Speakers

Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK

Place of Birth : Türkiye
Position : Director General of Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), Türkiye
Field of study : SDGs, Development Assistance, Poverty Measurement, Islamic Finance, Women Empowerment, Education, Science-Technology-Innovation, Energy, Tourism, Health, Food Security, Peer Review Mechanisms, Census, Capacity Building, E-Learning, Labour, Social Security and Assistance, and Social Services

H.E. Mrs. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK has been the Director General of SESRIC since March 2023. She holds a BA in Economics from Bilkent University and an MSc in Accounting and Information Management from the University of Texas Dallas. H.E. Mrs. Selçuk’s career at SESRIC began as a researcher and later served as Senior Researcher and Director of Statistics and Information between 2007 and 2018. During her tenure, she led projects related to SDGs, development assistance, poverty measurement, Islamic finance, gender, education, science, technology, innovation, energy, tourism, health, food security, peer review mechanisms, census, capacity building, and e-learning. She produced numerous statistical and research publications for SESRIC. In 2018, H.E. Mrs. Selçuk was appointed as the first Minister of Family, Labour, and Social Services of the 66th Government of Türkiye. As Minister, she introduced significant programs and projects to bolster social protection, strengthened social dialogue with labour unions, and enforced regulations to address labour market issues. She also enhanced the coverage and efficiency of the social security system, launched new social assistance programs, and improved the implementation of preventive and protective measures for families, children, women, the elderly, and the disabled. H.E. Mrs. Selçuk designed and led the "Social Protection Shield" against the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing unique measures in labour, social security, social assistance, and social services. Beyond her professional roles, H.E. Mrs. Selçuk is actively involved in civil society organizations, recognizing their importance in bringing communities together for collective action.

• March 2023 – present: Director General of SESRIC
• July 2018 – April 2021: Minister of Family, Labour, and Social Services of Republic of Türkiye
• September 2015 – July 2018: Director of Statistics and Information, SESRIC
• January 2012 – August 2015: Senior Researcher, SESRIC
• September 2007 – December 2011: Researcher, SESRIC