Ebru Ozdemir takes on pivotal role at Davos: A first for women in leadership

Ebru Ozdemir, the chairwoman of Limak Holding, has been appointed as the president of the Engineering and Construction Industry Group at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

This marks a historic moment as Ozdemir becomes the first female executive and the first Turkish company representative to take on the demanding role. She will lead the group for the next two years, overseeing the representation of some of the world’s leading engineering and construction companies within the WEF’s framework.

The Engineering and Construction Industry Group is one of 21 industry groups within the WEF, composed of major global companies from the sector.

Proud moment for Turkish engineering

In her first statement after being appointed, Ozdemir expressed her pride and excitement about representing a Turkish engineering company on such a prestigious international platform.

“Being appointed to this position as a representative of a Turkish engineering company among the global giants of the sector at the World Economic Forum is truly an honor,” she said.

Ozdemir added that this role is especially meaningful as it marks the first time a woman has been elected as the president of the group. She emphasized how special the Davos summit became for her this year.

“We have been following the Davos Summit for a long time, and this year we are achieving milestones. Being the first woman to head the Engineering and Construction Industry Group within the WEF is a source of great pride,” said Ozdemir.

Setting priorities: Workforce, technological integration and innovation

Ozdemir also shared insights into the group’s roadmap for the next two years, highlighting the priorities that will guide their efforts.

“This year’s summit has become even more special and meaningful for us. As I take on the role of leading the Governors’ Community for the next two years, I am excited to represent the only female member of this influential group.”

As part of her strategic plan, Ozdemir noted that the group’s key priorities moving forward would include addressing the sector’s workforce challenges, integrating new technologies, and developing innovative business models. She emphasized the importance of these topics in shaping the future of the engineering and construction industry.

“One of the most important topics for us is workforce development. We aim to bridge the talent gap and create a workforce that is prepared to meet the demands of our sector. By prioritizing the development of our industry, we can make the sector’s value chain more resilient and secure through innovative business models,” she explained.

Ozdemir also stressed the need for sustainable infrastructure solutions and expressed her belief that the industry can expand these solutions on a global scale.