World Energy Council Türkiye Holds the Opening Meeting of the Young Energy Leaders (YEL’26) Program

World Energy Council Türkiye successfully held the opening meeting of the Young Energy Leaders (YEL’26) Program, which brings together young professionals who will shape the future of the energy sector. At the first gathering of the program, the Council’s vision was shared with the participants, and the program’s goals regarding leadership development, sectoral transformation, and multi-stakeholder and international cooperation were discussed.

Members of the World Energy Council Türkiye Board of Directors—Kıvanç Zaimler (CEO of Sabancı Holding), Elchin Ibadov (CEO of SOCAR Türkiye), and Mehmet Ertürk (Chairman of the Board of Ardens Energy)—contributed to the opening meeting. During the session held with the Young Energy Leaders selected for the 2026 term, the framework of the activities to be carried out throughout the program was outlined, and participants’ expectations from the program were heard.

The opening program was further enriched by the insights and evaluations shared by Barış Sanlı, Prof. Matthias Finger, and Dr. Ali Çınar, providing valuable contributions to the sectoral perspective.

The Young Energy Leaders Program aims to encourage young professionals who are interested in the energy sector and aspire to take an active role in decision-making processes to engage more strongly with sectoral issues. Within the scope of the program, participants are expected to deepen their knowledge in areas such as energy security, sustainability, transformation policies, and innovative business models.

In addition, through national and international meetings, workshops, and engagement platforms, it is planned to enhance participants’ sectoral vision, analytical capabilities, and leadership skills. The program seeks to bring a multidimensional perspective of young professionals into the energy ecosystem and to create long-term value for the future of the sector.

Through the YEL’26 Program, World Energy Council Türkiye continues to contribute to a sustainable and strong future for the energy sector and wishes all Young Energy Leaders—especially the new-term participants—an inspiring, productive, and successful program journey.