As YÜD/BDA, we hosted the 2024 Member Meeting of the Global Network of Director Institutes ‘GNDI’, where we were accepted as a member representing our country.

GNDI is a ‘networking’ organization representing more than 180,000 individual managers and governance professionals, with 26 NGOs from around the world of which board members are members.

The main objective of the organization is to develop and promote leading practices and programs that enhance the ability of directors worldwide to deliver sustainable performance to build effective boards of directors, and to foster close cooperation between BDA-like organizations, each recognized as leaders in their respective countries.

BDA is represented at GNDI by Mehmet Sami (BDA Founding Member and Chairperson/GNDI Main Representative), Sevdil Yıldırım (BDA Founding Member and Vice President/GNDI Policy Committee Member) and Pınar Keser (BDA Secretary General/GNDI Second Representative).

GNDI Istanbul 2024

On the first day of the meetings attended by representatives of all member organizations on 8-10 July 2024, the topics of ‘Global Passport, Resource Library, Global Survey and Future Directors’ were discussed in the Policy Committee.

On the second day of the meetings, the vision of effective governance and strategic growth was evaluated, and information on the current priorities, goals and representativeness of all members was shared. GNDI Executive Committee meeting was held on the same day. The content, speakers and possible sponsorships of the GNDI 2024 Global Conference, which will be held in October for 24 hours, were discussed. (You can contact BDA for sponsorship details)

TOn the last day of the meetings, a stakeholder event was organised where BDA Members and GNDI representatives came together. At the opening of the event, Volkan Kara, Chair of Bain & Company Türkiye, made a presentation on ‘Global Perspective on Sustainability’

Following the presentation, the panel titled ‘ESG Compliance on Boards’ was moderated by Mehmet Sami-Chairperson of BDA. Ahmet Çimenoğlu-Chief Economist of Koç Holding and Board Member of Yapı Kredi Bank and Koç Financial Services, Ece Sevin-Partner and Sustainability Leader of EY Türkiye, Kirsten (KP) Patterson-Chair of GNDI and Wiebke Schloemer-Director of IFC Türkiye and Central Asia took part as panelists.

In the last session of the event, Cevdet Alemdar-Head of Sabancı Mobility Solutions Division, and Mehmet Sami had a conversation on ‘The Impact of ESG on Board Governance’.

After the meetings, we had the opportunity to host our international guests with pleasant events in the unique view of Istanbul, with the contributions of our sponsors Anadolu Group, EY Türkiye, Hergüner Koç Holding, Mavi, Nurol Bank and Sabancı Holding.

We believe that this first international meeting with physical participation is a very valuable step for the recognition, growth and acceleration of the activities of our Association.

We would like to thank GNDI representatives from different parts of the world, our members, panel speakers and sponsors.