IAAPA EMEA Spring Summit 2024

Thomas Buijtenweg is an accomplished professional with a passion for shaping the future of technology and entertainment. As the Coordinator of Master Game Technology, he has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of talent, guiding them toward successful careers in research and development. 

Over the last eight years, Thomas has been working in Game User Research, delving into the intricacies of player behavior, investigating how people engage with games. His insights have informed game design decisions, ensuring a more immersive and enjoyable gaming experience. 

Currently exploring AI in Entertainment by being at the forefront of artificial intelligence and creative industries. He envisions a world where AI seamlessly enhances day-to-day user interactions, creating novel forms of entertainment that captivate and delight. 

He places a specific focus on Human-Computer Interaction. With a keen eye for usability and user experience, Thomas bridges the gap between technology and human needs. 

Şöhret Pakiş graduated from the Department of Economics at Boğaziçi University. She completed her master's degree in economic history at the same university. Starting her career in Human Resources at Pfizer Turkiye. Şöhret joined the Polin Waterparks team in 2004. She worked as the Brand and Communication Director for a total of 20 companies affiliated with the holding, eight of which are in Turkiye and 12 abroad.

In 2015, Şöhret has served as a member of the European M&S committee of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the world's largest attraction organization. In 2016, she has served at IAAPA EMEA M&S Committee, covering Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 2022, she was awarded the 'Executive Board Award' by the World Waterpark Association (WWA), based in the United States, recognizing significant contributions to water parks and recreation. She became the first female executive from Europe and Turkiye to receive this award. In 2023, she was listed as a Turkish female executive in the Women of Influence list by Interpark magazine in the UK.

In 2021, Şöhret participated in Prof. Dr. Sinan Canan's "Open Brain Documentaries," and she developed the concept of "neurorecreation," which establishes a connection between neuroscience and recreation and attractions, presenting the first applied quantitative study on the concept. In 2022, Şöhret completed her master's degree in Neuroscience at Uskudar University's Institute of Health Sciences. She contributes to studies on the application of neuroscience in the entertainment and attraction sectors, as well as the relationship between recreation and attractions and happy cities. Her articles "Neurorecreation: A Conceptual Framework Bridging Recreation and Neuroscience" and "Leisure Flow during the COVID-19 Period" have been published in the International Journal of Recreation and Sport Science. Additionally, she contributed with her article "Rhythms in Home-Based Entertainment" to the 3rd chapter of Routledge's Research Book on Leisure Studies.

She currently serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors and the Brand and Education Committee Chairman at the Turkish Amusement Parks Association (TEPEA). Şöhret has served in IAAPA Hall of Fame Committee in 2023 and has been a keynote speaker and/or moderator at events such as IAAPA Attractions (USA), IAAPA Europe (EAS), WWA Show, Southeast Environment and Recreation Research Conference USA (SERR), China Amusement Conference (CAAE), European Waterpark Association Conference (EWA), Atrax, and Nature Talks. She has also been a guest lecturer on topics such as Brand and Communication, Organizational Marketing, Recreational Studies, and Entrepreneurship at Indiana (USA), Marmara, Boğaziçi, Yeditepe, Istanbul, Istanbul Technical, Uskudar, Sabancı, and Koç Universities. She is a mentor in the global She’s Mercedes platform empowering and inspiring young women entrepreneurs. She is now doing brand consultancy and the brand ambassador for companies in attractions industry.

Since 2016, Timur is the CEO of KidZania Istanbul, a global edutainment centre that provides a fun and educational experience for families with children in a 10,000 square meter city. She leads a team of 160 people and collaborates with 40 purpose partners and various global and local brands, with the vision of "Get ready for a better world".

KidZania operates in 26 cities across 22 countries. In her presentation, she will share her insights on how to engage with our customers in the next decade, based on the research they conducted on the current trends and needs of children and families. She will ask us "The world is changing rapidly, what about us?" and challenge us to adapt and innovate.

Timur has a background in corporate communications, marketing, and management in sectors such as insurance, broadcasting, fmcg and NGO respectively, before joining the entertainment industry. She holds an MBA certificate from Bournemouth Business School and an Emba degree from Sheffield University and she graduated from Anadolu University Faculty of Business Administration.

Tankut Tonger has been serving as the General Manager of Merlin Entertainments Türkiye since 2022. Graduating from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Boğaziçi University in 2001, Tonger started his career in the advertising sector, holding senior management positions for over 20 years. From 2002 to 2004, he worked as Deputy Manager at MEPAŞ / ZEDPAŞ. Subsequently, he served as Sales Coordinator at Doğan Media Group from 2004 to 2009, as well as General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Ciner Media Group from 2009 to 2011. He then worked as Deputy General Manager of Sales and Marketing at D-Smart from 2011 to 2013. Tonger served as Managing Director at Vialand Theme Park, Turkey's first theme park, from 2018 to 2022, before assuming his current role at Merlin Entertainments Turkey. Responsible for the company's operational projects and investments in Türkiye, Tonger oversees brands such as Madame Tussauds Istanbul, SEA LIFE Istanbul, and Legoland® Discovery Centre Istanbul.

In 2001 Cenk Ulu joined the PwC Türkiye Istanbul office, and he was admitted to PwC partnership in 2007. He became the Territory Senior Partner of PwC Türkiye in December 2020. He is also a member of the PwC Europe Leadership Team. Before beginning in his role as Territory Senior Partner, in addition to the services he provided to his clients Cenk established the PwC Türkiye Tax Technology team and also served as the Leader of the team. Additionally, he was the Leader of the Client Education Department. He also served as the Leader of PwC Türkiye Indirect Tax Services.

Cenk worked as a customs expert in the Undersecretariat of Customs for five years, from 1996 to 2000. In this role, he worked exclusively on customs procedures and European Union applications.

Cenk specializes in customs and foreign trade applications, value added tax and other indirect taxes, special consumption tax, foreign exchange applications, investment incentives applications, free trade zones, transit trade, European applications and GATT, and he also lectures at the Bahçeşehir and Boğaziçi universities.