Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete SAATÇİ

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Prof. Saatci received his undergraduate and master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Middle East Technical University. He completed his doctorate in Civil (Environmental) Engineering at Iowa State University. In 1985, he obtained his associate professorship in Environment Discipline and became a professor in 1991. He held assistantship at Istanbul Technical University Department of Environmental Engineering, Research Assistantship at Iowa State University, worked as an Assistant Associate Professor and Associate Professor at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and gave consultancy at Medina Water and Sewerage Directorate. Currently, Prof. Saatci is the Chair of Marmara University Environmental Engineering Department. He is also a member of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Scientific Committee, European Environment Agency Scientific Committee and EU Framework Delegate and serves as a consultant at Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) and the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) since 1995.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 404
E-mail: asaatci@worldwaterforum5.org

Akif ÖZKALDI

Steering Committee Co-Chair

Born in Ankara in 1963, Akif Ozkaldi is married with one child. He received his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1986. In the same year, he started working as an engineer at the Directorate of Project and Construction Department of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI). He received his master's degree in Irrigation Engineering from Utah State University, USA in 1991. In 1998, he was appointed Project Department Chief at the Regional Directorate of DSI in Ankara. In 2002, he served as Project Department Chief at the Water and Sewerage Department. In 2003, he became the Vice Chief of the Project and Construction Department, where he became the Chief of Department in 2004. Since 2011, he has been serving as the Director General of DSI. He actively participated at the 5th World Water Forum process.

Tel: 00(90) 312 418 3414
E-mail: akifo@dsi.gov.tr

A. Cüneyt GEREK

Steering Committee Member

Born in 1952 in Eskisehir, A. Cuneyt Gerek received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. While working as an assistant at the Soil Mechanics Laboratory at the same faculty, he started working as an Engineer at the Research and Planning Department of the 3rd Regional Directorate of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI). In 1977, he was appointed as the Chief Engineer for Dams, Lakes and Hydroelectric Plants at the Project and Planning Directory of the 3rd Regional Directorate, where he was appointed as the Chief of Department in 1985. Between 1985-1986, he received his post graduate education at the Institute of Hydrology in Wallingford, Oxon in United Kingdom. In 1998, he was appointed as the Chief of Department of the 31st Regional Directorate of DSI. In 1996, he became the Vice Regional Director of the 3rd Regional Directorate of DSI. Between 1996-2003, he gave lectures on Hydrology and Water Power as a guest lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department of Eskisehir Osmangazi University. He has been serving as the Vice Director General DSI since 2011.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 6340
E-mail: cuneytgerek@dsi.gov.tr

Adem Avni ÜNAL

Steering Committee Member

Born in 1961 in Ankara, he received his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from Ankara University, where he also did his master's degree in Soil Science in 1986. Between 1985-1987, he worked as a research fellow at the Department of Soil Science in Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture. He did research on soil chemistry, soil salinity and salt resistance in some barley and wheat types. Between 1988-1997, he worked as engineer in the Operation and Maintenance Department of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI). In 1997, he was appointed to DSI Foreign Relations Department, where he became Foreign Relations Consultant in 2004. He actively participated in the 5th World Water Forum process. Since August 2008, he has been serving as the Head of DSI Technology Department. He is a member of International Network on Partcipatory Irrigation Management (INPIM). He is married with one child.

Tel: 00(90) 312 425 4614
E-mail: ademavni@dsi.gov.tr

Salim FAKIOĞLU

Steering Committee Member

Born in 1953, he completed his first and secondary education in Antakya. He graduated from Yıldız Technical University as a Civil Engineer in 1974. He served as engineer, branch manager, deputy head of department and acting head of Department of Surveying and Planning of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI). His expertise areas include water development, planning, allocation of water resources and boundary and trans-boundary waters in investigation, master plan and planning stages. He actively took part in the collaboration and project development work carried out with neighboring countries on boundary and trans-boundary water issues. He was involved in the regional-scale projects of GAP, DAP, KOP and DOKAP as Project Officer. In this context, he took part in multi-purpose project planning works. Currently, he serves as the Acting Head of Surveying and Planning Department of DSI. He is married with two children.

Tel: 00(90) 312 425 4477
E-mail: salimf@dsi.gov.tr

Dr. İpek ERZİ

Steering Committee Member

Ipek Erzi has a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Istanbul Technical University, M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Management from Duquesne University, M.S. in Civil Infrastructure Systems and Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She works for the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), both a Research Performing Organization and a Research Funding Organization. As head of the Engineering Research Grant Group, she has overseen the evaluation of academic research proposals through the peer-review system and she was responsible for the monitoring of ongoing projects. Currently she is a chief researcher in the TUBITAK-MRC Environment Institute. Her research includes financing high risk environmental projects and environmental science policy. She represents Turkey in the Environment Programme Committee of EU Framework Programme 7 and she is the chair of the Earth System Science and Environmental Management Domain of COST. She was detailed in the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat as of April 2009 to manage the post-Forum process. She is the editor of the Forum's synthesis book, An Istanbul Perspective on Bridging the Divides for Water.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 457
E-mail: ierzi@worldwaterforum5.org

Hamza Özgüler

Steering Committee Member

Hamza ÖZGÜLER was born in 1964 in Yusufeli, Artvin. After receiving his B.Sc. Degree in Meteorological Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey in 1984, he started serving for the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) as a hydrological expert and a meteorological engineer. He completed his post-graduate study on hydrology in the IHE, Delft. In 2001, he has received MSc degree from Hacettepe University, Ankara.

Presently, Hamza Özgüler is serving as the Director of the Section "International Hydrological Relations" in the Department of Surveying and Planning. In this respect, he works closely with UN-related water bodies and international hydrological organizations. Serving as the Hydrological Adviser to WMO Permanent Representative for Turkey, he is also dealing with some international hydrological projects as a contact person.

Hamza Özgüler played an important role in preparatory process and structuring of the 5^th World Water Forum. He has served as the thematic contact point and the regional coordinator for the Regional Process of the "In and Around Turkey" which is one of the 7 regions available in the framework of the Regional Process of 5^th World Water Forum.

hamza.ozguler@dsi.gov.tr

Prof. Dr. Oktay TABASARAN

Graduated with a first class honors degree from Sankt Georg Austrian College in Istanbul, Prof. Tabasaran studied Civil Engineering at Stuttgart University and did his research on solid waste and environmental technologies. He completed his Ph.D. thesis on "Transformation of Solid Waste into Energy" in 1966. In 1972, he held the Chairmanship of Germany's first Chair of Solid Waste Economy and Waste Air as professor-in-ordinary. He served as the Head of Solid Waste Department, the Head of Drinking Water, Waste Water and Solid Waste Institute and as the Dean of the Environmental Protection Faculty. He founded the graduate school WASTE, which gives education on the environment. He gave lectures at various universities in Turkey. He founded the Turkish-German Environment Seminars Association. He gave consultancy to the German Federal Ministry of Environment, as well as various State Ministries, public and private enterprises in and outside Germany. He gave engineering services to projects such as thermic and biological reclaiming of solid waste and its proper storage. He served as the Secretary General of the 5th World Water Forum.

Prof. Dr. Hasan Zuhuri SARIKAYA

Born in 1945, Prof. Hasan Zuhuri Sarikaya received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and held assistantship in the same University after his graduation in 1969. In 1972, he received his Sanitary Engineering diploma from Delft University of the Netherlands. He completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering at ITU in 1974. He worked as a guest researcher at Delft Technical University from 1974 to 1975. Between 1981-1990, he served as a professor at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia and as the Head of the Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Department. He returned to ITU as a professor in 1990 and served as the Head of Department from 1991 to 1994. He held membership in the Administrative Board of the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) from 1994 to 2002. His research interests include sedimentation theories, discharge systems of waste waters into the sea, sea environment and kinetics of coliform bacteria removal in stabilization pools, reuse of wastewaters, advanced oxidation techniques, advanced purification techniques, water and wastewater management and environmental management.

Sumru NOYAN

Ambassador

Sumru Noyan graduated from Izmir American Girls' School and received her B.A. degree in International Relations from Ankara University, Turkey. Between 1969 and 1971, she did her post graduate studies on Turkish-Soviet Relations at Ankara University and on Apartheid Policy in South Africa at Salzburg University. In 1980, she completed the programme "Langues et Civilisation Françaises" at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

In 1969, she resumed functions as a career diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey (MFA) as a Third Secretary. In 1973, she was posted to the Embassy in Belgrade first as the Second Secretary then as the First Secretary. On return to Ankara, she served as Head of Section at the Cultural Department in 1973-1975, then was posted to the Permanent Mission of Turkey to UNESCO in Paris in 1976-81, on return to Ankara served as Director of Division at the Multilateral Economic and Social Affairs Department in 1981-83, was posted to Dusseldorf as Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General in 1983-88, on return to Ankara served as the Director of the Multilateral Economic Affairs Department, then as Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Director General at the Multilateral Economic and Social Affairs Department in 1988-94.

She joined United Nations Vienna Office in September 1994 as an international senior staff member of the UN Secretariat. She started as Chief at the Operations Branch at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 1994-98, then served as Chief for External Relations and Fund Raising in the same Office in 1998. In 2001, she was promoted to Director at the Division for Operations and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

At the end of 2006, she returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the UN Vienna Office and served as Ambassador at large. She has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Anna Lindh Foundation since May 2008. She served as the Chairperson of the Ministerial Process at the 5th World Water Forum in 2008-2009. She started the post graduate programme on "New Security Threats" at the Ankara University Political Sciences Faculty, International Affairs Department in 2009. Since July 2009, she serves as the First Deputy Secretary General at the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).

Prof. Dr. Doğan ALTINBİLEK

Prof. Dogan Altinbilek received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology, U.S.A. He worked at Middle East Technical University in Turkey and at King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia as instructor and administrator. He served as Director General at State Hydraulic Works of Turkey between 2005-2009 and as Board Chairman at AES-IC Energy. He still gives lectures as a contracted lecturer at Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Prof. Altinbilek is a member of the World Water Council's Board of Governers since 2000. He is also a member of 2012 Marseilles World Water Forum International Organization Committee. Between 2007-2010, he served as the Vice Chair of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA). He is still (2010) a member of the Administrative Board of the International Hydroelectricity Association (IHA), where he served as the Chair between 2004-2008. He is the Chair of Turkish Water Resources Association and a member of the Trustee Committee of the TEMA Foundation.

Özden BİLEN

Born in Boyabat in 1940, Ozden Bilen completed his secondary and high school education in Ankara. He received his bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1963 and started working at the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works of Turkey (DSI). After serving as the head of Project-Construction and Research and Planning Departments and Vice Director General respectively, he was appointed as the Director General of DSI in 1993. Between 1980-1982, he served as the member and president of the Turkish Delegation of the Joint Technical Committee that was created between Turkey, Syria and Iraq on the usage of Tigris and Euphrates waters. Following his retirement in 1995, he worked as a consultant at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), prepared a report named "Recommendations on Water Politics" for the Government of Malaysia, and served as the Head of Mission for the project on "Reviewing the Irrigation Sector in Iran" that was financed by FAO and the World Bank. Since March 1996, Ozden Bilen has been giving lectures at Hacettepe University Hydropolitics and Strategic Research and Development Centre in Ankara. He has published many articles and books on "Trans-boundary Waters" within Turkey and abroad.

Prof. Dr. İlter TURAN

Born in 1941, Prof. Ilter Turan received his B.A. degree in Political Science from Oberlin College, USA, in 1962 and his M.A. degree in the same field from Columbia University in 1964. The same year, he held assistantship in Istanbul University Faculty of Economics Chair of Political Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in 1966 and became Assistant Professor in 1970 and Professor in 1972 respectively. He joined the recently founded Faculty of Political Sciences in Istanbul University in 1984 and became the Chair of International Relations. He left Istanbul University in 1993 and became a professor at Koc University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Political Sciences. He served as the rector of Istanbul Bilgi University from 1998 to 2001. He is still a professor in the Department of International Relations of the same university. Prof. Turan has written books and articles about Comparative Politics, Turkish Political World, Political Behaviour, Political Culture, International Relations and Foreign Policy. Besides his academic career, he serves in the administrative boards of various firms and foundations and publishes weekly articles at Dunya Newspaper.

İdil YILMAZ

Coordinator, Middle East and North Africa Desk

Idil Yilmaz received her B.S. degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Istanbul Technical University and a M.S. degree in Historic Conservation from Oxford Brookes University, UK. During the 5th World Water Forum, she worked as the coordinator for the Side Events, the Secretariat coordinator for Theme 6 "Education Knowledge and Capacity Development" and was the contact point for the Mediterranean Regional Process. She authored the monographs for the "Data and Technology" and "Disaster Mitigation and Management" chapters for the Forum's synthesis book, An Istanbul Perspective on Bridging Divides for Water.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 424
E-mail: iyilmaz@worldwaterforum5.org

Caner AKTAŞ

Central Asia Desk, Eastern Europe Desk

Caner Aktas received a B.A. degree in Political Science and International Relations from Bogazici University, Turkey. He served as the Vice-Chair of the Center for European Studies Student Forum. He co-authored two reports in Turkish documenting the outcomes of 5th and 6th Bogazici Meetings: "Discrimination in Turkey" and "Neo-conservatism and the Right on the Turkey-Europe Axis". He recently joined the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat and serves as a Water Management Assistant Specialist.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 426
E-mail: caktas@worldwaterforum5.org

Emel ÇAKIR

Eastern Europe Desk

Emel Cakir received a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Istanbul University, Turkey and a M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Marmara University, Turkey. She worked as a Regional Process Team Coordinator at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat. She was also a member of the Political Process Team, serving as the focal point for the Ministerial Process. She was a rapporteur during the preparatory meetings of the Ministerial Process: PrepCom 1, UNESCO, Paris; PrepCom 2, UNOG, Geneva; PrepCom 3, FAO, Rome.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 413
E-mail: ecakir@worldwaterforum5.org

Rezzan HASANBEŞEOĞLU

Central Asia Desk

Rezzan Hasanbeseoglu received a B.A. degree in Psychology from Istanbul University, Turkey. She worked as a director assistant at a kindergarten and as a translator and redactor at Gorsel Yayinlar, a publishing house. In 1984, she started working at Hurriyet Foreign News department. She covered environmental news and had a column called "Green Chat". She participated in many environmental seminars of the European Union and United Nations. She also prepared a program called "Panorama" for Turkish Radio-Television Corporation (TRT) summarizing the striking foreign events of the week. She retired from Hurriyet Daily in 2005 and worked for the magazine, Popular History. She worked as the media relations coordinator during the 5th World Water Forum.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 425
E-mail: rhasanbeseoglu@worldwaterforum5.org

Dr. Hüseyin Gündoğdu

Thematic Coordinator

He is an Agricultural Engineer with the specialization of Irrigation and Drainage. Twenty three (23) years experience on Irrigation and Drainage subjects during employment at DSI (General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works), GDRS (General directorate of Rural Services) and as a private consultant.

He worked at World Water Forum 5 in Istanbul in thematic coordination in Theme 3. Main expertise is related to Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation and Drainage Systems with specialisation in preparing O&M manual for Water User Association, Irrigation groups and Water Suppliers. He is also expertise on strengthening of irrigation organizations especially on organisational, institutional development of Water User Associations (WUA). Experience in water resource planning by determining of the water needs for agriculture, domestic, industry and environment. Water Resource Planning and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are the main concern. Experienced in business development of research and training centres.

Kevser ŞENTÜRK

Thematic Coordinator Assistant

Kevser Şentürk has a B.S. degree in Meteorological Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and a M.S. degree in "Flow Duration Curve Modelling for Ungaged Basins" from same department. She worked on basin water resources planning projects and energy projects. During the 5th World Water Forum, she worked for "In&Around Turkey" process of Forum Regional Process. She was in the editor team of In&Around Turkey Regional Report.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 423
E-mail: kevsers@dsi.gov.tr

Yunus ÖZLEYEN

Middle East and North Africa Desk

Yunus Ozleyen received a B.A. degree in Business Informatics from Marmara University, Turkey. He began his career in the Press & PR Department of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI). He worked as the Communication Team Coordinator at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat. During the 5th World Water Forum preparatory process, he contributed to all communications processes such as Media Relations, Marketing and Promotional Activities, Public Relations, Content Management, Forum Reporting, Sponsorships and Art & Cultural Activities as well as the Water Prizes and Interaction with the Congress Organization Companies.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 412
E-mail: yozleyen@worldwaterforum5.org

Aylin KÜLTÜREL

Istanbul Water Consensus

Aylin Kulturel Boduroglu received a B.A. degree in Business Administration from University of Vienna, Austria. Through a Student Exchange Programme, she finished her Business Administration education at San Diego National University, USA. She worked for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Turkish Delegation in Vienna between 2000 and 2007. She worked at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat as a member of the Political Process Team, serving as the focal point for the Local Authorities Process.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92
E-mail: aylinkulturel@worldwaterforum5.org

Esra TÜRKMENOĞLU

Middle East and North Africa Desk

Esra Turkmenoglu received a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Marmara University, Turkey. During the 5th World Water Forum, she worked as the member of the Thematic Process Team in charge of Theme 2 "Advancing Human Development and the MDGs". During the Forum's preparatory process, she contributed to the Programme Committee meetings, preparatory meetings and has been in communication with theme, topic and session coordinators from organizations such as FAO, World Bank, IHA. She was also the contact point for the Youth Forum and coordinated representatives from all around the world for its organization.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 416
E-mail: eturkmenoglu@worldwaterforum5.org

Emine YILMAZ

Turkey Desk

Emine Yilmaz received B.A. degree in Capital Market Department from Marmara University, Turkey and an MBA degree from Gebze Institute of Technology, Turkey, where she is currently doing her Ph.D. studies in Business Administration. She began her career at the Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), Istanbul in 2005. During the 5th World Water Forum, she worked as the coordinator of the 3rd Children World Water Forum and the Secretariat focal point for the Global Water Education Village, the Learning Center, Water and Film Event, Citizen's Water House, Water Exhibition and "Take Me to the River" Project.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 410
E-mail: eyilmaz@worldwaterforum5.org

Kader DAİMAGÜLER

Artistic & Cultural Events, Turkey Desk

Kader DAIMAGULER received a B.A. degree in Economics from Anadolu University Open Education Faculty, Turkey. She was a member of folkloric dancing team and earned a world championship. She took tezhip (Ottoman/Turkish art of illumination) lessons for 4 years. She also studied at Kultur University Music Academy Turkish Music Department in Istanbul as a reed flute player. She worked as an art advisor at the Antalya Municipality between 2006-2007. She worked at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat as the Exhibitions Coordinator and Artistic Advisor.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 442
E-mail: kdaimaguler@worldwaterforum5.org

Didem ÖZATAY

Logistics, Turkey Desk

Didem Ozatay received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Istanbul Technical University. She worked as a construction supervisor at Murat Insaat in 1992-1996 and as a control engineer at Emlak Bankasi General Directorate Atasehir Office in 1996-2001. She then worked as Acting Director at the Project-Construction Department of the Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI). During the 5th World Water Forum, she worked as the focal point for logistics issues. In the post-Forum process, she was responsible for the publications, co-editing the Analysis Report.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 422
E-mail: dozatay@worldwaterforum5.org

Yaşar KAYA

Financial Consultant

Yasar Kaya received a B.A. degree in Economics from Anadolu University, Turkey. He began his career at Turkey Shipping Industry, Istanbul. He later worked at various private companies including Tekfen Holding as a contact for bookkeeping and financial affairs for 18 years. He currently works as the financial consultant at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 415
E-mail: ykaya@worldwaterforum5.org

Suzan ÖZSEVEN

Administrative Affairs

Suzan Ozseven received a B.A. degree in Public Administration from Anadolu University, Turkey. She worked at Ziraat Bankasi between 1998-2002. She was nominated to work at the Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) in Istanbul. She serves as the financial and administrative affairs officer at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 402
E-mail: sozseven@worldwaterforum5.org

Nezih YALÇINKAYA

IT Coordinator

Nezih Yalcinkaya started his career at the Regional Directorate of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) in Eskisehir. In 2001, he served as a contact point for educational and technical support at the IT Department of the Regional Directorate of DSI in Istanbul. He currently serves as the IT Coordinator at the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 428
E-mail: nyalcinkaya@worldwaterforum5.org

Adnan BİRGÜCÜ

IT Assistant

Has work experience in various companies on server and data centre management. He worked as a part-time IT employee at the 5th World Water Forum. He is a Computer Programming student at Istanbul Aydin University.

Tel: 00(90) 216 325 49 92 / 429
E-mail: abirgucu@worldwaterforum5.org