the President of the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME), elected during the General Assembly held on 22 November 2017 in Barcelona (ascame.org). A respected Egyptian business leader, he also serves as Chairman of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in Egypt and holds multiple high-level roles:

• Chairman, Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Agriculture, Industry and Professions (IRP CDN)
• Chairman, Egyptian–Russian and Egyptian–Syrian Economic Councils (IRP CDN)
• Vice‑President, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Treasurer, Arab Union of Chambers (IRP CDN)
• Board Member, Franco‑Arab Chamber (Paris) and Belgium‑Luxembourg‑Arab Chamber of Commerce (IRP CDN)
• Member, Egyptian Committee of 50 to draft the new Constitution (IRP CDN)
• Director, on the Boards of the National Social Insurance Organization, Alexandria Port Authority, and Internal Trade Development Authority (IRP CDN)

In the private sector, he is the founding Chairman and President of the Wakalex Group and Wakalex for Industry & Trade, with additional board roles in transport and urban development companies (IRP CDN).

Ahmed M. El Wakil brings extensive experience in Mediterranean trade and institutional diplomacy. As ASCAME President, he actively promotes economic cooperation—most recently at global forums such as the ICC World Chambers Federation Europe & Asia Summit in Istanbul and during Egypt’s state visit to Denmark—underscoring his commitment to fostering cross‑regional chamber collaboration (ICC – International Chamber of Commerce).

Semiha Güneş began her professional career in 1982 by founding Epig Architecture, Engineering, Trade and Tourism Ltd. Co. She graduated from İzmir Girls’ High School, and later completed her education at Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Architecture in 1977.

Since its establishment, the firm has received numerous awards for various projects across different regions of Turkey. Some of these award-winning projects include:

• First prize in the Bornova Municipality Social Housing Project Competition,
• Best Building Award for the Ege Ospar building,
• First prizes in invited competitions for projects such as EBSO, Boliva, Narova, Yaşar University, and Bakırçay University,
• Best Mixed-Use Project in Turkey at the Sign of the City Awards for Ontan Tower and Mahall Bomonti İzmir,
• Best Residential Project in Turkey at the Sign of the City Awards for the Mesa Urla Kekliktepe Phase 3

In the early years of her career, she was actively involved in the Izmir Chamber of Architects, particularly in areas related to professional distinctions and chamber audits. She has held several leadership roles, including:

• Board member and Vice President (two terms) of the Izmir Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (İZSİAD),
• Executive Board Member of Yeşilova Sports Club.

She currently continues her roles as a Board Member of İZSİAD and a Member of the High Advisory Board of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce.

Driven by a strong sense of civic responsibility, she has contributed to various social projects. Her notable designs include:

• Karşıyaka Monument and Women’s Museum,
• Konak Toros Marketplace,
• Multi-purpose Hall,
• Urla Landscape Design,
• Balçova Municipality Cultural Center.

She has also provided consultancy services to major firms such as İŞGYO, Zorlu Group, Suryapı, and Türkerler Holding. Additionally, she has been involved in numerous high-profile projects across various categories, including:

• Izmir Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurship Center,
• Serel Complex in Bilecik,
• Selçuk Pharmaceutical Warehouses,
• Şile Ege Construction Project,
• Megapol Izmir,
• Renaissance Yalı,
• Velux,
• Navac Konak,
• Izmir Dünya Göz Hospital, among many others.

On February 23, 2024, she was elected as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at the General Assembly of the Federation of Western Anatolian Industrialists and Business People’s Associations (BASİFED). She has been serving in this role since then.

Betül Sezgin has carried her entrepreneurial journey from Turkey to Belgium, making significant contributions in women’s entrepreneurship, human resources consulting, and interior architecture at both national and international levels. As the founder of Brussels-based Pard Consulting BV and İzmir-based Betül Sezgin Studio, she has built her business vision on the principles of sustainability, innovative design, and social transformation.

Between 2020 and 2024, Sezgin served as the President of the Board of the İzmir Businesswomen’s Association (İZİKAD). She currently chairs İZİKAD’s Advisory Board and supports the association’s magazine İş’te Kadın with editorial contributions. At the same time, she actively contributes to the international expansion of GIFED, a federation representing nine women’s associations across Turkey, in her role as Vice President.

Sezgin stands out with projects that place women’s economic and social empowerment at the center. She is the driving force behind innovative initiatives such as the Equal Build Index, aimed at establishing gender equality certification in the construction sector; EKO-KOOP, a branding and digitalization program for women’s cooperatives; and Femmentors, an international mentorship program for women architects and designers.

Having spoken at numerous international platforms including Tashkent, Bishkek, Barcelona, Alexandria, Brussels, Istanbul, and İzmir, Betül Sezgin is recognized for her efforts in strengthening women’s leadership in business.

Deniz Celep was born in İzmir and represents the second generation of her family in the agriculture and food sector. She combines her professional experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and visionary perspective to contribute to the development of the sector on both national and international levels.
Since 2001, she has been serving as the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Akcelep Pamuk Gıda Tarım Ürünleri Ltd. Şti. She is also the Founding Partner of Mezita A.Ş. and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at 2E Tarım ve Gıda San. Tic. Ltd. Şti. Under her leadership, these companies specialize in canned foods, sauces, and ready-to-eat meals, and today employ around 300 people, exporting to a wide range of markets from the United States to Europe, and from Asia to the Middle East.

Deniz Celep also holds active responsibilities in civil society and corporate platforms:
• Chairperson of the Executive Committee, TOBB İzmir Women Entrepreneurs Board
• Board Member, İzmir Commodity Exchange
• Chairperson, Ege Exporters’ Association Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Committee
• Vice Chairperson of the Board, İzmir Agricultural Technologies Center

Across all platforms she serves, her shared goals have been to ensure stronger representation of women in economic life, to promote the culture of entrepreneurship, and to implement projects focused on sustainable growth.
Her vision emphasizes innovation, R&D, digitalization, branding, and societal benefit as core values. Through internship programs for university students, mentorship activities for women entrepreneurs, and export support projects, she aims to contribute not only to today’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also to the future one.
Deniz Celep believes that increasing the role of women leaders in business is one of the strongest engines of economic development, and with this belief, she continues to develop inspiring, innovative, and sustainable entrepreneurship models across all platforms.

Economist, MBA, speaks fluently seven languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, Catalan, German and Portuguese), has 35 years’ experience in management in industrial, high consumption and services companies. She worked for 10 years in Marketing in multinational companies (CLOROX, CINZANO, PERNOD RICARD, SEALY). Currently, CEO of a family owned companies, including Congost Plastic, a Spanish leading company manufacturing and distributing industrial plastic products for maintenance (www.congost.com), already selling in more than 40 countries. Global Marketing and International Business Professor. Board member of MUTUA UNIVERSAL and other established companies and institutions in the country like Centro Español de Plásticos (CEP), Asociación Española de Industriales de Plásticos (ANAIP). Vocal in the Board of Directors of the French Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona. Also, member of the Board of AFAEMME and WOMENALIA, and member of the IWF and EWMD in Spain and WIN internationally. Living in Barcelona, married with three sons with ages 26, 21 and 18 respectively.

Dr. Erçin Güdücü is an accomplished Senior IT & Business
Director with over 30 years of experience across financial
and commodity-related sectors, encompassing public,
private, and non-profit organizations. He is an expert in
aligning IT with business objectives and managing large-
scale projects under challenging conditions.
Professional Highlights:
Leadership:
Expertise
in
Service
Management,
Software
Development and IT Governance.
Systems Implementation: Proficient in end-to-end trading systems, smart
agriculture, commodity exchanges, and data dissemination.
Project Management: Skilled in project management, ITIL, MIS and business
Education: Lecturer in Management Information Systems and a speaker at
events on IT, Finance and Smart Agriculture.
Board Memberships: Serves on the boards of three Science Parks and three
non-profit organizations.
Current Role: Secretary General of Izmir Commodity Exchange.
Previous Roles: CIO of Turkish Derivatives Exchange, System Architect at ING Bank
Turkey, Group Manager at TOBB-Net.
Academic Background: Holds a PhD in Economics, MSc in Money & Banking, and
BSc degree in Computer Science.

Born in Adana in 1985, she completed her primary education in Adana and her secondary and high school education in Bandırma. She graduated from Bilkent University, Faculty of Business Administration, Department of International Trade and Management, and subsequently completed programs in Maritime Trade, Ship Management, Ship Brokerage, and Foreign Trade at the National Business Academy.
She began her professional career in 2008, taking on various roles within the family businesses. She currently serves as a Board Member of Marmara Agricultural Products Crude Oil Factory and is a co-founder and board member of Pacific Line Shipping & Logistics and Siren Agro Food companies.
Actively engaged in non-governmental organizations, Funda Seçil Dedeoğlu is a Board Member of TÜRKONFED (Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation), the President of the South Marmara Industry and Business Federation (GÜNMARSİFED), Assembly President of the Bandırma Chamber of Commerce, and Vice President of the Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce Women Entrepreneurs Provincial Executive Committee.
She is also a member of numerous civil society organizations and an active member of the Family Business Association (TAİDER).
She is married and the mother of one child.

Dr. İçim Çağıner Kavuklu, was born in Limassol-Cyprus in 1971.  After the Happy Peace Operation in 1974, she and her family moved to Kyrenia.

She completed her primary school in Kyrenia.  She attended secondary school and high school in Nicosia “Turkish Maarif College”.

After succeeding in the university entrance exams in 1989, she started her university education in the Faculty of Dentistry at Hacettepe University in Ankara.   She  graduated with honours and first in her class in 1994.  In the same year, she started her doctorate in Orthodontics at Hacettepe University.  After completing doctorate degree in 1999, she returned to Cyprus and worked as an orthodontic specialist in her private clinic until 2020.

In 2000, she had an active role in the board of directors during the foundation of “Akgünler Denizcilik” that is a maritime company in transportation and shipping and still continues her duty as the director of Akgünler Denizcilik.   She also played a  major role during the  transformation of Acapulco Holiday Village into Acapulco Resort-Convention and Spa Hotel since 2002 and she is still acting as the directing member of board of Acapulco Resort-Convention and Spa Hotel.

In 2010, with the purpose to meet the need  in land transportation of goods between Cyprus and Turkey, she participated in founding  the cargo company called “Kıbrıs Kargo”  and she is still the director of Kıbrıs Kargo.

She has been a member of the board of trustees of the International Final University that was founded in 2015.

In 2018, she became the founding member and chairman of  “Tangül Çağıner Children’s Aid Foundation”  which was founded in memory of her mother.

She is the founding member and chairman of the board of “Turkish Cypriot Entrepreneurial Women’s Association” (GIKAD),  which was established on March 8, 2021.  The mission of GIKAD is  to contribute in turning women into leading and decision-making individuals in economy, science, politics, art and social responsibility projects rather than only participants.

Kawtar EL OUTMANI leads portfolio and brand management at UM6P Ventures, the investment arm of UM6P – University Mohammed VI Polytechnic in Morocco. In this role, she supports the fund’s mission to invest in deeptech ventures and drive digital transformation across sectors such as healthtech, greentech, fintech, and more. Kawtar focuses on identifying and scaling innovative startups that contribute to long-term sustainability, economic resilience, and the integration of technology to tackle global challenges.
In addition to her work at UM6P Ventures, Kawtar serves as the Community Engagement Manager at Women in Tech Morocco, where she creates and leads the community of women in the tech sector, fostering empowerment, collaboration, and growth among female professionals in the field.
Previously, she worked as a community builder at STARTGATE, UM6P’s startup campus, where she oversaw the vibrant startup community on campus. In this capacity, she worked closely with incubation and acceleration programs, helping entrepreneurs connect with investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners to scale their ventures and foster sustainable innovation.
As an advocate for triple transformation, Kawtar is committed to driving environmental, social, and economic sustainability through the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She champions open innovation and encourages startups to leverage cutting-edge technology and business models to create meaningful change in critical sectors like energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
Kawtar is also an emerging Master of Ceremony (MC) and moderator, frequently hosting panels and discussions on investment, technology, and sustainability. Passionate about creating platforms for knowledge-sharing, she strives to empower founders to learn from one another and build ventures that have a lasting, positive impact on both people and the planet.

Laura Aldonė is the President of the International Business Women Network in Lithuania, Vice President of the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Crafts, the head of the Global World Consulting Agency, an active public figure, and a mentor for women aspiring to start their own business.

Born in Samsun in 1980, Arslan completed his high school education in Istanbul and moved to Izmir in 1998 to continue his education at Ege University Department of Chemical Engineering. Arslan earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, and completed a second master’s degree in Amsterdam Graduate Business School in the field of European Environmental Policy with a European Commission Jean Monnet scholarship. Arslan earned his doctorate degree in Business Administration Department at Manisa Celal Bayar University with a thesis on cross-cultural differences in business ethics. His academic studies focus on sustainability, circular economy, circular business models and entrepreneurship.

Arslan began his professional career in 2003 as an SME Expert at KOSGEB Ege University EBSO Technology Development Center. In 2015, he was appointed manager of KOSGEB Manisa Directorate and beginning from 2016 till today, he continued his managerial position at KOSGEB Izmir Directorate. At the moment, he is also the sustainability advisor of the Enterprise Europe Network EBIC-EGE Project. Arslan also serves on the Advisory Boards of numerous organizations working on entrepreneurship, sustainability and innovation.

Mrs. Tsaltampasi is the President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, the
President of Energy Cooperative WEnCoop, and CEO of OECON Group of Companies, which includes
companies in Greece and abroad. She actively supports Female Entrepreneurship and the Promotion of
Women in all sectors of the Economy through S.E.G.E., as well as other positions she holds.
She is the A’ Vice President of AFAEMME – Association of Organizations of Mediterranean
Businesswomen, the President of the Balkan Women Coalition (B-WCo). Additionally, Mrs. Tsaltampasi
is a member of the Financial Committee of Women20 (W20) and holds the position of the General
Secretary at Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) an international organization.
She actively participates as a Member of the European Innovation Council (EIC), which offers a
programme to improve skills and networking for women entrepreneurs and researchers supported by
the EIC, the Women Leadership Programme (WLP) and she is also a Member of the WEgate Committee’s
Thematic Group on shaping European Policies for Women Entrepreneurship.
She is a PhD Candidate at University of Macedonia, within the field of Female Entrepreneurship as a
Factor of reaching the 17 SDGs. She holds a Master’ s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the
University of Macedonia and she is certified by national and international bodies on providing
consultancy services. Moreover, she holds a Diploma in Association Management – CIPE (Center for
International Private Enterprises) while in 2011 she was elected as a Fellow of ASAE University –
Washington DC. She has great experience and expertise as she has participated and successfully led
some of the most successful projects of both OECON Group and SEGE. At the same time, she also
participates in two corporate schemes as a Business Angel.
She combines the fresh spirit with a great business and work experience, which is proven by the awards
that have been given to her. Mrs. Tsaltampasi was awarded the title of Ambassador of Women
Entrepreneurship in 2010 by the European Commission for her dynamic action in the field of promotion
of women entrepreneurship. She was also honored in 2014 with the title “Women Motivator in
Mediterranean” and in 2018 she received an honorary award, from the Central Union of Municipalities
of Greece – K.E.D.E., for her overall contribution to women’s entrepreneurship. Mrs. Tsaltampasi was a
Finalist for EUSEW 2022 Awards in the Category of “Women in Energy”. Last but not least, as president
of SEGE and WEnCoop, has led WEnCoop to international recognition, and to win the National and
European Award, of the category “Green Transition”, in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards –
EEPA 2022

Maria Helena de Felipe Lehtonen is a prominent expert in international business development, particularly focused on fostering economic ties across Europe and the Mediterranean region. With over two decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to promoting business internationalisation and building strategic commercial and institutional relationships. Her independent position enables her to offer objective guidance to companies seeking to expand internationally, especially into European and MENA markets.

Ms. de Felipe holds several key institutional roles. Since 2014, she has been the Vice-President of the Board of Foment del Treball, the Employers’ Federation of Catalonia, and, since 2022, she also serves as the President of its International Commission. She is a long-standing Board Member of the Spanish Confederation of Employers (CEOE) and serves as Vice-President of SMEunited, the European association representing 12 million small and medium-sized enterprises. At SMEunited, she also chairs the Social Affairs Committee.

At the European level, Maria Helena is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), where she currently serves as Vice-President of External Relations. Her involvement includes work on the Fundamental Rights and Rule of Law Group, the Equality Group, the Micro and Small Enterprises Group, and the Euro-Mediterranean Follow-up Committee. She is also a member of the Economic and Social Labor Council of Catalonia (CTESC).

Throughout her career, Maria Helena has played a crucial role in facilitating agreements, saving time and resources for companies through her strategic mindset, extensive network, and passion for meaningful international cooperation.

He was born and raised in İzmir in 1984. After completing his primary and secondary education in İzmir, he enrolled in the Faculty of Political Science at Ankara University in 2002 and graduated in 2006 as the top student of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. In 2007, he began working as an assistant planning expert at the State Planning Organization (DPT) under the Prime Ministry of the Republic of Turkey. He was appointed as a planning expert in 2012. As an assistant planning expert and later as a planning expert, he worked in the fields of higher education and R&D, respectively. On August 14, 2014, he was appointed as Head of the Department of Education and Culture. He held this position until his appointment as Secretary General of the İzmir Development Agency on May 8, 2018. Mehmet YAVUZ completed his PhD in public administration in 2017 and has published academic studies in peer-reviewed journals. He is fluent in English. He is married and has two children.

Born in Tire in 1966, Karabağlı completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown
before attending Kuleli Military High School in 1980. He graduated from Middle East Technical
University, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1989 and simultaneously
completed his Master’s degree at Dokuz Eylül University while working in the private sector as an
R&D engineer.
He founded Star Elektronik in 1991 and co-founded AR Elektronik Ltd. Şti. in 1992. In the early
2000s, he focused on the development of smart electricity metering technologies. In 2008, he
created the LUNA brand, which soon became the leading smart meter manufacturer in Türkiye and a
prominent player in the Middle East and Balkans. In 2022, LUNA entered into a strategic partnership
with a major Swiss industrial company specializing in integrated energy management solutions.
Today, he continues to lead growth and value-creation initiatives under Karabağlı Holding, which
operates across multiple sectors through the following companies:
 Kartek Aydınlatma San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – Indoor lighting production
 Karluna Mühendislik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – Automotive industry
 Karluna Enerji San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – Renewable energy and energy storage
 Mepa Mühendislik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and Luvi Yapı San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – Residential Construction
 Enginar Yemek San. ve Tic. A.Ş. – Food and catering services
 FRPLine Composite Teknolojileri Ltd. Şti. and Fiber Teknik Kompozit San. ve Tic. A.Ş. –
Composite materials technologies

He is also actively engaged in civil society and has held roles in organizations such as TÜSİAD,
BASİFED, ESİAD, EBSO, EGEV, and İAOSB.
He is married with two children. His personal interests include bridge, billiards, football, and reading.

Prof. Dr. E. Nezih Orhon is the former dean and professor at the School of Communication Sciences at Anadolu University in Eskisehir, Turkey. Dr. Orhon completed his two master’s degrees in Turkey and in the USA; also gained his Ph.D. in Turkey. Besides his administrative responsibilities (chair of Cinema and television Department), he is teaching “Television Journalism”, “Production and Directing”, and “Cultural Diversity and Communication”. At the same time, he initiated European Union projects, which some of them are currently running. For instance, one of them is called “RAISD”, a Horizon2020 project. On behalf of professional experiences, Dr. Orhon worked for CNN International in Washington, DC and in Türkiye; NBC News in Turkey besides his other professional experiences in The Netherlands, Colombia, Germany, and France. He is particularly focusing on vulnerable groups and related communication, media, and film work. Also, he is the program maker and presenter of a nationwide radio show called “Human Relations” on NTV Radio. Prof. Orhon authored and co-authored national and international books, book chapters, and research articles; at the same time, he took part in numerous national and international conferences. Prof. Orhon took part and held roles for UN Women, ILO, UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, and European Delegation in Turkey.

Born in 1981 in Bursa, she completed her undergraduate law degree at Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Law, in İzmir. She obtained her master’s degree in Sports Law at Kadir Has University.

Between 2005 and 2010, she served as Legal Counsel for Bursaspor Sports Club. She is a co-founder of DCube Sustainability and Circular Economy Inc. and continues to serve as Regional Legal Partner at Sistem Global Consulting in Bursa.

From 2019 to 2023, she served as President of the Bursa Businesswomen and Executives Association, and since 2023 she has been the President of GIFED, Turkey’s first and only businesswomen’s federation. She is also the Vice President of the Board of the Marmara Federation of Industrialists and Businesspeople.

Özden Monkul Erten completed her undergraduate studies in Computer Engineering at Ege University in 1997 and earned her master’s degree from the same department in 2003.

Erten began her career as a systems analyst and later worked as a project manager and consultant at companies such as Teba, Vestel, and T-Systems. In 2006, she co-founded CMA Consulting and Information Technologies Inc. in Technopark İzmir, providing services in software development, project management, and SAP consulting for corporate clients. In 2024, she founded MONERT Consulting, under which she continues her work in digital transformation, software development and project management.

Actively engaged in civil society as well, Erten joined the İzmir Businesswomen’s Association (İZİKAD) in 2014 and, after serving in various roles, was elected Chair of the Board of Directors in 2024. Within İZİKAD, she develops and manages national and international projects that support women’s entrepreneurship and focus on gender equality. She also serves as Vice President of BASİFED and Coordinator of the Youth, Entrepreneurship, and Education Commission, while being a board member of GİFED, of which İZİKAD is a founding association. Through the TÜRKONFED “Women’s Power in Entrepreneurship” Project, she provides mentorship to women entrepreneurs and scholarship recipients of the İZİKAD Future Businesswomen Scholarship Fund, working to ensure women’s equal participation in economic life.

In her professional life, Pamela Stenzel is an internationally recognized expert in governance, compliance and diversity. As a lawyer, board advisor and intercultural trainer, she is passionate about working with people from different cultures, professions and backgrounds. She is a member of the experts’ network ‘Office K61’ in Berlin, where she advises international companies and organizations in Europe and Africa. Guiding and coaching international board bodies and their members on governance and strategic issues is one of her key focuses. She is particularly committed to promoting women in board positions, believing that diversity in boards and female leadership can contribute to a more sustainable economy that takes greater account of the interests of the common good.

With 1,800 women-led companies in its membership, the VdU is the only nationwide network for female entrepreneurs in Germany that campaigns politically for the advancement of female entrepreneurship. As a member of the global FCEM network, the VdU facilitates international networking between sister associations and their members. The Women in Business Network (WiB), in which the VdU participates alongside seven African women’s business associations (e.g. Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Lebanon), promotes exchanges between female entrepreneurs in Africa and Europe.

Dr. Reem Samir Albaghdadi is Co-Founder and CEO of Rimara Pak Company (est. 2005) and a Partner at Diamond Plastic Factories (est. 1992). With over 20 years’ experience in industrial manufacturing, she is an expert in managerial processes, good manufacturing practices, and quality systems.

Dr. Albaghdadi combines private-sector leadership with active public-service roles. She has served as Chairwoman of the Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women since 2021 and represented Jordan in the G20 Women Empower Alliance (2020–2022). Her national leadership positions include Vice President of the Sectorial Technical Skills Council for Plastic Industries at the Jordan Chamber of Industry (2020–present), Vice President of the Industrial Women Council at the Amman Chamber of Industry (2019–present), and Vice President of the Committee of Competitiveness Law Affairs at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply (2023–present). She is also a member of the Economic and Social Council’s Economic Policies Committee and served on the Women Economic Empowerment Task Force established by the Prime Ministry. Dr. Albaghdadi co-founded and chaired the Jordanian Industrial Women Association (2013–2018).

An internationally recognized leader, she received the Inspirational Business Woman Award (Australia, 2018), the Jordanian Women Business Entrepreneur Award (2020), and the IWEC Award (2023). She holds a PhD in English Language Methodology from Amman Arab University and has completed executive leadership programs at Stanford University, the IFC/World Bank, New York University.

Rim is an active Egyptian role model, advocating for better inclusion of women at all levels across the
business not only in the MENA Region but Globally. She is committed to helping to increase the proportion of
women in leadership roles and build a pipeline of talent and creative young entrepreneurs through partnerships
and initiatives such as:” Empowering 20,000 Women and Youth by 2020″ & ” Teaching Woman Art & Craft Carpentry Skills”
Rim has been instrumental in creating an inclusive women’s culture at the Chambers of commerce across Egypt by bringing awareness to Chamber’s impactful and inclusion initiatives and programs. In March 2015, She became the founder/president of the “ Economic
Business Women Council” in Egyptian Chambers of commerce. Rim’s activities internally focused on empowering women economically, bridging generation gap ,changing the business culture of the workplace, increasing the number of female owners/partners and
creating an inclusive atmosphere for all.
Externally, Rim launched #WEBB-middleeast.com an internet-based women’s marketplace that brings together female entrepreneurs to form a powerful economic force of change, focusing on increasing the number of women digitally, giving them access to
market their products, franchising, networking and partnerships. In November 2015,WEBB-Middle East put in action SDG5 and received support from the United Nations Global Compact.
Previously, Rim chaired the Women’s committee for the Canada-Egypt Business Council and served as a director in Egypt for the Asian-Arab Chamber of Commerce and the Regional country manager for the Hot Mommas Project affiliated to the George
Washington University School of Business. Siam has participated in corporate social responsibility and sustainability activities (CSR), with a focus on equipping women business owners with knowledge of the importance of being a socially responsible company
to bolster a company’s image and build its brand. She is passionate about equipping these groups with knowledge to increase their competitiveness in business. She is also a strong advocate for women’s economic empowerment and has been recognized with
several awards: she has been named one of the 16 UNIDO Women Economic empowerment success stories, and was a notable alumni ambassador of the Global Entrepreneurship summit(GES2016-2019). In December 2022, she was elected and became member of the ICC World Chambers Federation General Council
2023-2025.

Sana Afouaiz is a multi-award-winning gender expert, women’s rights advocate, and renowned international public speaker. She is the founder and CEO of Womenpreneur Initiative, and the author of Invisible Women of the Middle East. Sana has spoken in over 50 countries at global institutions, international forums, and prestigious universities, advocating for gender equality and systemic change.

In 2016, she founded Womenpreneur Initiative to empower women in technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation across Europe and the MENA region. Under her leadership, Womenpreneur has trained more than 25,000 women, and launched Belgium’s first tech training center exclusively for women, focused on equipping them with the skills to enter and thrive in the tech industry.

Sana’s influence and leadership have been widely recognized. She was awarded the Amnesty International Award 2025 for her impactful work in advancing women’s rights. She has been named:

– Influential Woman by the World Bank,
– One of the Most Influential Women in the European Startup Ecosystem– three times,
– Revelation of the Year by prestigious Lobby Award in Belgium
– Influential leader by Crans Montana
– Inspiring Entrepreneur of the Year by the Adecco Group,
– Recipient of the Ashoka Changemaker Award,
– Top 100 Most Inspiring Social Innovators Worldwide by Social Enablers,
– Top 5 Most Inspiring and Talented Women by Moustacho,
– Influential Female Entrepreneur by Knowing Arabia and Watching Arabia.

Her work has been featured in global media such as BBC, Forbes, TV5Monde, L’Echo, De Tijd, El País, RTBF, LeSoir, LN24, Al Mamlaka TV, and The Huffington Post.

Over the past decade, Sana has advised corporates and major institutions including the United Nations and the European Commission, and contributed to key policy frameworks related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She has helped draft international gender resolutions and delivered recommendations in New York, Paris, Geneva, and Bali.

As a dynamic and versatile professional, Sevgi Kalaycı has extensive experience in the fields of gastronomy and management. Born in Ürgüp in 1979, Kalaycı moved to Berlin with her family in 1989, where she continued her education. In 2003, she successfully completed her vocational training in “Fachfrau für Systemgastronomie” and took the first step in her career. Shortly after, she became the manager of the Berlin shopping mall branches of the restaurant chain “POMME DE TERRE” and successfully led the opening of new branches in various malls.

Kalaycı began her university education in the 2006/2007 winter semester, studying Hospitality/Gastronomy at the Technical University of Berlin and German Language Teaching at Humboldt University of Berlin. During her university years, she served as a board member of the TD Plattform association, where she actively participated in voluntary work. In this period, she also took on the role of host at a high-profile reception organized by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between 2016 and 2018, Kalaycı worked as a consultant at the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, contributing to the strengthening of commercial relations between Germany and Turkey. In 2018, she obtained her Master of Education degree and later held executive positions in various companies across different industries, including Omurga Gruppe, coming home, and Protekto Ost.

In 2023, Kalaycı returned to the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry as Deputy Secretary General, continuing her efforts to strengthen the commercial bridge between Turkey and Germany. In addition to her professional achievements, Kalaycı is a mother of two children, maintaining a balanced and exemplary presence in both her professional and personal life.

Within the Belgian diplomatic network in Türkiye Stefano Missir di Lusignano currently serves as Head of the Economic and Trade Representation of Brussels.

Based in Istanbul, his Office covers Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Albania, and Kosovo.

With over 25 years of experience in international trade, he has been instrumental in promoting Belgian exports and attracting foreign investment to Brussels, the Capital of Europe.

He holds a Master’s in Law from the University of Louvain (UCL) and a Master’s in EU Economics and Policies from the Collegio Europeo di Parma.

He previously held positions at the European Parliament and the European Commission before moving into economic diplomacy.

His international postings have taken him across the globe, including assignments as Economic and Trade Consul in China (Shanghai), Regional Supervisor for Southeast Asia in Hanoi and Head of the Economic and Trade Office of Brussels in Brazil in (Rio de Janeiro).

Thana’a Al Khasawneh is a transformative leader in both the private and
non-profit sectors in Jordan. Renowned for her pioneering approach to
leadership agility, she has a proven track record of successfully navigating
organizational change, building cohesive teams, and managing complex
business conversations. Her diverse expertise spans across building and
restructuring companies to drive sustained growth.
Al Khasawneh formerly served as the Regional Fundraiser and Development
Director at Mowgli Mentoring MENA, where she played a critical role in
establishing a mentorship-driven approach to support and empower
entrepreneurship across the MENA region. Her efforts were instrumental in
significantly increasing the growth and visibility of the Mowgli Foundation
throughout the region.
Currently, Al Khasawneh is the CEO of the Business & Professional Women
Association (BPWA), an association advocating for gender equality and the
inclusion of women in the workforce. Under her leadership, BPWA has
launched several initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap and empowering
women across various sectors. Her tenure has marked a period of enhanced
performance and increased impact for women in Jordan.
Apart from her executive roles, Thana’a is a seasoned public speaker and has served as a keynote speaker and panelist at numerous
local, regional, and international events, especially on topics related to women empowerment and entrepreneurship. Her strong
communication and facilitation skills have enabled her to empower individuals, foster dialogue, and guide discussions towards
innovative and strategic outcomes.
Beyond her leadership roles, Thana’a is deeply invested in human capital development, particularly in encouraging entrepreneurial
mindsets and fostering investment in personal growth. Her work seeks to unlock the potential of entrepreneurs by providing them
with access to the knowledge, tools, and resources necessary to thrive in both their professional and personal lives.
Al Khasawneh prioritizes individual courage in her pursuits, promoting self-reliance and independent thought. She encourages
people to take proactive steps toward their objectives, speak out firmly about their viewpoints, and get involved in their
communities. One of the main characteristics of her leadership style is her emphasis on inspiring others to speak up and follow their
goals.
In addition to her current responsibilities, Thana’a works on the business growth pillar in various companies, helping them design
and implement effective growth strategies. At the strategic level, she has collaborated with numerous governmental entities. She
also sits on multiple international and local boards of committees, contributing her expertise in governance and strategic direction.
Thana’a takes great pride in recognizing and celebrating the achievements of others, actively highlighting productive individuals
within the community to encourage them and inspire others to follow their example.

Tolga Murat Özdemir, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kontek Enerji Group, is one of the leading figures shaping Türkiye’s energy transition. Under his visionary leadership, Kontek Enerji has become a standard-setting company in renewable energy, energy efficiency, digital automation, and 360-degree engineering solutions.

By pioneering Türkiye’s transformation in battery storage and grid flexibility, Özdemir launched the Maxxen Energy brand and became a founder of the emerging industrial structure in energy storage (BESS).

Özdemir has played an active role in the development of the sector, serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors at GENSED in 2018 and as Chairman of the Board for the 2023–2025 term, contributing significantly to the shaping of renewable energy and sustainability policies.

Today, he continues his work as a visionary leader who shapes the energy future of Türkiye and the region, scaling engineering-driven innovation to new dimensions.

Prof. Dr. Tugkan Tuglular received the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer
Engineering from Ege University, Turkey, in 1993, 1995, and 1999 He
worked as a research associate at Purdue University from 1996 to 1998 He
has been with Izmir Institute of Technology since 2000 After becoming an
Assistant Professor at Izmir Institute of Technology, he worked as Chief
Information Officer in the university from 2003-2007. In addition to his
academic duties, he acted as IT advisor to the Rector between 2010-2014.
He served as the Chairman of the Organization Committee of the Computer
Software Applications Conference (COMPSAC) held in Izmir in 2012, with the
participation of 450 people from 40 countries. In the same year, he assumed
the role of project leader for the “Izmir Information Society Based
Development Strategy” defined by the Izmir Development Agency. Between
2013 and 2018, he worked intensively to strengthen the Izmir techno-
entrepreneurship ecosystem. Tugkan Tuglular, who received the title of
Associate Professor in 2018, works in both the Department of Computer
Engineering and the Department of Technology, Design and Innovation
Management at Izmir Institute of Technology. In 2021, he co-founded his
second company, Research Ecosystems, in Teknopark Izmir and continues to
work as CEO. Additionally, he became CEO of WIN Turkiye, a World
Innovations Network (WIN) associate. He became Professor in 2024 Later
that year, he co-founded his third company, NestNeo. Tugkan Tuglular,
whose academic areas of expertise include information security, software
quality assurance, software testing and reliable software development, has
over eighty national and international publications.