IPPA — International Positive Psychology Association
10th World Congress on Positive Psychology July 7–10, 2027 • Istanbul, Türkiye

Congress Leadership

Meet the dedicated global and national committees, scholars, practitioners, and host partners guiding the 10th World Congress on Positive Psychology (July 7–10, 2027 | Istanbul, Türkiye).

Executive & Host Leadership

Organizing Committee

The Organizing Committee leads the overarching strategy, logistics, financial governance, marketing, and host university partnerships for the 10th World Congress on Positive Psychology.

Chair & Executive Leadership

Tayyab Rashid
Tayyab Rashid Congress Chair Executive Committee
IPPA Board of Directors · President-Elect · Canada
AS
Andrew Soren
Executive Committee · Marketing Lead
IPPA Executive Director · Canada
DV
Dianne Vella-Brodrick
Chair, Community, Connection and Flourishing
IPPA President · Australia

Advisory & Governance

MJ
Marita James
Executive Committee · Finance Lead
IPPA Board of Directors · USA
RO
Rhea Owens
Executive Committee · Divisions Lead
IPPA Board of Directors · USA
JP
James Pawelski
Executive Committee · Senior Advisor
IPPA Board of Directors · USA

Türkiye Organizing Partners

MB
Mehmet Büyükçorak
Presenting University Partner
Ibn Haldun University · Türkiye
NT
Nevzat Tarhan
Premier University Partner
Üsküdar University · Türkiye

BURKON (Professional Congress Organizer)

Serkan Demirkesen
BURKON PCO · Türkiye
Gürkan İçli
BURKON PCO · Türkiye
Fatih Karabulut
BURKON PCO · Türkiye
Onur Oral
BURKON PCO · Türkiye
Cihat Yıldır
BURKON PCO · Türkiye
Academic & Program Leadership

Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee designs the academic framework, establishes the ten scientific tracks, manages abstract reviews, and ensures a rigorous, inclusive, and forward-looking program.

Committee Leadership

Jane Gillham
Jane Gillham
Scientific Co-Chair
Swarthmore College · USA
Matthew Iasiello
Matthew Iasiello
Research Lead
Be Well Co · Australia
Denise Quinlan
Denise Quinlan
Practice Lead
NZ Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience
Tayyab Rashid
Tayyab Rashid
Congress Chair
IPPA Board · Canada

Committee Members

RA
Richard Appiah
Committee Member
University of Ghana · Ghana
GA
Gökmen Arslan
Committee Member
Mehmet Akif Ersoy University · Türkiye
MZ
Maggie Zhao
Committee Member
University of Hong Kong · China
Worldwide Representation

Global Advisory Committee

The Global Advisory Committee connects national leaders, regional positive psychology networks, and international experts to broaden worldwide representation and engagement.

Türkiye-Based Members

ÖA
Özcan Erkan Akgun
Ibn Haldun University · Türkiye
AB
Ayşe Burçin Başkurt
Univ. of East London · UK / Türkiye
MD
Mehmet Dinç
Yeşilay (Green Crescent) · Türkiye
TE
Türker Ergüzel
Üsküdar University · Türkiye
EG
Ekmel Geçer
Marmara University · Türkiye
SG
Sevgi Güney
Ankara University · Türkiye
CN
Celia Naivar
Özyeğin University · Türkiye
KS
Kemal Sayar
Psychiatrist & Author · Türkiye
Ayşe Şafak
Ibn Haldun University · Türkiye
FT
Fatma Turan
Üsküdar University · Türkiye

International Members

SA
Sean Abrahams
South Africa
NA
Noof Al Jenebi
United Arab Emirates
VC
Vicki Cabrera
USA
CM
Charles Martin-Krumm
France
KP
Kaiping Peng
Tsinghua University · China
CR
Chiara Ruini
University of Bologna · Italy
JV
Jennifer Villalobos
USA

Members of each committee are listed alphabetically by last name.

Our Sponsors
İbn Haldun Üniversitesi Presenting Sponsor
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Premier Sponsor
Burkon Turizm
Congress logistics managed in partnership with Burkon.