UITP Eurasia Conference 2026 - Seamless Multimodal Mobility for Sustainable Cities

Dr. Cemil Tugay is the Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Born in Van in 1967, he graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 1989 and later specialised in plastic surgery. Before becoming Mayor of İzmir, he served as Mayor of Karşıyaka from 2019 to 2024. He was elected Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality following the 2024 local elections.

Mohamed Mezghani is the Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) since 2018. He has been working for more than 30 years in public transport and urban mobility related fields in different roles: knowledge manager and director, adviser and consultant as well as researcher. He has led many initiatives including advocacy activities, studies, technical assistance, training programmes and professional events in more than 70 countries on all continents, engaging with international organisations, government officials, mobility professionals and academia.

He has been graduated in Industrial Engineering (1987) from Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Tunisia and has a Master in Transport (1988) from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris, France.

İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi İnşaat Mühendisliği Bölümü mezunu olan Pelin ALPKÖKİN, 1998 yılında Ulaştırma Mühendisliği Yüksek Lisans programından mezun olmuştur. 2002 yılında, Japonya Nagoya Üniversitesinde doktora çalışmasına başlamış, 2005 yılında Doktor unvanı almış, 2008 yılından itibaren İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi’nde öğretim üyesi olarak göreve başlamıştır. “Demiryolu mühendisliği ve politikaları”, “Ulaşım planlaması”, “Altyapı yatırımlarında finans modelleri”, “Altyapı inşaatı sözleşme yönetimi”, “Uluslararası inşaat sözleşmeleri”, konularında akademik çalışmalarını sürdürmekte olup birçok uluslararası yayını bulunmaktadır. Çok iyi seviyede Japonca ve İngilizce bilmektedir. 19.07.2019 tarihi itibarıyla İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi Raylı Sistem Daire Başkanı olarak atanmıştır. Mevcut görevinin yanı sıra 1/1/2022 itibarıyla Genel Sekreter Yardımcılığı (2) görevini de vekaleten yürütmektedir.

Jaspal Singh has 16+ years of experience in mobility, innovation, and technology space. Presently serving as the Senior Director of Membership and Global Operations (MGO) at UITP (International Association of Public Transport), he concurrently holds the position of Head of the UITP North America Office. His earlier roles include serving as the Manager of the IT and Innovation Committee and as the Head of the UITP India Office.

He is also the host of Mobility Innovators Podcast. He has a 360-degree view of the sector as he has worked with the public agencies, operator, startups, and consulting firms.

He is also Principal at Valoriser Consultants, Inc. specializing in new mobility, cleantech, startups, electric mobility, and ITS. Previously, he was working with a public transit authority, reforming the urban transport system in India. In past, he also worked with Uber India’s early team to navigate the regulatory challenges and build partnerships.

He has received several awards for his contribution in the field of public transport and social work, as well as has been widely quoted in publications. He completed his Master of Management and Innovation (MMIE) at Queen’s University, Canada and received his master’s in business administration specialized in International Business.

He is actively working with startups in mobility and logistics space as an advisor, mentor, and investor. Jaspal is an avid traveller and travelled to around 55 countries around the world and counting.

With over 25 years of unparalleled expertise in the dynamic realm of public transport, he stands as a titan in the industry. Currently serving as a Senior Advisor to the prestigious UITP, his role as Head of Eurasia and Senior Advisor to the Academy places him at the forefront of innovation and excellence.

His journey commenced in 1999 with METRO ISTANBUL, where he embarked on a transformative path through various roles including Signaling Engineer, Maintenance Planning Expert, and Software Development Engineer. With each position, he left an indelible mark of proficiency and foresight.

Elevating to the helm as the Managing Director of Kayseri Transportation, he orchestrated a symphony of success, overseeing the seamless integration of diverse transport modalities. Under his visionary leadership, the company not only revolutionized rail systems but expanded its purview to encompass bus operations, bike-sharing initiatives, and pioneering smart traffic management systems.

A luminary in the field, he has graced numerous executive boards and chaired pivotal divisions within UITP, contributing significantly to shaping global transport policies. His presidency at TÜRSİD and vice presidency at ARUS underscore his commitment to advancing rail transportation in Turkey and beyond.

Not content with mere professional accolades, he pursued academic excellence culminating in a Ph.D. in Business Administration. His groundbreaking thesis on the nexus between formalization and stakeholder satisfaction in transport systems is a testament to his intellectual prowess and dedication to advancing the industry.

Beyond his professional endeavors, he remains deeply entrenched in the academic and research spheres, serving on advisory boards and steering committees of esteemed institutions. His multifaceted contributions reflect a tireless pursuit of excellence and a relentless drive to reshape the future of public transport.

Victoria Markewitz is part of the European Business Development team of Via Transportation and ViaVan, the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Vans and Via, based in Berlin. She is responsible to drive the launch of Via’s and ViaVan’s licensing partnerships with European and Middle Eastern public transport operators and cities.

Prior to Via, Victoria worked as a management consultant for Roland Berger in the Transportation Competence Center, both in Germany and the Middle East, to consult clients on innovative mobility solutions and strategies.

Victoria graduated from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and a Master in Management degree.

Ahmet Sinan Karakuzu is a Turkish engineer and public transport executive with a long career in the railway sector. A graduate of the Middle East Technical University’s Mechanical Engineering Department, he completed his master’s degree at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. After more than twenty years in various roles at the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), he became known for his expertise in rail operations and management.

In August 2024, Karakuzu was appointed General Manager of İzmir Metro A.Ş. His leadership focuses on improving safety, service quality, and operational efficiency across the metro system. He continues to represent İzmir Metro in national and international collaborations, guiding its development as a key part of the city’s sustainable urban transport network.

Dr. Hakan Uzun is a senior transportation and urban planning executive at İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. He previously served as Head of the Transportation Planning Department at ESHOT General Directorate, where he led strategic mobility planning, public transport optimization, and sustainable urban transport projects for İzmir. His expertise includes transportation systems planning, electric bus integration, mobility management, and long-term urban transport strategy development.

In 2025, Hakan Uzun was appointed Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, responsible for zoning and urban planning affairs, following his leadership role at ESHOT.