The third edition of the Civil Society Summit 2024 was held under the theme of “Pioneering Civil Society,” bringing together civil society represantatives and leaders to discuss critical topics including human resource management, strategic planning, professionalization, and digital transformation in civil society. The in-depth conversations surrounding human resource management attracted a diverse audience of civil society professionals, volunteers, private sector leaders, and researchers.

Civil Society Awards Presented in Three Categories

At the summit, several prestigious awards were presented. The "Outstanding Activity Award" was given to the "Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Association," while the "Innovative NGO Award" went to the "Robot El Association." The "Volunteerism Award" was presented to Professor Dr. Ali İhsan Dokucu, with an "Honorable Mention for Volunteerism" awarded to Mesut Çaça.

Panel on Human Resources Management in Civil Society

The panel opened with a presentation by Rumeysa Kaymakçı, Board Member of TEGEP, titled "The Future of Human Resource Management: Digital Transformation." Kaymakçı emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to drive successful technological transformation, underscoring the role of digital archives in sustaining organizational knowledge.

Mustafa Tutkun, General Manager of the Turkish Red Crescent Governance Office, delivered a presentation on "Good Governance and Strategic Planning." He emphasized that robust strategic planning is fundamental to institutional success, while underscoring the critical role that leadership plays in guiding this process.

Bahattin Aydın, Chief People and Business Support Officer at Yıldız Holding, delved into the topic of "Organization 4.0: Moving Toward Learning Organizations." Aydın highlighted how a strong sense of identity and shared values drive motivation in civil society, and stressed that inclusive leadership is key to unlocking the potential of diverse teams.

The final presentation was delivered by Nurullah Er, Employee Experience Director at Turkcell, on the topic of "Value-Driven Leadership." Er argued that leadership is not merely a title but a quality that naturally arises in challenging times. He emphasized the importance of staying true to core values as the foundation for long-term success and personal fulfillment.

"Explain in 5 Minutes" Session

Moderated by Elif Akkuş, a researcher at the Civil Society Academy, the "Explain in 5 Minutes" session featured concise presentations from five civil society representatives. Each speaker had five minutes to share impactful projects, initiatives, or activities that had successfully advanced human resource management, participation, or sustainability within their organizations.

Does Professionalization Undermine Volunteerism?

The summit concluded with a debate during the "Young People Debate" session, moderated by Nevzat Taşçı, Director of the Interface Campaign. The debate explored a thought-provoking question: "Does professionalization in civil society undermine volunteerism?" Participants engaged in lively exchanges, offering diverse perspectives on the potential impact of increased professionalization on the spirit of volunteerism.