A SUSTAINABLE OUTLOOK TO THE FUTURE

Dr. Banu Yılmaz Founder of Sustainlook, Sustainability Reporting, ESG, and Sustainability Index Rating Consultant

Professional Profile
After gaining work experience in various sectors including Roche Pharmaceuticals, Honda Turkey, Kanal D Television Channel, and TTNet, Dr. Banu Yılmaz established her own "Sustainability and Communication Consultancy" company in 2017.
With over 30 years of corporate experience, academic studies, and field practices, she has specialized in sustainability reporting (GRI, TSRS, IR), ESG performance management and rating consultancy, sustainability performance measurement systems, sustainability strategies, and development of corrective action plans. She provides consultancy, training, and project development support to institutions on both national and international scales.
Her extensive experience in Finance and Cost Accounting, along with her Master’s degree in Business – Finance from Marmara University, significantly contributes to the integration of sustainability data with financial data in her work in the field of Sustainability. In addition, she has completed the “Integrated Reporting Training” provided by the IR (Integrated Reporting) institution and has been awarded a certificate.
In 1989, Banu Yılmaz was awarded the research prize by the Foreign Investors Association (YASED) within the scope of the study "The Importance of Foreign Investment in the World and in Turkey." Her analytical publication was published among the YASED publications. (HASANBEŞEOĞLU Banu “Foreign Direct Investments and Expectations in the World and in Turkey,” Review Competition-Honorable Mention, Foreign Direct Investments and Expectations in the World and in Turkey, Istanbul, YASED Publications, No:33,1988, pp.135-150) Within the scope of her doctoral studies, she developed the “Purpose-Oriented Sustainable Co-Creation Model,” which offers an important approach for organizations to develop sustainability projects with all their stakeholders and manage these processes effectively. This model is referenced in academic literature. It also provides methodological suggestions on how stakeholders can be actively involved in the organization’s economic, social, and environmental sustainability efforts.

Areas of Expertise
• Developing corporate sustainability strategies and roadmaps
• Sustainability reporting (GRI, TSRS, IR), data analysis, and content creation
• ESG performance rating consultancy and development of corrective action plans
• Carbon accounting, climate action plans, and CDP preparations
• Stakeholder analysis, sustainability strategy, and policy development
• Integrated reporting (IR), sustainable procurement, and CSR training

Education
After graduating from Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration in 1989, Dr. Banu Yılmaz completed two separate master's programs at Marmara University in two different fields: finance and public relations. She also completed the “Contemporary Business Management” program, a four-year joint education initiative between the University of Maine in the United States and the Research and Application Center of Marmara University.
She completed her Master’s Thesis in the field of ‘Advertising and Public Relations’, in which she conducted an in-depth analysis of the formation processes of global brands. As part of her master's degree in finance, also completed at Marmara University, she researched the financial impacts of production through the approach of ‘Profit Centers in Companies’.
She completed her doctoral studies at the Communication Department of Istanbul Bilgi University, where she investigated the contributions and jointly conducted projects of Private Sector Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to the United Nations’ “Sustainable Development Goals”.
In her research conducted with 13 Private Sector Organizations and 10 NGOs, she examined how private sector companies can develop successful collaborations with NGOs within the scope of sustainability efforts, and how the involvement of institutional stakeholders in sustainability activities benefits both the individuals and their institutions. As a result of this research, she developed a new model based on the “Purpose-Oriented Sustainability Approach”. She currently provides consultancy and training services in the fields of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability, and ESG.

Dr. Banu Yılmaz Sustainability Trainings:

Kadir Has University Lifelong Learning Center Training Programs – Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Expertise Certificate Program, February 20 – March 27, 2021, Total Duration: 5 Weeks.
Kadir Has University Lifelong Learning Center Training Programs – Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Expertise Certificate Program, May 8–9, 2021.

Sustainable Development Goals Awards Jury Memberships:

Turkey Corporate Responsibility Association (TKS Association) 12th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit – Sustainable Development Goals Awards Jury Membership – December 9, 2020

Turkey Corporate Responsibility Association (TKS Association) 12th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit – Sustainable Development Goals Awards Jury Membership – December 7, 2021

Participation in International Sustainable Development Goals Meetings:

Representation of CSR Turkey as a speaker at the European SDG Summit “Sustainability for The Young Generations” session. 11-12-13-14 October 2021 Brussels

Participation in International Sustainable Development Goals Meetings:

EU Summit Brussel – 22-23 June 2017
EU Summit Brussel – 28-29 June 2018

Papers presented at national scientific meetings:

Speaker at the ICA (International Association for Research and Practice) Global Public Relations Conference. Presentation Topic: “Is your PR strategy Ventriloquist or authentic?” San Diego USA 2017

Education Information

PhD – Communication
Istanbul Bilgi University, Institute of Social Sciences (2020)
Thesis: “Purpose-Oriented Co-Creational Public Relations Between Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Private Sector Organizations in the Context of Dialogue Theory”

Master’s Degree – Communication
Marmara University, Faculty of Communication (1994–1996)
Field: Advertising and Public Relations

Master’s Degree – Finance
Marmara University, Department of Business Administration (1993–1995)
Field: Finance and Cost Accounting

Joint Certificate Program – Business Management
University of Maine (USA) & Marmara University (1994)

Bachelor’s Degree – Business Administration
Istanbul University, Faculty of Business Administration (1981–1985)

Memberships

CSR Turkey: Director of International Relations (Volunteer) – [www.csrturkey.org](http://www.csrturkey.org)
Member of CSR Europe (since 2008) – [www.csreurope.org](http://www.csreurope.org)
PWN Istanbul: Marketing Specialist (Volunteer) – [www.pwnistanbul.net](http://www.pwnistanbul.net)
Part of a global network that supports the sustainable growth of women in business life.
Representative in the UNDP Turkey Diversity Working Group.
KİD Turkey: Volunteer Member of the Corporate Communicators Association – [www.kid.com.tr](http://www.kid.com.tr)

CONTACT US

For a sustainable world, we must work together, learn together, and grow together. You can contact us to be your partner on the journey of “Sustainability and ESG” for all societal stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, competitors, and more.