SPEAKERS


		Memet Ali Alabora, Performer, activist
		Starred in many TV shows, films and theatre plays. 1995-1997 He started his career as a reporter in the “A Team” program on ATV. Graduated from Istanbul University State Conservatory Theatre Department in 1995. Holds MA degree from Yıldız Technical University, Art and Design Faculty. Worked as teaching staff at MSM Müjdat Gezen Art Center. He is one of the founders of the contemporary performing arts space and organisation garajistanbul that he directed until May 2010. He is also actively engaged in the antimilitarist movement.

		Kutluğ Ataman, Filmmaker and contemporary artist
		His works examine the ways in which people and communities create and rewrite their identities through self-expression, blurring the line between reality and fiction. More recently his works have focused on history and geography as man-made constructs. In 2004 Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, he won the top award and one of America’s highest honours in art, the “Carnegie Prize.” In the same year he was one of the four shortlisted artists for the “Turner Prize”, the UK’s most prestigious visual arts award organised by the Tate Gallery. He is also the recipient of numerous awards for his feature film work. Lives and works in London.

		Şekib Avdagiç, Chairman of the Executive Board, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency
		Graduated from Istanbul Technical University in1982 as Mechanical Engineer. Has an MBA degree in Istanbul University Faculty of Bussiness Administration. He started his career in family business dealing with automotive by product industry and undertakings where currently he is the Chairman of the Board of Directors. 1995-1999 Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) Assembly Member. 2005-2009 ICOC Board of Directors Member. 2008-2009 Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Executive Board Member. Currently Vice-President of the Board of Şekib Directors of ICOC.

		Nevzat Bayhan, General Director, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kültür A.Ş.
		Graduated from İzmir Dokuz Eylül University as Dipl. Ing. He wasawarded a fellowship whilst in the process of PhD in Econometrics and went to USA. Studied Language at Rutgers University, obtained his masters and PhD degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. Prepared programs on culture and arts in various media organisations. He was selected the best Cultural Bureaucrat by Hürriyet Newspaper in 2009. He was awarded by ESKADER (Literature, Arts and Cultural Studies Association) in 2009 and 2010 Turkish Writers Guild Best Public Publisher Award for Kültür A.Ş that he has established. Member of the board of trustees and the management board of Tourism Development and Education Foundation (TUGEV). He is member and director in various social and cultural associations in Turkey such as the Journalists Association, Press Council, Professional Press Union, Language and Literature Association and Publishers Union. He has published six books on social and cultural subjects.

		Kathrin Deventer, Secretary General, European Festivals Association (EFA), Board Member, European House for Culture, “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member
		With a political science background and her first work experience in Genoa - European Capital of Culture 2004, she started working at EFA in 2004, the year when the Association re-launched its activities in Ghent, Belgium under the direction of Hugo De Greef. In 2008, she took over the post as EFA Secretary General. Co-founding member of the European House for Culture, an initiative set up by the European Festivals Association. Chairs the Working Group on Audience/Participation of the EU Culture Platform “Access to Culture”. Wrote for different magazines and is regularly invited as lecturer on European cultural policy issues.

		Javor Gardev, Theatre and Film Director
		Holds MA degree in Philosophy from Sofia University, and in Theatre Directing from the Bulgarian National Academy of Theatre and Film. One of the most prominent theater directors in Bulgaria today, he has staged twenty-five theatre performances in his home country and abroad, and was awarded 14 theatre awards. He has directed radio-drama and authored performance art and video art works. His long feature debut film Zift (2008) won numerous domestic and international awards. Until 2009 it was the highest grossing Bulgarian feature film for the last two decades.

		T. Melih Görgün, Prof., Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Artist
		Founder and Artistic Director of Sinopale - International Sinop Biennial, founding member of European Cultural Association, one of the founders of the art portal europist.net. Works as the co-curator of Siemens Art (Istanbul) since 2007. Advisory Board Member of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. Exhibited in many cities and has curated exhibitons around the world. Also Coordinator of the international project “City and Art”.

		Korhan Gümüş, Dr., Architect, Founder, Human Settlements Association, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Executive Board Member
		Graduated from the State Fine Arts Academy. In 1985 he completed his PhD in Istanbul University. 1996-2007 Human Settlements Association Founding Director, 2005 İstanbul Bilgi University Local Governments Research Centre Director. Worked on partnership areas between civil initiatives, independent organisations and the public. Took part in the Civil Constitution Initiative. Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) NGO Forum, after the earthquake in 1999 founder of the Civil Coordination Centre. In 1999 he made the first initiative call for the ECoC candidacy of Istanbul, member of the Initiative Group and the Executive Board. In 2008 he was Istanbul 2010 ECoC Urban Implementations Director. Published articles in various newspapers and magazines. Producer of the radio show “Metropolitika” (Metropolitics) on Açık Radyo.

		Ertuğrul Günay, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Turkey
		Graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law. Served as Provincial Leader and as Ordu Deputy for Republican People’s Party (CHP). After 1980’s, Provincial Leader of Ankara and Deputy Secretary General for Social Democratic People’s Party (SHP) and Secretary General after CHP got back to the political life (1992-1994). Pioneered certain civil initiatives, namely “Humanity Initiative for Bosnia”, “Eastern Conference” and “New Politics Initiative”. Author of the books “Bosnian Writings”, “Counter Politics” and numerous published articles and interviews. Joined the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and was elected as Istanbul Deputy in 2007. Minister of Culture and Tourism since 2007. Awarded “Honorary Doctorate” of Political Science by Adıyaman University in 2009.

		Volker Hassemer, Co-founder and Chairman of the Management Board of “A Soul for Europe”, Chairman of the Board of Stiftung Zukunft Berlin
		Legum Doctor from 1981-1983 and 1991-1996 Senator for Urban Development and Environmental Protection in Berlin. 1983-1989 Senator for Cultural Affairs in Berlin. 1996-2002 Chairman of the Managing Board of “Partner für Berlin”.

		Nele Hertling, Co-founder and member of the “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group
		Degree in German Philology and Theatre. 1963-1988 Research Associate at the Academy of Arts in Berlin (West). Artistic Director of “Berlin - European Capital of Culture, 1988”. 1989-2003 Director of the Hebbel Theatre in Berlin, Artistic Director of the “Theater der Welt” festival (1999). 2003-2007 Head of the DAAD’s (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) Artists-in-Berlin programme. Since 2006, she has been Vice-President of the Academy of Arts.

		Mahir Ilgaz, Broadcast Coordinator, Açık Radyo 94.9
		Graduated from İstanbul Bilgi University and K.U.Leuven (Belgium). Worked and published in both Brussels and Istanbul on EU and Turkey–EU relations. Currently he co-hosts “Hayal Tacirleri” (Dream Merchants), a radio show on Turkey–EU relations on Açık Radyo 94.9. He is also the broadcast coordinator of Açık Radyo since 2010.

		Radovan Jelašić, Former Governor, National Bank of Serbia
		Graduated in 1992 from the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Economics, holds a MBA from the University of Illinois (Chicago, USA). Began his banking career with Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt as a Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Europe. Moved in 1999 to McKinsey & Company Inc., worked on banking projects in Germany, Poland and Bulgaria. 2000-2003 Held the position of Vice-Governor of the National Bank of Yugoslavia/Serbia. 2004-July 2010 Held the position of the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia.

		Bahadır Kaleağası, Dr., International Coordinator and EU Representative, Turkish Industry & Business Association (TUSIAD)
		Worked as academic at University of Brussels and was visiting researcher to Harvard, Georgetown and Jerusalem Universities. He was awarded the fellowships of the European Commission and NATO, took part in several EU projects and served as European affairs counsellor to several public and private institutions. In 1996, he was appointed as TUSİAD’s representative to the European Union and BUSINESSEUROPE (Confederation of European Business) in Brussels. Since 2008 he is the International Coordinator of TUSIAD covering international projects and offices in Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Washington DC and Beijing. He is also a scientific member at the University of Brussels, founding President of the Turkish environmental organisation TEMA’s European branch, founding member of the Institut de Bosphore-Paris and a Board Member of TUSIAD International, the JCl-Europe and Forum Istanbul.

		Hayrettin Karaca, Founder and Honorary President of Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA)
		In 1949 he founded Karaca Örme Sanayi (Karaca Knitting Industry) which later became Karaca Holding. In 1965 he was the first Turkish businessman exporting an industrial product to 5 continents. In 1980 he built Yalova Karaca Arboretum, the first private arboretum in Turkey. He travelled 320,000 km in order to present Turkey’s flora and formed an archive that consists of 50,000 slides. During his travels he saw the soil erosion disaster and its dimensions in Turkey. In 1992 he co-founded TEMA Foundation.

		Hüsamettin Kavi, Businessman, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency
		Graduated from Istanbul Technical University as Dipl. Ing. in 1972. Since 1987 he is Assembly member at Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) where he worked as Board of Directors Member and Chairman, and President of the Assembly. He was the co-President at Turkey-EU Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) for two periods and currently is a member of JCC. He is one of the founders of Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TUGIAD) where he was Vice-Chairman during 1990-94. 2001-2009 Member of the scientific board of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK ). 2003-2005 Member of the Board of Directors in Turk Telekom. Currently he is also Management Board Chair of BEMKA A.Ş.

		Levan Khetaguri, Dr. President, Stichting Caucasus Foundation (The Netherlands), “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member, Professor, Ilia State University of Georgia
		2004-2010 Vice-rector and professor at Shota Rustaveli Georgian State University of Theatre and Film. Member of different international institutions, advisers and scientific boards. Since 1995 member of Gulliver, the European Intellectuals’ network. Since 1981 author of over 80 publications, editor and translator in various magazines and newspapers. In 2000 he was awarded by Swedish Writers Guild. Since 2008 member of European Cultural Parliament. Member of the editorial board of the magazine Cultural Management. As practitioner, since 1990 he runs several hundreds of local and international projects, festivals, productions.

		Nilüfer Kuyaş, Journalist, author
		Graduated from Robert College in Istanbul. Holds a BA in Philosophy from Wellesley College (USA), and an MA from Boğaziçi University. Worked for a long period of time at the BBC World Service in London. In Turkey she worked as a journalist both for TV and the press, and as columnist. She published a novel and an essay book.

		Jan Joost Lagendijk, Senior Advisor, Istanbul Policy Center, Former Member of the European Parliament
		Graduated as a historian from Utrecht University. 1998-2009 Member of the European Parliament for the Dutch Green Left Party. In the parliament he worked on foreign affairs, security and defence issues. For many years he was the chair of the Turkey Delegation of the European Parliament. Together with his colleague from the European Parliament Jan Marinus Wiersma, he wrote three books, on the borders of Europe, on the foreign policy strategies of the US and the EU and on the European policy towards its Muslim neighbours. Since 2009 he is a senior adviser at the Istanbul Policy Center, the think tank of Sabanci University in Istanbul.

		Joanneke Lootsma, Deputy Director, International Programmes of Felix Meritis Foundation, A Soul for Europe Strategy Group Member
		Deputy Director for the International Programmes of Felix Meritis Foundation, European Centre for Arts, Culture and Science in Amsterdam; Director of The Amsterdam - Maastricht Summer University; Project Leader of Kuhnya, Centre for Independent Thinking in Novosibirsk as well as Project Leader of The City, Centre for Culture & Debate in Belgrade.

		Beral Madra, Art Critic and Curator, Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Visual Arts Director
		Coordinated the 1st and the 2nd International Istanbul Biennials, curated exhibitions of Turkish artists in the 43rd, 45th, 49th, 50th and 51st Venice Biennale. Founder and Director of BM Contemporary Art Centre. Organized more than 250 local and international artists in her art centre and in other official art spaces in Istanbul. She is representing Istanbul Scholarship of Berlin Senate. Lectured in the Art Management Department of the Faculty of Art and Design of Yıldız Technical University. She is a founding member of Diyarbakır Art Centre; founding member of the Foundation of Future Culture and Art; founding member and honorary president of AICA, Turkey.

		Niccolo Milanese, Director, European Alternatives
		Co-founder of European Alternatives and TRANSEUROPA festival. European Alternatives is a transnational civil society organisation promoting and campaigning for democracy, equality and culture beyond the nation state. It has local groups of members throughout Europe, organises conferences, culture events and publishes a journal and multilingual website magazine. TRANSEUROPA Festival is the first transnational festival of culture, art and politics which happens simultaneously in several cities. In 2010 it was in London, Paris, Bologna and Niccolo Cluj-Napoca.

		Ferenc Miszlivetz, Prof., Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Director, ISES – Institute for Social and European Studies Foundation
		University professor. He was a research expert of Notre Europe Research Institute (Paris); member of the Reflection Group at the European University Institute; member of the Screening Committee, Global Security and Cooperation Research Program. Has an international reputation for research, teaching and publication on the European construction, civil society and transition in Central Europe. Scientific adviser at the Institute of Political Science, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Through his leadership ISES was awarded as a Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence in 2010.

		Simon Mundy, Writer, Scholar, Permanent Fellow, Felix Meritis Foundation
		Senior Associate Fellow in the Conflict, Security and Development Group at King’s College London. Acts as rapporteur and moderator for many organisations at international meetings. Worked as a policy adviser for, among others, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the UN Mission in Kosovo and the Club de Madrid. Also a poet and novelist, he has written several books on musicians. He broadcasts frequently and is a trustee of several arts bodies, including the European Baroque Orchestra and the Sidney Nolan Trust. He was the founding President of the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (now Culture Action Europe).

		Mahir Namur, President, European Cultural Association
		Born in 1967, Ankara. MA in Civil Engineering, project management (Istanbul and Vienna Technical Universities). Since 1997 management of several arts, culture and communication projects in Chameleon Events & PR. Founder member and president of Avrupa Kültür Derneği (European Cultural Association) www.europist.net/akd. Initiator of Europist, European multinational cultural communication and cooperation platform in Istanbul and management of several European projects. Member of the Strategy Group of "A Soul for Europe" Initiative and has been Advisory Committee Member of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture. Teaches project management and international cultural management in Yeditepe University, Art Management Department and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. He is the Project Manager of the international project "City and Art".

		Yolanda Onghena, Senior Researcher, CIDOB - Barcelona Centre for International Affairs
		Studied history of art and theatre at Universiteit Gent and Conservatorium Ghent (Belgium) and she holds a master in Euro-Arabic studies from the University of Girona (Spain). Since 1995 she has been Coordinator of the Intercultural Dynamics Programme in CIDOB (Barcelona-Spain) which analyses intercultural dynamics from theory to practice in an interdisciplinary and international reflection. Areas of interest: the intercultural in discourses - stereotypes/prejudices, identifications and categorizations, intercultural reflections and relations from areas outside the West, tourism as contact between cultures.

		Gülseren Onanç, President and Chairperson, the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGIDER)
		Founding member of KAGIDER, also chaired the European Union Committee. Holds a BA degree in Management Engineering from the Istanbul Technical University and an MBA degree at Michigan State University. Administered pharmacy companies in Russia and the Turkic Republics as a Marketing Specialist. Occupied managerial positions in the food sector and worked for various international management consultancy firms. In 2000 she founded GO.4 that provides technology based marketing solutions. She established Ticketturk, a webbased ticket sales firm in 2003. Works extensively on social responsibility projects in KAGIDER. She won in 2009 TIAW - The International Alliance for Women World of Difference Award.

		Vural Öger, Chairman, Öger Türk Tours GmbH, Former Member of the European Parliament
		Graduated from the Technical University of Berlin as Dipl. Ing. In the 80s he established ÖGER TOURS which became the biggest provider of travels to Turkey in Europe and later the 5th biggest tour operator in Germany. The ÖGER GROUP of Companies has 7 hotels and the biggest incoming agency in Turkey. 2001 Awarded from German State with the “Federal cross of merit”. 2000 Received the “order of merit” from the Turkish President and in 2009 from the Turkish Parliament. 2004 Elected member to the European Parliament from Germany.

		Doris Pack, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
		1983-1985 Senior Adviser in the Ministry of Education Saarland. 1967-1974 Member of Bübingen Council. 1974-1976 Member of Saarbrücken City Council; 1974-1983 and 1985-1989 Member of the Bundestag. 1981-1983 and 1985-1989 Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the WEU Assembly. Since 1989 MEP (EPP group). Member of the Delegation for relations with South-East Europe. Chair, Franco-German Foundation for Cultural Cooperation. President of the Open University Association (VHS) Saar. President of the European children and youth book fair. Since 1998 Vice-President of the European Movement on the Saar; Member of ZDF Television Council.

		Pier Luigi Sacco, Full Professor, IUAV University of Venice
		Professor of Cultural Economics, IUAV University of Venice. As of November 1, Professor of Cultural Economics, IULM University (Milan). Also teaches Economic Thought at San Raffaele University (Milan), and Cultural Industries at the University of Italian Switzerland (Lugano). Does extensive research and consulting activity internationally on cultural economics, cultural and creative industries and culture-led local development, with a special focus on European Cultural Capitals and their aftermath. Has published extensively and is in the scientific board of the Creative Industries Journal, Economia della Cultura, Quality and Quantity and Mind and Society.

		Paul Scheffer, Professor of Urban Sociology , University of Amsterdam
		Studied Psychology and Political Science in Nijmegen, Amsterdam and Paris. Worked as a correspondent in Paris and Warsaw. Since 1990 he writes for several European newspapers, made a number of documentaries for television. Since 2003 he is professor of urban issues at the University of Amsterdam. He has published on the history of the Netherlands (A satisfied nation, 1988), on European history (The Quest for Eternal Peace, 2000). His book on immigration in America and Europe (The Open Society and Its Immigrants, 2007) will be published in many European countries and America.

		Bernhard Schneider, “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member
		Co-founder and former thematic co-ordinator of “A Soul for Europe”. Architect, planner, author and translator, he worked as consultant to the Senate of Berlin and co-operator with Berlin Partners, the Capital City’s Marketing Company. From 1981 to 1989 he was executive planning officer with the Senators of Urban Development and of Cultural Affairs, Berlin and from 1991 to 1995 member of the steering committee of Stadtforum Berlin. Member of the ASfE working groups “Cities & Regions” and “Mobilising Culture for Regional Development”.

		Hannes Swoboda, Dr., MEP, Vice-Chairman of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats PSE Group
		Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of South-Eastern Europe. Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Substitute Member of the Committee on Common Security and Defence Policy of the EP. He studied law and economics. He has many years of experience in urban development policies, e.g. as Municipal Councillor for Urban Development in Vienna (1988-1997).

		Farid Tabarki, Founder of Studio Zeitgeist, “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member
		Researcher, writer, presenter, entrepreneur. In recent years editor-in-chief and researcher for Coolpolitics - a Dutch civic social organisation that encourages younger generations to shape and develop their role as citizens and works towards building Dutch, European and global civil society. Presented several editions of MTV Coolpolitics. As the director of Studio Zeitgeist he conducts/coordinates research and develops projects on the local, national and European Zeitgeist. Works together with organisations like the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Open Society Institute, Hyves and the University of Amsterdam.

		Kadir Topbaş, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor
		Graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Theology and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Department of Architecture. Earned his Ph.D degree from Istanbul University Department of Art History and Archeology. 1994-1998, worked as an adviser for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when Erdogan was the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Also served as the deputy director of Istanbul 1st Cultural Heritage Protection and Monuments Committee of the Ministry of Culture. Became the Mayor of Beyoglu in 1999. Elected the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality from AK Party twice in 2004 and 2009 Local Elections. Co-President of United Cites and Local Governments (UCLG), Vice-President of Istanbul Development Agency, Member of the Coordination Board of Istanbul 2010 ECoC Agency, Member of the Board of Directors of Istanbul Modern, Member of the supervisory board and trustee committe of TAC Foundation (Foundation of History and Environment).

		Özgür Uçkan, Dr., Instructor, Istanbul Bilgi University
		Teaches at Istanbul Bilgi University, knowledge economy, network economy, innovation economy, creative industries, urban economics, information design & management, communication design related subjects at undergraduate and graduate degree. Teaches also knowledge & innovation management strategies at Yeditepe University MBA programme. He is knowledge economy consultant of Turkish Exporters Assembly; senior advisor of Turkish Informatics Foundation on information and communication technologies and information society related policy subjects; member of the ICT Commission of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce. Published several books, articles and reports about economics, politics, human sciences, ICT, culture and art.

		Vittorio Urbani, Director, Nuova Icona – associazione culturale per le arti
		Italian curator living in Venice. Since 1993 he has founded and directed “Nuova Icona”, the first non profit association in the town dedicated to contemporary visual arts. Through his activities, curatorship of shows and books, text writing and organization of cultural activities are a red thread. Since 2000, he has started collaborating with a number of individuals and organizations in Turkey and particularly in Istanbul such as BM Contemporary Art Center, BM Suma, Borusan Gallery, Macka Galerisi, Bir Nokta gallery, Elgiz Museum, Siemens Sanat, Sinopale, Italian Cultural Center, Dutch Consulate.

		Yuriy Vulkovsky, Executive Director, Foundation for Urban Projects and Research, “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member
		Cultural researcher, consultant and practitioner. Since 1994 he has been involved in a number of research and action projects in the field of cultural policy, cultural management, mapping of the cultural sector, civic participation in policy-making, social impact of the arts, and others. Since 2004 he is teaching cultural policy in New Bulgarian University and then in Sofia University. In 2005 he has created the first Bulgarian web-site for cultural policy - http://culturalpolicy.dir.bg. Since March 2009 he is executive director of the Foundation for Urban Projects and Research.

		Hilmi Yavuz, Poet, Writer, Philosopher, Columnist, Instructor, Bilkent University
		Worked at the Turkish department of BBC in UK. Studied Philosophy at London University. After he returned to Turkey he worked for various publishers and encyclopaedias. He wrote reviews, critiques and essays under the name of “Ali Hikmet” in newspapers (Cumhuriyet, Milliyet, Yeni Ortam) and various magazines. He was lecturer at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul Technical University and Boğaziçi University. In his poems he combined the tradition with a contemporary approach, balancing the form and the essence. He developed a particular vocabulary making use of Islamic mysticism and especially Sufism. Currently he writes on culture in Zaman newspaper and co-produces the TV show “Önce Şiir Vardı” (“In the Beginning There Was Poem”) on TRT 2.

		Rarita Zbranca, Director, AltArt Foundation, “A Soul for Europe” Strategy Group Member
		Arts manager, curator, cultural activist, director and co-founder of the AltArt Foundation (Cluj, Romania) as well as member of expert bodies such as Team Europe Romania. She has worked in the fields of culture, media, democracy and minority rights for non-governmental organisations, e.g. Ethnocultural Diversity Resource Centre. She studied Photo-Video-Digital Image at the University of Arts and Design Cluj and Journalism at Babes Bolyai University Cluj.