More than 300 guests joined DLD founder Steffi Czerny, DLD Chairman Yossi Vardi, and Burda CEO Martin Weiss at the Burda DLD Nightcap, in Davos on January 17 where the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place.
Courage, optimism, innovation, creativity, inspiration – are just some of the qualities that the Aenne Burda Award for Creative Leadership stands for. The award has been presented every year at DLD Munich since 2006 in memory of the late Aenne Burda and honours women who have made a name for themselves with outstanding entrepreneurial and creative achievements. This year the coveted award goes to the Turkish chef Ebru Baybara Demir.
Award-winning chef
Ebru Baybara Demir is a true pioneer in the world of chefs. She grew up in Istanbul, but returned to her birthplace in Mardin, near to the Syrien border, where she has been living for several years. During the time when women were not allowed to leave their house without their husbands, Ebru Baybara Demir fought for her dreams and opened the restaurant „Cercis Murat Mansion“, together with 21 other women, which she still runs successfully today. She is the first Turkish chef to be awarded the „Basque Culinary Prize” two years in a row and thus ranks as one of the top ten chefs in the world.
In her laudation to Ebru Baybara Demir, Melissa von Faber-Castell, Head of Marketing and Communications at DLD, said: „Ebru has given new hope, and much support, to the people of Mardin. In more ways than one. We are amazed by your story and are honoured to present you with the Aenne Burda Award today,” said Melissa von Faber-Castell.
Committed to social and sustainability projects
Ebru Baybara Demir is not just a role model in the culinary world: The top chef is also committed to numerous social and sustainability projects, many of which she initiated herself. One initiative “From Soil to Plate“, enables Syrian refugee women to train as cooks. Ebru Baybara Demir also manages a regenerative farming project to improve soil health as well as supporting farmers to grow healthy food. This is then used for social projects such as soup kitchens.
„This award is very important not only for me but for all Turkish people. Our republic, which was founded by Kemal Atatürk 100 years ago, enables me to be here today and all my achievements. I’m a social gastronomer and chef working with disadvantaged groups. Together with many men and women, we are working for the future, our soil, our environment, our water and our food. I will carry this award to thank all those who have believed in me and worked with me for over twenty years,“ said Ebru Baybara Demir as she accepted the Aenne Burda Award on the DLD 23 stage at the House of Communication in Munich.
Past winners of the Aenne Burda Award include Alzheimer's researcher Andrea Pfeifer, Maja Hoffmann (founder of the Luma Foundation), Nigerian entrepreneur Fatoumata Ba and Costa Rican politician Christiana Figueres.
