Fatih Abay, with a rich academic background including a BA in European Studies and an MA in Political Science, further advanced his expertise with a PhD in Cultural Anthropology at European University Viadrina, specializing in migration, diversity, and post-colonial studies. His career in academia involved teaching these subjects at various Berlin universities. Since 2021, he has contributed as a researcher and advocacy officer to a Berlin-based civil society organization combating racism and Islamophobia. In 2022, Fatih enhanced his commitment to social issues by joining the European Film Academy as a Diversity and Inclusion Officer, leveraging his academic insights and advocacy experience to foster diversity within the European film industry.