Ebru Özdemir is the Chairwoman of Limak Holdings, an international conglomerate headquartered in Turkey, operating in 14 countries across nine sectors, including construction, infrastructure, energy, and tourism. Since taking up this position in 2007, under her leadership, Limak has completed various record-breaking projects, including the 1915Çanakkale Bridge - the longest suspension bridge in the world, and is currently leading the renovation and expansion of FC Barcelona’s renowned Spotify Camp Nou Stadium, which expected to be completed in record time in November 2024.

Ebru has over 15 years of experience in project financing and development, as well as public-private partnerships projects. Her expertise led to her election as a member of the business advisory board of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Public-Private Partnerships in 2014.

Especially passionate about entrepreneurship and girls’ education, in 2016, Ebru Özdemir founded the Limak Education, Culture and Health Foundation, which brings all the philanthropic and social projects of Limak Holding under one roof. Its flagship project, Global Engineer Girls (GEG), which is spearheaded by Ms Özdemir, aims to inspire the next generation of female engineers and targets the disproportionate representation of women in STEM. Operating in Türkiye, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the philanthropic initiative provides female engineering students with scholarships, training programs, mentorship and internships, equipping them with the necessary skills for successful careers. The project has been supported by the United Nations Development Programme and was selected as one of WEF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouses in 2023.

Ms. Özdemir’s commitment to gender inclusivity also drove her to co-found the 30 Percent Club, a platform aimed at developing a diverse and gender-balanced pool of talent for multi-industry businesses in Turkey. As part of the Limak Foundation, Ms. Özdemir developed the Limak Philharmonic Orchestra, which interprets and introduces Turkish music to a global audience.

Ebru Özdemir holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from Bogazici University in Turkey and an MBA in International Business and Finance from Fordham University in the US. She holds memberships at numerous organisations, including but not limited to the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK), the Turkish-American Business Council (TAİK), Atlantic Council’s International Advisory Board, UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development and many others.