Ahmet Albayrak

First Deputy Director General - Kuveyt Türk Bank

The Basic Characteristics of Islamic Finance

Dr. R. Ahmet Albayrak is Deputy CEO and Executive Vice President of Treasury and Financial Institutions at Kuveyt Türk Bank. He earned degrees in Industrial Engineering and Organisational Leadership & Business from Istanbul and North Carolina State University, earning his PhD from Istanbul University for research on Technology Management. After working in Financial Analysis and Marketing at Kuveyt Türk Bank he held senior management posts in the private sector, returning to KT as Executive Vice President of Branch Operations.

Albert Amos

Senior Financial Sector Specialist - World Bank

Alternative Financing Instruments for Infrastructure Investment

Mr. Albert Amos is a Senior Financial Sector Specialist in the Finance, Competitive, and Innovation Global Practice of the World Bank Group. Mr. Amos brings over 20 years of experience in the financing and development of toll roads, rail, water, and airport projects delivered through public-private partnerships (PPP) and traditional procurement mechanisms. He has provided PPP and financial advisory services to several public agencies, lenders, and infrastructure developers around the world. Mr. Amos holds an MBA from Cornell University.

Başar Arioğlu

Chairman - Yapı Merkezi Construction

Financing Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa - Yapı Merkezi Experience

Mr. Başar Arıoğlu is chairman of Yapı Merkezi Construction. He is the current Honorary Consul General of Slovenia in Istanbul and member of the board of directors of Turkish Contractors Association. Mr. Arıoğlu has hands-on experience in the management of large-scale projects such as Mevhibe Inonu Tunnel, Izmir Metro, Dubai Metro and Doha Metro Gold Line. He was one of the leaders of the Eurasia Tunnel Project, a BOT Project involving a 5.5 km undersea tunnel. Currently, he is board member in Canakkale Bridge Project which is to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Hüseyin Arslan

Chairman - YDA

Conference Moderator

Mr. Hüseyin Arslan is chairman of YDA Group. After earning his degree in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University, he has become chairman of the YDA Group Board of Directors in 1993. Mr. Arslan is also deputy chairman of the Board of TCA and honorary consul of Ukraine in Muğla. His expert fields include real estate and, especially, PPP. He was appointed by decree of the King of Saudi Arabia as Board Member to the National Center for Privatization and PPP.

Selim Bora

Chairman - Summa Group

Conference Moderator

Mr. Selim Bora is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish-Venezuelan Business Council and President of Summa International Construction Co. Inc. After earning his M. Sc. in Industrial Engineering, he acquired many years of experience with Summa Group, working as a Business Development Manager in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia before advancing to Vice President in 1997 and President in 1999.

Christian Combes

Director of Africa - Eiffage

Lessons learned from the first PPP in sub-Saharan Africa: Dakar Diamniadio in Senegal

Mr. Christian Combes is a member of the executive committee of the infrastructures branch at Eiffage and in charge of the African continent. He chairs the working group Africa for the EIC. His working experience in Morocco, Madagascar, Rwanda, Burundi and East Africa brought him to the position of Executive Vice President of Egis International, the leading French engineering group, where he is in charge of international operations in the transport sector.

Noman Siddiqui

Manager, PPP Division - Islamic Development Bank

Mobilising Islamic Finances for Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships

Mr. Noman Siddiqui heads the IDB’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) Division. He joined IDB in 2011 and has since been engaged in managing the PPP business portfolio that spans across Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region. Having earned his degrees in Karachi and Illinois, he is a trained banker with extensive work experience in the areas of structured & project finance, dept capital market and loans syndications.

Jim Turnbull

Head of Debt Capital Markets - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The EBRD’s Perspective on Islamic Financing – Opportunities and Challenges

Mr. Jim Turnbull is Head of Debt Capital Markets, EBRD Associate Director, Local Currency & Capital Markets Development. He holds a Commerce degree from University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and has written extensively on the technical aspects of local dapital market development in emerging markets and financial stability. Mr. Turnbull has over 30 years’ experience in investment banking, pensions investment and funds management. He led the project team that created the AsianBondsOnline fixed income portal for the Asian Development Bank.

Rob Valenta

Creative Director - Quantum Global Solutions

Sponsor's Address: CSI Meets Construction

Mr. Rob Valenta is the Creative Director at Quantum’s sister company Quantum Digital. He looks after Quantum’s in-house media studios in Doha and London, where he manages teams of designers and artists in both studios. Mr. Valenta is responsible for the creative direction of Quantum’s multimedia solutions, publishing and creative marketing. In addition he serves all Quantum’s international blue chip clients with captivating visual and creative solutions. Mr. Valenta holds a BA (Hons) in Art & Design - specialised in Technical Illustration and Information Graphics.

Adnan Yıldırım

General Manager - Türk Eximbank

Future Prospects with Third Country ECAs on Infrastructure Projects

Mr. Adnan Yıldırım has been the CEO of Turk Eximbank since 2016. He holds degrees of the University of Ankara and of Vanderbilt University. Following his studies, Mr. Yıldırım started his professional career as state auditor/tax inspector at the Turkish Ministry of Finance advancing to Deputy Minister of Economy in 2014-2015.