Seminar Series on Sustainability in Sports
Sustainability from a Brand Perspective: Impact or Engagement?
In the fourth and final session of the Play Forward: Sustainability in Sport Seminar Series — organised by the Sports Studies Centre of Kadir Has University in collaboration with the football strategy initiative LOBA — we discuss how brands position sustainability as a platform through sport. The panel approaches sustainability from a brand perspective, focusing on strategy, communication, partnerships, and real impact.
Sustainability is now much more than a “narrative” for brands. Especially in a field with the powerful influence of sport, the responsibility and potential of brands are greater than ever.
But where is the real difference created — in measurable impact, or in the engagement that sport builds with stakeholders?
Event Details
- Venue: Kadir Has University, Cibali Campus
- Hall: Cibali Hall
- Day: Saturday, 31 January 2026
- Time: 13:30 – 15:00
Speakers
To be announced.
Registration Process
Participation in the event is free of charge. All registered participants who attend the full session will receive a certificate of participation issued by the Sports Studies Centre.
To complete your registration, please follow the two-step process below:
- Online Registration:
Use the Online Registration button on the page to register for the event.
- Donation Step:
After completing your online registration, choose a non-governmental organisation working in the field of sustainability from the list below and make a donation in an amount of your choice. Then send the donation receipt to [email protected]. Once your receipt is matched with your registration, you will receive a confirmation email indicating that your registration is complete.
Non-Governmental Organisations
- Darüşşafaka Society
- Tohum Autism Foundation
- TEGV (Volunteer Foundation for Education in Turkey)
- Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG)
- Beyaz Güvercinler
- TEMA Foundation
- WWF Turkey (World Wildlife Fund Turkey)
- ÇEVKO Foundation
- Turkey Spinal Cord Paralytics Association (TOFD)
- Turkey Down Syndrome Association (TDSD)
- Turkish National Paralympic Committee
Last update: 06 January 2026, 12:15
“Social Power of Sport: What is the Color of Change”
In the third session of the “Play Forward: Sustainability Seminar Series in Sport,” organized through the collaboration of Kadir Has University Sports Studies Center and the football strategy initiative LOBA, the role of sport in social transformation will be discussed from the perspective of equality and inclusion.
In this seminar, we will examine the responsibility of clubs and brands to create social impact, focusing on the power of sport beyond the field.
Event Details
Venue: Kadir Has University Cibali Campus
Hall: Cibali Hall
Date: Saturday, 20 December 2025
Time: 13:30–15:00
Important Notice: The event will be held in Turkish.
Speakers
Sinem Aydın (UN Women “HeForShe” Turkey Coordinator)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlknur Hacısoftaoğlu (Faculty Member, Istanbul Bilgi University)
Fırat Fidan (Co-Founder, Sports Company)
Zeycan R. Yıldırım (CMO, Samsunspor)
Aslı E. Koç Tiryaki (Moderator) (Founder, LOBA Football Strategy Initiative)
Registration Process
Participation in our event is free of charge. Everyone who registers for the program and follows the event until the end will receive an “event participation certificate” issued by the Sports Studies Center.
You only need to follow the two-step process below.
Once your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation message from [email protected].
Step 1
Use the Online Registration button below to complete your online registration for the event.
Step 2
After completing your online registration, you are required to select one of the non-governmental organizations listed below—each working in various fields related to sustainability—make a donation in an amount of your choice, and email the donation receipt to [email protected].
Once we receive your receipt, it will be matched with your online registration and you will be sent a confirmation email indicating that your registration has been completed.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Darüşşafaka Society
Tohum Autism Foundation
TEGV (Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey)
TOG (Community Volunteers Foundation)
White Pigeons
TEMA Foundation
WWF Türkiye (Foundation for the Protection of Wildlife)
ÇEVKO Foundation
Turkish Spinal Cord Paralytics Association (TOFD)
Turkey Down Syndrome Association (TDSD)
Turkish National Paralympic Committee
Last updated: 12.12.2025, 16:45
“Green Investments: Does Reducing Carbon Footprint Enhance Your Credibility?”
The “Play Forward” seminar series continues with its second session focusing on environmental sustainability in sport.
Within the sports ecosystem, sustainability has evolved beyond social responsibility to become a powerful brand and investment strategy. This panel will showcase concrete actions by sports organisations in reducing environmental impact, and by brands shaping the future of sport through “green investments”.
Participants will hear first-hand experiences regarding carbon-footprint reduction, use of renewable energy, green stadium practices and eco-sponsor collaborations.
Event Details
Venue: Kadir Has University Cibali Campus
Room: Cibali Hall
Date: Saturday, 29 November 2025
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Speakers
Ali Çelikkıran (Operations Director, Galatasaray SK Ali Sami Yen Sports Complex – Rams Park Stadium)
Mert Güller (Co-Founder, 3P Metrics)
Tayfun Yağız Semiz (Team Operations and External Relations Officer, Rams Başakşehir FK)
Aslı E. Koç Tiryaki (Moderator) (Founder, LOBA Football Strategy Initiative)
Registration Process
Participation is free of charge. Attendees who register and stay through the full programme will receive a “certificate of participation” from the Sports Studies Centre.
Registration is completed via a two-step process. After online registration, participants select one of the listed non-governmental organisations working on sustainability, make a donation (amount at their discretion) and send the receipt to the given email address.
When your receipt is matched with your online registration, you will receive confirmation.
NGOs you may choose to donate to:
Darüşşafaka Society
Tohum Autism Foundation
TEGV (Volunteer Foundation for Education in Turkey)
Volunteers of Society Foundation (TOG)
Beyaz Güvercinler
TEMA Foundation
WWF Turkey
ÇEVKO Foundation
Turkey Spinal Cord Paralytics Association (TOFD)
Turkey Down Syndrome Association (TDSD)
Turkey National Paralympic Committee
Last updated: 12 November 2025, 08:45
Sustainability: Trend or True Transformation?
In this panel, the question of whether sustainability in the world of sport is merely a trend or part of a genuine, long-term transformation will be discussed.
Given sport’s global impact and visibility, the steps taken by clubs, federations, and brands in this field have the power to accelerate both social and sectoral change.
As the first event of the Play Forward series, this panel will bring together distinguished speakers positioned at the intersection of sport and sustainability, who will share their experiences and visions with participants.
Event Details
Venue: Kadir Has University Cibali Campus
Hall: Cibali Hall
Date: Saturday, 25 October 2025
Time: 14:30 – 16:00
Speakers
Dr. Mustafa Eröğüt – Sports Executive
Mete Türkmenoğlu – LaLiga Representative for Turkey, Greece, and Georgia
Prof. Dr. H. Burak Gemalmaz – Academic, Istanbul University Faculty of Law
Murat Günaydın – Sustainability Services Leader, Deloitte Turkey
Gökhan Tiryaki – Chair of the Board, Titanyum Independent Audit Services & Chair of the Audit Committee, Beşiktaş JK
Aslı E. Koç Tiryaki – Founder, LOBA Football Strategy Initiative
Registration Process
Participation in the event is free of charge. All registered participants who follow the full programme will receive a certificate of participation issued by the Sports Studies Centre.
Please follow the two-step registration process below. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email from [email protected].
Step 1
Register online for the event using the “Online Registration” button below.
(The registration period for Play Forward I has now ended.)
Step 2
After completing your online registration, please select one of the non-governmental organisations listed below — all of which operate in various areas of sustainability — and make a donation in an amount of your choice. Then send your donation receipt to [email protected].
When your receipt is received and matched with your online registration, you will receive a confirmation email verifying completion of your registration.
Non-Governmental Organisations
Darüşşafaka Society
Tohum Autism Foundation
TEGV (Voluntary Education Foundation of Turkey)
Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG)
Beyaz Güvercinler (White Doves Association)
TEMA Foundation
WWF Turkey (World Wildlife Fund Turkey)
ÇEVKO Foundation
Turkey Spinal Cord Paralytics Association (TOFD)
Turkey Down Syndrome Association (TDSD)
Turkish National Paralympic Committee
Last updated: 22 October 2025, 11:20
Rethinking the Future of Sport
The sports industry is evolving not only through on-field performance but also through its social, environmental, and economic impacts.
Play Forward: Sustainability in Sport Seminar Series, launched by the Kadir Has University Sports Studies Centre in collaboration with the football strategy initiative LOBA, aims to become Turkey’s leading platform for this transformation.
Taking place between October 2025 and January 2026, the series brings together voices from academia, the private sector, civil society, and the media to discuss and debate the sustainable future of sport.
Contributing to Social Good
Participation in all events is free of charge.
However, in line with our vision of creating social impact and awareness, participants who complete the online registration process are expected to make a voluntary donation to a non-governmental organisation active in the field of sustainability.
The donation amount is entirely at the participant’s discretion, and the receipt will be shared during the registration process.
With this approach, our goal is to make Play Forward not just a knowledge-sharing platform, but a solidarity initiative that directly contributes to social benefit.
Learn, Share, Connect
Play Forward:
Encourages knowledge exchange through sessions featuring industry leaders and academics,
Helps students integrate a sustainability vision into their career planning,
Creates networking and collaboration opportunities for professionals,
Builds a shared platform for the sustainable transformation of sport in Turkey.
Each session will be held with limited capacity, and registration announcements will be made prior to each seminar.
You can find detailed information and registration procedures on the dedicated page for each event.
Last updated: 6 October 2025, 11:00
