Our Team

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz was born in Ankara in 1975. After graduating from Özel Arı Koleji, she graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management. After a short working period at Bilkent Hotel, she started volunteering as the Award Leader in the International Award for Young People - Türkiye Award Programme in 2009. In the same year she became a member of the Board of Directors. She was appointed as a Member of the National Committee in 2013 with the changed regulation. In 2018, she started to work as a National Committee Member, Online Transactions and Independent Participants and Award Leaders Coordinator and Audit. She was included in the education staff of the International Award for Young People - Türkiye in 2019. She has been working as the National Coordinator in addition to her duties since December 2021.

Hande Bensu Emiral Özbek

She was born on April 16, 1993 in Muş, Hande Bensu Emiral Özbek graduated from Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Department of International Relations (English) in 2016. She started her working life with the European Union Erasmus + Projects. In 2019, she joined the International Award for Young People - Türkiye family as a Project Assistant. She thinks that the the International Award for Young People - Türkiye Award Programme is an important programme for students not only to focus on education, but also for their personal development. She still continues her duty as Project Specialist.

Hakan Öz

Hakan Öz, who was born in Malatya in 1987, has been actively interested in many sports branches since his primary school years and as a result, he completed his undergraduate education in 2010 at Erciyes University, Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching.

He was especially interested in mountaineering, hockey, golf and sports climbing branches, took part in the national team in the field of hockey between 2006 and 2010. On the basis of clubs, he won many Turkish championships and Super League degrees as the team captain, as well as the European Clubs Championship in 2012.

He spent most of his 14-year professional life in different provinces as Federation Representative, Club President, Coach, Search and Rescue Specialist and Manager at Universities, Schools, Non-Governmental Organizations, Public Education Centers, Private Institutions and 3 different Sports clubs he founded, including mental disability groups. He spent hundreds of young people instilling a love of sports and achieved many successes.

Hakan Öz, who joined the International Award for Young People - Türkiye family in 2019 as the Adventurous Journey Department Manager, is married and actively residing in Eskişehir.

H. Serhan Oktay

He was born in Istanbul on August 16, 1993, Serhan Oktay graduated from Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations in 2019. He has been actively involved in Scouting since 2008. Mr.Oktay, who worked in various institutions, met the International Award for Young People - Türkiye team in 2022 and continues to work as a Project Assistant in our foundation.

Ayşe Kargın

She was born in 24 May 1996. She graduated from Marmara University - Faculty of Fine Arts, Traditional Turkish Arts Department, Miniature Department in 2019. Working as a "Project Coordinator" in the law and arts projects of organizations operating in the field of culture and arts, Ms. Kargın was the "Editorial Coordinator" of a peer-reviewed academic art journal published by a non-governmental organization working in the same field and the publishing activities of the same organization.

Kıvanç Aker

Kıvanç Aker, Turkish teacher and CAS Coordinator for the International Bachelorette at Ankara Bilkent International School, joined the Award family in 2003. Other than her role as Training Coordinator, she is also Award Coordinator in her Award Centre and active Award Leader.

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz was born in Ankara in 1975. After graduating from Özel Arı Koleji, she graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management. After a short working period at Bilkent Hotel, she started volunteering as the Award Leader in the International Award for Young People - Türkiye Award Programme in 2009. In the same year she became a member of the Board of Directors. She was appointed as a Member of the National Committee in 2013 with the changed regulation. In 2018, she started to work as a National Committee Member, Online Transactions and Independent Participants and Award Leaders Coordinator and Audit. She was included in the education staff of the International Award for Young People - Türkiye in 2019. She has been working as the National Coordinator in addition to her duties since December 2021.

Arzu Akoğlu

Öznur Aydoğar

Nuran Karaağaoğlu

Dr. Hakan Çalışkan

Other than being a Member for Zoology under the Biology Department at Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Dr. Hakan Çalışkan also is takes part in activities such as biodiversity museum curatorship, climbing, horse-riding, cave-exploration etc. outside of his academic life. Dr. Çalışkan has been the Adventurous Journey Coordinator since 2006; he is married to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Figen Çalışkan and has one daughter.

He says “I believe that this Award is necessary in order to prepare young people for their life journey and to create a strong Turkey. Having been involved in the Award for over 16 years, I believe that the Adventurous Journey is indeed a flawless model of life. The journey provides young people with lasting experience through route planning, challenges and beautiful environments. Setting goals within a team, planning time, writing plans down, implementing and finishing them are the values needed in our life journey. Spreading these experiences to thousands of young people brings us happiness."

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz

Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz was born in Ankara in 1975. After graduating from Özel Arı Koleji, she graduated from Bilkent University, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management. After a short working period at Bilkent Hotel, she started volunteering as the Award Leader in the International Award for Young People - Türkiye Award Programme in 2009. In the same year she became a member of the Board of Directors. She was appointed as a Member of the National Committee in 2013 with the changed regulation. In 2018, she started to work as a National Committee Member, Online Transactions and Independent Participants and Award Leaders Coordinator and Audit. She was included in the education staff of the International Award for Young People - Türkiye in 2019. She has been working as the National Coordinator in addition to her duties since December 2021.

Hakan Öz

Hakan Öz, who was born in Malatya in 1987, has been actively interested in many sports branches since his primary school years and as a result, he completed his undergraduate education in 2010 at Erciyes University, Department of Physical Education and Sports Teaching.

He was especially interested in mountaineering, hockey, golf and sports climbing branches, took part in the national team in the field of hockey between 2006 and 2010. On the basis of clubs, he won many Turkish championships and Super League degrees as the team captain, as well as the European Clubs Championship in 2012.

He spent most of his 14-year professional life in different provinces as Federation Representative, Club President, Coach, Search and Rescue Specialist and Manager at Universities, Schools, Non-Governmental Organizations, Public Education Centers, Private Institutions and 3 different Sports clubs he founded, including mental disability groups. He spent hundreds of young people instilling a love of sports and achieved many successes.

Hakan Öz, who joined the International Award for Young People - Türkiye family in 2019 as the Adventurous Journey Department Manager, is married and actively residing in Eskişehir.

Hande Bensu Emiral Özbek

She was born on April 16, 1993 in Muş, Hande Bensu Emiral Özbek graduated from Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Department of International Relations (English) in 2016. She started her working life with the European Union Erasmus + Projects. In 2019, she joined the International Award for Young People - Türkiye family as a Project Assistant. She thinks that the the International Award for Young People - Türkiye Award Programme is an important programme for students not only to focus on education, but also for their personal development. She still continues her duty as Project Specialist.

Sultan Yılmaz

Sultan Yılmaz completed her education in Ankara Gazi Educational Institute after finishing high school at Istanbul Çamlıca Girls College. Throughout her 35 year old career she spent 12 years working as a researcher for Ankara Radio and the rest of her time as ‘System Development and Education Expert’ in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Married with two children and four grandchildren, social work has always been a part of Sultan Yılmaz’s life. Whilst working and raising her children, she also found the time to take part in several voluntary activities; she always found difficulty in understanding those who say that they ‘have no time for voluntary work’. She believes that love, intention and planning increases one’s life energy.

“From 2003 to 2022, I have been involved with the Award in Turkey and am a part of the management team. The Award is an incredibly unique programme that aims to develop young people through planned activities. For this reason, I am very happy to have served for this many years. I invite all adults, no matter what age, to continue to help support young people.”

Özlem Gül Hadımoğulları

Nuray Kılıç

Pelin Akın Özalp

After graduating from Surrey University, England, Spanish Business Administration Department in 2010, Pelin Akın Özalp started her career in the Strategy department within the Finance department of Deutsche Bank’s Madrid office. Following her return to Turkey, she was accepted to the MT program of TAV Airports Holdings, to be trained as a future executive.

Currently Pelin Akın ÖZALP serves as a Member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Member of the Board at Akfen Holding and TAV Airports Holding Corporate Governance Committee. In addition, Pelin Akın ÖZALP also serves as a Board Member of Akfen REIT and IBS Insurance and Reinsurance Brokerage.

Pelin Akın Özalp, takes place in different groups of both Spanish Business Council and British Business Council of DEIK. She is also an active member of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors at TİKAV (Turkish Human Resources Education and Health Foundation) founded in Hamdi Akın’s leadership in 1999. Pelin Akın Özalp is Vice President of International Award for Young People - Türkiye National Committee whose main sponsor is Akfen Holding. She is also Chairwoman at the Advisory Board of the Contemporary Turkish Studies Chair founded in London School of Economics since 2010.

Pelin Akın Özalp had been organising until 2017 the ‘Tatlıdil Forum’ that was founded in 2011 in order to strengthen political, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and the U.K for the last two years. She is also a member of Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TURKONFED), Public Policy and Democracy Studies (PODEM), Family Business Association (TAİDER) and TOBB Young Entreprenuers Advisory Board Member. She is Board Member of the Turkish Businesswomen Association (TIKAD). In 2015, Pelin Akın Özalp was chosen to be an Associate Member for TÜSİAD’s Board for 2 years as being the youngest member.

Dr. Hakan Çalışkan

Other than being a Member for Zoology under the Biology Department at Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Dr. Hakan Çalışkan also is takes part in activities such as biodiversity museum curatorship, climbing, horse-riding, cave-exploration etc. outside of his academic life. Dr. Çalışkan has been the Adventurous Journey Coordinator since 2006; he is married to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Figen Çalışkan and has one daughter.

He says “I believe that this Award is necessary in order to prepare young people for their life journey and to create a strong Turkey. Having been involved in the Award for over 16 years, I believe that the Adventurous Journey is indeed a flawless model of life. The journey provides young people with lasting experience through route planning, challenges and beautiful environments. Setting goals within a team, planning time, writing plans down, implementing and finishing them are the values needed in our life journey. Spreading these experiences to thousands of young people brings us happiness."

Nida Çelik Akpınar

She was born on September 3, 1994 in Elazig, Nida Çelik Akpınar graduated from the Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technologies at Fırat University, Faculty of Education, in 2017. She was entitled to be a TIKAV Individual Development Programme scholar in 2014, and completed the TIKAV Individual Development Programme and the International Awardfor Young People - Türkiye Award Programme Gold category in 2017. Çelik Akpınar, who worked in various institutions, continues as TIKAV Individual Development Programme Project Assistant Specialist in 2022.