Sibel KULAKSIZ

Sibel Kulaksız is a Senior Country Economist with the World Bank Group South Asia Region, based in Washington, D.C. Sibel served as a Country Economist in South Asia, Middle East and Africa regions task-managing macroeconomic policy work with a focus on trade policy, regional economic integration, economic growth, fiscal policy and management, labor markets and women’s empowerment. With strong analytical and leadership skills, Sibel is the lead author of numerous World Bank publications including the “Over the Horizon: A New Levant,” a sub-regional economic integration vision which proposes comprehensive economic and social development reforms and multi-country investment projects to benefit from significant untapped economic potentials in the Middle East region. She has in-depth experience in leading analytical and operational work, including large budget support operations, while providing policy advice to governments in the areas of economic policy and public spending efficiency. She has led and successfully delivered major operational and analytical work including Development Policy Financing, County Economic Memorandum, Public Expenditure Review, Systematic Country Diagnostics, and Country Partnership Framework. Sibel is also experienced in post-conflict stabilization operations with a focus on addressing economic impacts of conflicts and refugee flows. Sibel holds double master’s degrees in Economics and International Relations/Development, the latter from the Johns Hopkins University. She completed the executive education program in Economic Growth at Harvard University Kennedy School Government.

Sibel Kulaksız is also sitting on the board of a number of organizations that focus on economic management, social empowerment and humanitarian work. She is the Executive Board Member and Treasurer of the Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Network (HKSWN). She is also Washington D.C. Chapter Lead of HKSWN. Sibel is the DTIK (World Turkish Business Council) Washington D.C. Representative. She is the Executive Vice President of the Istanbul Economy Summit. She is the co-President of Arya International, as well as Advisory Board Member of the Ortak Akıl Management and Investment Trust. Sibel is also serving as Rotary Washington D.C. Club Member.