Our Team
Ahmet Haluk
I am here at the Foundation because I believe the Earth is shaped like a globe, where the West is not the sole existing and focal place. I am here because I believe in the entangled yet cordial nature of the 'Mashriq,' which could enlighten the essence of this world. We are passing through a critical reshuffling in the contemporary world. I know that each individual matters, and I aim to be the voice of the 'others' as long as I can, to endorse the embrace we need. "Olive trees don't grow in the steppe, they say—unless they find their place."
Ali Khan
I am here at the FGST because I believe the world is a mosaic, not a monolith. I also believe that knowledge is like a river, flowing across borders, shaping lands, connecting people, and changing their ideas. We are living in a time of profound transformation, where old boundaries are dissolving, and new connections are being established. I trust in diversity and the power of dialogue, as well as those who challenge the narratives that confine us.
Martyna Napierska
I'm part of the foundation in the hope of challenging academic inequality by creating spaces for meaningful discussion about representation, collaborative learning, and community-driven initiatives within universities and beyond. I strive to make higher education—an often exclusionary institution—more accessible to those who have been denied access. Embracing diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and knowledge systems deepens our collective understanding and fosters a more enriching and inclusive intellectual community, which I hope to support with my work in the foundation.
Dr Mehmet Şahiner
I joined FGST because I believe in the power of education, collaboration, and global knowledge exchange. Coming from an academic background in finance and technology, I've seen firsthand how access to the right opportunities can shape careers and open new possibilities. FGST provides a platform for scholars from the Global South (but not limited to) to connect, grow, and contribute to global discussions. For me, being part of this initiative is about mentorship, shared learning, and creating a space where diverse perspectives thrive.
Şadiye Serin
I am here because I reject the idea that power and influence are concentrated in a single geography. The Global South is not an afterthought—it is a force of history, a living testament to resilience, innovation, and cultural richness. In a world undergoing rapid shifts, I believe in championing the voices that have long been sidelined, not out of charity, but because their perspectives are essential to understanding the present and shaping the future. From policymakers to communities on the ground, my work is about creating bridges—between narratives, institutions, and people. I do not seek to replicate existing power structures; I seek to challenge and reimagine them. Because history is not static, and neither is the world we are building.
Sara Ali
(not received yet)
Dr Taner Doğan
The concept of the Global South transcends mere geography for me; it represents a landscape of the mind, inhabited by those who dare to think critically despite the constraints imposed by the status quo. Driven by this vision, we have established the Foundation of Global South Thinking as a pillar to nurture profound thinking worldwide. Although thinking is an individual act, overcoming inequalities requires a collective effort to reassert justice.