Overview

Kader Sevinc is a seasoned Senior International Strategist and Global Affairs Executive with 20 years of experience across Europe and the US. Her work spans key areas including EU–Turkiye and US–Turkiye relations, Foreign Policy, European Union affairs, Transatlantic Relations, International Negotiations, International Strategic Communication and Advocacy, European Integration, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Policy. Currently, as CEO of Forward 1919 Global Strategic Advisory I Brussels and Founder of European AI Hub, she plays a pivotal role in helping organizations develop international strategies and shaping innovation in AI governance and policy. Holding dual citizenship in the EU and Turkiye, her background provides nuanced insights into global affairs.

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Professional Journey

Kader’s EU career in Brussels began after she won a research prize from the European Commission while living in Turkiye—where she was born and completed her university studies. She started her career in the European Parliament, spending four years refining her expertise in various EU policies while contributing to key committees. She then advanced her work in Brussels, serving 16 years as Director of EU Representation for the CHP and as a board member of PES—the European Parliament’s prominent, policy-driven forum that brings together influential policymakers to shape legislative priorities. In these roles, she collaborated with European Parliamentarians, Ministers, and European Commissioners, while establishing the Brussels representative office. At the leadership level, she built and led an extensive international network of experts working on a wide array of projects and initiatives, and she successfully supervised and managed the financial operations of the office, ensuring sustainable and effective governance. Her involvement in prominent EU initiatives and high-level policymaking—through board and committee work—was directly instrumental in advising EU heads of state who belong to the PES group.

Kader also spent six years in Washington DC as a visiting and non-resident fellow at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), focusing on transatlantic relations and further broadening her international perspective. Additionally, she was invited as a Visiting Scholar at NYU, where she further developed her work on Artificial Intelligence and governance in the field of govtech.

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Awards and Recognitions

Kader’s career has garnered several accolades, including:

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• Young European Leader designation by the European Parliament

• The EU Research Award from the European Commission

• The Young Entrepreneur of the Year award from TUSIAD (a key member of BusinessEurope)

• Recognition as one of the "Top 99 under 33" most influential international policy leaders by Diplomatic Courier and YPFP in Washington DC

• A prize for her contribution to Turkiye's promotion and successful representation abroad, awarded by the Tourism Professionals Association and the Professionals Hoteliers Association

Prestigious fellowships at SAIS/Johns Hopkins University and a Visiting Scholar stint at NYU Tandon School of Engineering further underscore her commitment to policy innovation.

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Academic Background

Kader holds an MA in International Relations (Magna Cum Laude) from the Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales & Stratégiques (CERIS), where she focused on international negotiation theories within the EU context. She also earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in business, further enriched by her participation in the Jean Monnet Programme, which deepened her understanding of European Integration. Complementing her academic achievements, she has enhanced her expertise through intensive training in strategic negotiation at CERIS/ULB Diplomatic School of Brussels, change management at Vlerick Business School, business communication at Harvard University, and French studies at Institut Prevert in Antibes, France.

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Entrepreneurial Leadership and Round-Table Initiative in Brussels

In her current roles, Kader serves as the CEO of Forward 1919 Global Strategic Advisory I Brussels (Forward1919.eu), where she works with organizations to develop international strategies that enhance their global leadership. Under her visionary leadership, she has successfully brought together elite leaders of global affairs—comprising former presidents, ministers, members of the European Parliament, and ambassadors—to form Forward1919's distinguished advisory board.

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As Founder of European AI Hub, she is at the forefront of shaping innovation in Artificial Intelligence Governance and policy while addressing emerging challenges in digital policy with a pragmatic approach. She is also a member of the European AI Alliance, an initiative of the European Commission that brings together leading AI experts to advance best practices and policy recommendations.

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Innovative Round-table Meetings in Brussels 

 

Demonstrating her social entrepreneurship, Kader also initiated the Turkish Coffee Briefings in Brussels—a innovative round table series that brings together expert speakers and influential participants to discuss pressing global and European issues. Hosted at Brussels’ prestigious EU campus at Schuman Rondabout—the very address that accommodates The Council, the European Commission, and the European foreign service (EEAS)—these sessions are attended by members of the European Parliament, diplomats, EU affairs professionals, and EU officials.

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Civic Society Leadership

Throughout her career, Kader has served in various leadership roles within the civic sector. She has been a member of leading European think tanks, including the European Policy Center (the EPC), Friends of Europe, and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Additionally, she has served as an EU advisory board member for the Kagider Women Entrepreneurship Association, a Board Member for TEMA Europe, and as Vice President of the Turkish Business Association Brussels (TOSED). She is also a member of the Turkish Corporate Governance Association, Foreign Policy Professionals Brussels (YPFP), Professional Women International Brussels, and various other civic society organizations and policy forums.

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Public Speaking and Media Engagement

A frequent speaker on international panels, Kader regularly delivers conferences and talks on a wide range of subjects, including success and leadership, geopolitics, artificial intelligence, foreign policy, technology and society, as well as topics related to international negotiations, global strategy, and digital policy. Her insights have been featured on prominent platforms such as BBC World, CNN, and Deutsche Welle, and she has engaged audiences at academic institutions such as the College of Europe, Marmara University, and various universities and think-tanks in the US.

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Strategic Board Leadership and Governance

Kader is currently pursuing the European Board Diploma from ECODA, a prestigious Europe-wide corporate governance organization in Brussels, as part of her commitment to serving as an independent board member on the boards of leading companies.

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Creative Engagement

Kader is a published Brussels City Poet and an active PEN Belgium Member. Her poetry has been performed at various international art festivals and fine arts centers and has been featured in several anthologies and collaborative projects. She has published one poetry book and released a bilingual poetry album blended with jazz—a joint work with artists from Stockholm, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and Brussels. Kader is also passionate about painting and is a regular follower of the Venice Biennale. A lover of contemporary art, she enjoys visiting art galleries and museums.

 

Innovation and creative thinking are essential parts of her leadership, enriching her multifaceted approach to global affairs.