Baris Alpaslan is a Professor of Economics at the Social Sciences University of Ankara, where he also serves as Head of the International Office. He completed his MSc in Economics with distinction and earned his PhD at the University of Manchester. He has been affiliated with leading research institutions in the UK, Australia, Japan, and Egypt. He currently serves as Vice President of the Committee of Experts on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals at the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO. Prof. Alpaslan has recently been appointed Chief Advisor to the Chairman of the Executive Board at IC Holding and as a Board Member of the İbrahim Çeçen Foundation, a philanthropic organisation committed to social development in education, health, culture, and the arts. He has also provided consultancy services to international organisations, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and ICMPD. His research focuses on the macroeconomics of growth, inequality, and development, and has been recognised with multiple research and publication awards. He was a finalist in both the Science and Sustainability and Social Action categories of the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in 2023–24 and 2024–25.