{"id":9855,"date":"2018-04-23T02:21:27","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T02:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/yonetim-kurulu\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T17:36:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T21:36:58","slug":"board-of-directors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/board-of-directors\/","title":{"rendered":"Board of Directors"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”9103″ css=”.vc_custom_1620079045326{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax-cover”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1525119727045{padding-top: 200px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524932930267{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Founded in 2000<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Ankara Library<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px” visible_xs=”yes”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Ankara Library has been serving as a non-profit, non-governmental organization since 2000 and hosts the largest collection of Turkish literary culture in Canada.<\/p>\n

Constructive participation and the development of democracy depend on free and unrestricted access to ideas, culture and knowledge as much as good education. Libraries not only provide a gateway to knowledge and lifelong learning, but also provide the basics for independent decision-making and cultural development of an individual and social groups.<\/p>\n

The board members and volunteers of the Ankara Library believe in Atat\u00fcrk’s statement that “culture is the foundation of the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye\u201d. As a society of Turks with a strong and free conscience, this organization aims to be the window into the culture and literary world of T\u00fcrkiye.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1525021281905{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Board of Directors<\/h2>\n
<\/div>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1524937129780{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;background-color: #eeeeee !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063410894{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6410″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

F. \u00d6zen Vekilo\u011flu<\/h4>\n

President<\/strong><\/span>\n

\u00d6zen Vekilo\u011flu completed her university education in the field of economics. After working in the private sector for 6 years, she started her teaching career by completing a master’s in Turkish language and literature.\u00a0Prior to Canada, she taught Turkish at various institutions in Poland and Egypt.\u00a0She also started literacy projects and worked voluntarily for many years in Istanbul and the Eastern Anatolia region.<\/p>\n

She is a founding member of Winpeace (Turkish – Greek Women’s Initiative for Peace).\u00a0She took part in mutual peace education programs given to Turkish and Greek high school and university students.\u00a0She immigrated to Toronto with her husband and two daughters in 2002.\u00a0She has been teaching Turkish at the University of Toronto since 2008.<\/p>\n

She has been a volunteer of the Ankara Library family for 20 years and a board member for the last 18 years. Particularly, she takes part in the invitation and organization of writers, artists and journalists coming to Toronto from T\u00fcrkiye.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063415914{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6386″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

I. Bing\u00fcl Ataman<\/h4>\n

Secretary<\/strong><\/span>\n

Bing\u00fcl Ataman was born in Istanbul and spent her years of education in Ankara which played a major role in shaping her character. After studying at Ay\u015feabla Primary School, TED Ankara College and then Industrial Engineering at METU, she joined IBM T\u00fcrk Limited Company and retired early after working for 20 years. She moved to Canada with her family in 2010. She served as a school crossing guard in her community and continued to volunteer in various non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n

Believing that we can be a solid and respected society to the extent of our lived and shared values, she joined the board of directors of Ankara Library in April 2018. She sees the Library as a great value for the Turkish society and friends of T\u00fcrkiye in Toronto.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063405450{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6268″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Birol Uzunmehmeto\u011flu<\/h4>\n

Director – Historical Studies<\/strong><\/span>\n

Birol Uzunmehmeto\u011flu was born and grew up in K\u00fcre, a small mining town where people, especially men, do not see much daylight due to long working hours and only live up to the age of fifty.<\/p>\n

Birol graduated from Istanbul Bo\u011fazi\u00e7i University, majoring in Computer Science in 1990 and continued to serve as a teaching assistant there. He worked in the computer industry for many years under Logo Yazilim in T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

Birol immigrated to Canada with his wife and daughter in 2000, and worked in various institutions using his IT skills. Currently, he is working as a project manager for the Government of Ontario.<\/p>\n

Birol has been a volunteer for the Ankara Library since the year it was founded. He served as President\/Chairman of the Library between 2014 and 2018. He loves history and has been researching the connections between Turkish and Canadian history.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063410894{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”11666″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Figen Ozsan<\/h4>\n

Director<\/strong><\/span>\n

Figen Ozsan was born in Giresun. After graduating from Bogazici University Business Administration, she lived and worked in Istanbul. Her work was mainly in financial markets. She managed two EU funded projects for BUMED on entrepreneurship. In 2008, she moved to Toronto with her family.<\/p>\n

Since 2009 she has been working for A&BB Rice Inc. Her current position is CFO.<\/p>\n

She joined Ankara Library in 2021 and hopes to contribute to the future plans of the library.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063415914{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”11635″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

I\u015f\u0131l Mumcu<\/h4>\n

Director <\/strong><\/span>\n

With many years of experience in marketing and reputation management across various global companies, I\u015f\u0131l Mumcu currently continues her career as the Marketing and Office Manager at a dental clinic in Toronto. She is also a children’s book author; her first book,\u00a0The Nail That Caught the Sun<\/em>, published in 2019, is a story that encourages children’s curiosity and creativity. Her second book,\u00a0The Bird Who Lost Its Memory<\/em>, published in 2020, explores themes of belonging and friendship through a simple yet meaningful narrative. Through\u00a0The Purple Shawl<\/em>, a children’s play for which she wrote the script and served as artistic director, she continues to create in the field of performing arts as well.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063420199{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”10879″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Meral Altinbilek<\/h4>\nArt Activity Coordinator<\/strong><\/span>\n

Meral Altinbilek was born in Ankara, Turkey, and completed her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering at the Middle East Technical University.\u00a0 She emigrated to Canada with her husband and two sons in 1980.<\/p>\n

Meral worked full-time as a consultant and project manager until retirement in 2020.\u00a0 Art has always been a significant part of her life.<\/p>\n

She completed watercolour courses at the New York Arts Academy, attended many workshops with distinguished artists, and participated in art exhibitions.<\/p>\n

Meral’s love for books led her to become one of the earliest members of the Ankara Library. \u00a0Over the years, she actively participated in numerous volunteer activities, including organizing an Art show and Turkish Bazaar event in 2023 with several Artists and Artisans on behalf of the Ankara Library.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063410894{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6388″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Nergis K\u0131rcal\u0131o\u011flu<\/h4>\n

Director \u2013 Event Organization<\/strong><\/span>\n

Nergis Kircalio\u011flu is a graduate of Hacettepe University, majoring in Linguistics. She has worked as an English instructor in academic institutions and universities in T\u00fcrkiye for many years.\u00a0She settled in Toronto in 1999 and taught Turkish at the University of Toronto for 5 years.<\/p>\n

She has been a volunteer of Ankara Library since its establishment and has been a member of the board of directors since 2016. She has been a key person in the library\u2019s writing competitions and has published books.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063420199{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”11658″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Selime\u00a0Dogruyol<\/h4>\n

Director<\/strong><\/span>\n

Selime\u00a0Dogruyol is a graduate of Anadolu University, Faculty of Economics. She worked for 22 years in finance management roles at institutions such as Yap\u0131 Kredi Bank and Vodafone Telecommunication Inc. in T\u00fcrkiye. In 2017, she moved to Canada with her family.<\/p>\n

Since 2022, she has been volunteering at the Ankara Library of Toronto.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063415914{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”11548″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Ulu\u00e7 \u00d6zg\u00fcven<\/h4>\nDirector – IT<\/strong><\/span>\n

Born and raised in Istanbul, Ulu\u00e7 graduated from Istanbul Bo\u011fazi\u00e7i University and from Elmira College, NY majoring in Computer Science. Uluc immigrated to Canada with his wife and son in 1997 and worked in major Canadian and US financial institutions.<\/p>\n

Uluc has always been interested in arts and culture, especially visual arts, photography, architecture and art history. He participated in various exhibitions, performed shows, and received awards. He travelled and photographed almost all of Turkey and major cities in Europe and the USA. His photographs were published in Turkish Ministry of Tourism publications and Turkish Airlines Skylife magazine. His interviews were published in Canada\u2019s local newspapers, and on local TV channels. He volunteered in media organizations such as Rogers TV Toronto and Turkish Media Publications also known as Turkuaz TV. Currently, he is working as a cybersecurity consultant.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063420199{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”7303″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Zuhal \u00d6zkaya<\/h4>\n

Director<\/strong><\/span>\n

Zuhal \u00d6zkaya was born in Istanbul. She graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Ankara University. After a 15-year career in the food industry, starting as a marketing assistant and advancing to local retail manager and key account manager and commercial marketing manager at Turkey\u2019s well-known, leading companies, she began working actively in the family business with her husband.<\/p>\n

In January 2019, she moved to Canada with her husband and two children. In 2023, she completed her education in logistics and supply chain management in Toronto. Since 2019, she has volunteered at several Turkish associations and her children\u2019s schools. Her love of books led her to connect with the Ankara Library, where she has been actively volunteering and participating in the library’s events since 2023.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063410894{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063415914{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner disable_element=”yes”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063410894{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6600″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Sema Toprak<\/h4>\n

Treasurer<\/strong><\/span>\n

Sema Toprak was born in Ankara where she spent her childhood and youth. She immigrated to Toronto in 1976 and studied at the University of Toronto, majoring in Food Sciences and Dietetics. She worked in hospitals and at private clinics for many years, teaching healthy eating, then she moved to the food processing industry and worked at Kerry Ingredients, establishing Quality Control Systems, until she retired.<\/p>\n

She enjoys family life and cares for her elderly parents and grandchildren. She volunteers in various organizations and has been active in Ankara Library, since the day it was founded.\u00a0She organized book cataloging, picnics, monthly story telling for children and a variety of seminars.<\/p>\n

Sema aims to work in unity with other Turkish associations and Canadian institutions to build a stronger community.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063420199{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6216″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Fulden Erkan<\/h4>\n

Director – Digital Media <\/strong><\/span>\n

Fulden Erkan spent her childhood in Germany and then moved to T\u00fcrkiye with her family. Having a passion for literature, she studied at Istanbul University and graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature. She worked as a lecturer at Istanbul University and taught English at private high schools in T\u00fcrkiye.<\/p>\n

Fulden immigrated to Canada with her family in 1997. She furthered her education in digital media in Toronto, and has been working in digital marketing for over 20 years. Currently, she is head of web publishing at an international IT company.<\/p>\n

Fulden Erkan joined Ankara Library in 2018 and is responsible for the digital platform.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1430063405450{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6347″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

E. Yaman \u00dcz\u00fcmeri<\/h4>\n

Director \u2013Vice President<\/strong><\/span>\n

Yaman \u00dcz\u00fcmeri is one of the first Turks to settle in Canada.\u00a0He came to Canada in 1956 to study civil engineering and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1961.\u00a0After completing his two-year military service in T\u00fcrkiye, he married Ms. Bezen and they settled in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Yaman worked for various private construction companies and served as a Building Commissioner in the City of North York and the City of Toronto for many years, prior to his retirement in 2002. He received urbanism awards from many international organizations, especially the World Bank.<\/p>\n

He is one of the founding members of the Ankara Library and has made important contributions to the future plans of the library. He is still a very active and valuable resource to the Board.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”9103″ css=”.vc_custom_1620079045326{padding-top: 80px !important;padding-bottom: 80px !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax-cover”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1525119727045{padding-top: 200px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1524932930267{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” scroll_page=”” parallax_bg=”tcsn-parallax”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Founded in 2000 Ankara Library [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”10px” visible_xs=”yes”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Ankara Library has been serving as a non-profit, non-governmental organization since 2000 and hosts the largest collection of Turkish literary culture in Canada. Constructive..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9855","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9855"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9855\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11668,"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9855\/revisions\/11668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ankarakitapligi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}