Born in Erzincan, Turkey in 1976. Mr. Mahir Polat received his Bachelor’s Degree in Archeology and Art History from Istanbul University (İU) in 2002. In 2003, he began his Master’s Studies in the Department of History of Architecture at İstanbul Technical University (İTU). In 2008, Mr. Polat completed his graduate studies at the Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Art and Design in Museology Master Degree Program at Yıldız Technical University (YTU), with a thesis titled, “Curatorial Activities of Museums”. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Mahir Polat has lectured on “Cultural Heritage Legislation” as a guest lecturer at the same faculty. He is currently working on his doctoral dissertation at the Institute of Social Sciences of İU in 2009, focusing on “Religious Cultural Heritage”. In 2005, Mr. Polat started his professional career at the General Directorate of Foundations and he has served there as a Foundation Specialist since the year of 2009. From 2014 to 2016, he also served as the conservator of Akaretler Atatürk Museum and as the Director of Turkısh Foundatıon Constructıon And Artworks Museum of Istanbul between 2016 to 2019. During this period, he also took part in museum and exhibition projects and restoration committees. Mr. Polat, who has special studies in the fields of conservation of historical culture, museology, religious, cultural, social history, social memory and history of architecture, is also a member of History Foundation Board of Trustees, Europa Nostra Turkey, Association of Professionals Foundation.