- Representative of Non Muslim Foundations
Pandeli Laki Vingas is an entrepreneur managing his own export-import business since 1983. As a member of the Greek minority of Istanbul, he has been very active in the social affairs of his community, including active participation in Greek minority cultural organizations. He has been a member of administrative boards of community foundations and serving for ten years as president of the Zographeion High School Alumni Association. During his presidency of the association he was the initiator and organizer of several cultural events such as conferences, concerts, and panel discussions dealing with issues concerning the status of minorities in Turkey and promoting the heritage of the Greek minority.
He was appointed a member of the Advisory Committee of the 2010 Istanbul Cultural Capital of Europe Agency. In 2008, he was the first member to be selected to the General Assembly of the General Directorate of Foundations (GDF) in Ankara, representing all 166 non-Muslim Minority Foundations of Turkey. During his term he achieved putting in the agenda of the GDF many longstanding issues that concern minority foundations. In addition, he has been working closely with all minority groups with the aim to promote their rightful demands and to mobilize its members to get involved with civil society, enhancing their communication with state actors. He also established collaborative networks among all minority groups in Turkey by promoting their common goals and demands. In December of 2011, he was re-elected to the same post.
In 2010, he was among the initiators and founders of the Association for the Support of the Greek Community’s Foundations (Rumvader), which coordinates the activities of all 69 foundations of the Greek minority in Turkey. He served as president of Rumvader from January of 2011 until December of 2012. He has participated in many conferences with topics ranging from religious freedom and Turkey’s bridge to the European Union, the role of minority foundations in Turkey, and the experience of a minority person living in Turkey.
Born in 1961, he received his degree from the Technical University of Yildiz in Istanbul with a degree as a naval mechanical engineer. He lives in Istanbul with his wife and three children.