Guest Speakers

Camilla Jensen is Associate Professor of Economics at Roskilde University. Prior to this she has served among other as the first Director of Studies at Nottingham School of Economics, Malaysia Campus. Camilla has also worked as Associate Professor at Kadir Has University in Istanbul and as Associate and Assistant Professor at Copenhagen Business School. She has extensive experience from living, teaching and doing research in the field. Her field experience includes work on Poland, Cuba, Turkey and Malaysia. Camilla holds a PhD in economics from University of Southern Denmark, Odense Campus. In research she focuses on topics in international and sustainable trade, such as the impact of institutions and policies on long run economic outcomes (technological change). Currently she is developing several projects on the impact of the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS).

Dr. A. Oguz Demir is an associate professor in the department of economics at Istinye University (2023- ). Before joining to Istinye University he was the Jean Monnet Chair for EU’s Industrial Policy and Circular Economy and Director of EU Research Center at Istanbul Ticaret University. Demir holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Istanbul University, TR, 2013; He worked at University of Texas at Austin’s Institute of Creative Capital and Innovation (USA) in 2014 and he had been a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge at Higher School of Economics, Russia (2018). He has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in EU Economic Integration, economics of innovation, industrial policy, international trade, international economics etc. His research focuses on STI policies, international trade, digitalization and competitiveness. He has published several books and scholarly articles mainly on international economics in both international and national peer reviewed journals. He has contributed and conducted several international research projects funded by the EU.

Dr. Aliye Ahu Gülümser’s research focuses on spatial strategic planning, sustainable rural development with a special focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and employment. She was the coordinator of the 1st Türkiye Spatial Strategic Plan Studies. She was the spatial strategy developer for Istanbul Vision2050. She worked as consultant on spatial planning for The Republic of Türkiye, The Presidency and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, for The Greater Municipality of Bursa, The Greater Municipality of İstanbul, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, Social and Humanities Grant Commission and for other institutions. She was involved in several national and international projects on sustainability and strategic spatial planning. Currently, she is the Director of the Research and Application Centre of Environment and Urbanization, the Editor in chief of A|Z ITU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture.

Sustainability Specialist with expertise in carbon footprint assessment, emissions trading, carbon offsetting, and Science-Based Targets (SBTi). Proficient in EU environmental policies (EU Taxonomy, Green Deal, CBAM) and certified in GHG Protocol, ISO 14064-1:2018, and environmental management. Holds additional certifications in ISO 14001, 9001, 50001, 45001, 22000, and water management. Graduated in Environmental Engineering from Istanbul University, with a thesis on wastewater-based mucilage in the Marmara Sea using GIS software.

Ezgi Bahar Cilesiz is an environmental engineer with 8 years of experience in consulting; Environmental Due Diligence, Environmental Site Assessment, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and ESG Reporting. As a Senior Project Engineer, Ms. Çilesiz got involved in projects due diligence assessments, site investigations, and regulatory compliance consultancy for both Turkish firms and international multinationals. She has a good experience with knowledge of Turkish Environmental and Health & Safety Legislation. She is an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual with the self-discipline to ensure the objectives are attained.

Busra C. is an environmental engineer and LEED AP with over 10 years of experience in sustainability consulting, project management, and environmental reporting. Holding a dual diploma from Istanbul Technical University and the University at Buffalo, she has led multiple EU-funded projects—including Horizon 2020 initiatives—focusing on carbon footprint reduction and net-zero strategies. Her expertise spans ISO management system implementation, EcoVadis assessments, and sustainability reporting in line with TSRS and GRI guidelines. By guiding construction projects toward LEED, WELL, and EDGE certifications, she has consistently driven data-driven approaches that enhance social and environmental performance.

Born in 1986 in Istanbul, the individual holds a degree in business and has extensive experience spanning over ten years in both the public and commercial sectors. For the past decade, the focus has been on landless agriculture, offering field plots and consulting services across various regions of the country. This work eventually led to involvement in international projects. In 2020, the largest hydroponic facility in Turkey was established, followed by the launch of urban agriculture in 2024 within a 1,500-square-meter indoor space. During this period, numerous seminars and workshops were organized in collaboration with the public sector, civil society organizations, and universities. In 2021, the individual was recognized on Turkey’s “Fortune 40 Under 40” list and achieved the distinction of founding the best start-up in landless farming. Since 2023, under The Smart Farmers initiative, research and development efforts have been dedicated to "dark factory" applications, which enable landless farming systems to operate without human interaction.

Ahmet Baba graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1997. They further pursued their academic interests and entered Namık Kemal University in 2016 for a master's degree, focusing on waste water Recycling. In 2024, earned an Honor PhD in Toxicology from Texas Tech University. An accomplished researcher and speaker, Ahmet has been an invited speaker at the Toxicology symposium Spectrum for the last three years, discussing the impacts of textile effects on human and environmental health. Their expertise in toxicology, particularly in the intersection of pharmacology and environmental aspects, has made them a sought-after voice in their field.

Tamer Soylu has dedicated a significant portion of his professional career to civil society, working as a manager and expert in the fields of social forestry, sustainable natural resource management, sustainable forestry, ecotourism, and sustainable rural development. He has contributed to various nationally and internationally funded conservation projects across different regions of Turkey, developing and implementing integrated projects that address the social, economic, and cultural dimensions of nature conservation. Through securing funding from both domestic and international sources, he has successfully brought these projects to life. Following his extensive experience in the civil society sector, he transitioned to the private sector and currently continues his professional career at Zorlu Energy Group.

Necati Serbest holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yıldız Technical University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Istanbul Technical University. He has been serving as a professional executive in the renewable energy sector for the past 10 years. Specializing in Solar and Wind Energy, he has been involved in the business development and management processes of hundreds of projects both in Turkey and internationally, within the framework of energy transition. He has particular expertise in conducting technical, regulatory, and financial analyses of projects. In addition, he is a member of the Technical Committee at Eurogia, the energy cluster of the international R&D funding program Eureka.

Dr. Mehmet Uluğ holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Siena, Italy. Their academic background includes six years of training in Econometrics during undergraduate and graduate studies at Akdeniz University in Turkey. Additionally, they earned an MSc in Economics from the University of Beira Interior in Portugal. During their doctoral studies, Dr. Uluğ conducted visiting research at institutions in Portugal, Spain, and Canada.

Before joining Roskilde University as an Assistant Professor in Green Finance, Dr. Uluğ held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Milan and served as a lecturer at the Sustainability Management School (SUMAS) in Italy.

Dr. Uluğ’s research focuses on the intersection of the environment, finance, and global macroeconomics. Their current work explores topics such as green monetary policy, climate and environmental risks, the economics of biodiversity, shadow banking, and green finance.