OUR TEAM
Senay Ataselim Yılmaz, PhD
Senay leads Turkish Philanthropy Funds as its Executive Director and has been instrumental since its inception. She is a writer, lecturer, and passionate advocate for social change. Recognized with the 2025 Beacon Award presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society, the International Herst Fellow by the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, and as a Young Society Leader by the American-Turkish Society. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Graduate Center, CUNY, and has completed executive education programs at Columbia and Harvard Business Schools. Additionally, Senay is a trained yoga and mindfulness instructor.
Sandra Escauriza Rubio
Sandra oversees finance at Turkish Philanthropy Funds, where she ensures transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability across all financial systems. Since joining TPF in 2015, she has played a key role in strengthening the organization’s fiscal management and operational excellence. Sandra brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit and corporate finance. She holds a degree in Business Administration and advanced training in financial management.Her cross-cultural perspective, precision, and dedication to excellence embody TPF’s values of trust and integrity, ensuring every philanthropic contribution achieves maximum impact.
PINAR ÖZYÜREK
Pınar is the Director of Philanthropy at Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF), bringing more than 15 years of experience in fundraising and donor relations. She has held leadership roles at Koç University, SEV, and Esas Holding/Esas Social. Pınar specializes in major donor cultivation, corporate partnerships, and strategic philanthropy. She holds a BA from Koç University and MA degrees from Sabancı University and the University of Chicago. Her professional development includes, among other qualifications, a Leadership Certificate from Columbia Business School and a Fundraising Certificate from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.
Seval Gülen Arıkan
Seval is a sociologist with expertise in social research, program coordination, and civil society engagement. She earned her BA in Sociology from Middle East Technical University and completed her MA in Modern Turkish History at the Ataturk Institute of Boğaziçi University. She has served as a research assistant at Maltepe University and Boğaziçi University and has contributed to research projects focused on local politics, religion, agriculture, and labor conditions in Turkiye. From 2018 to 2022, she served as General Coordinator at the Karakutu Association, and she continues to play an active role in civil society organizations.
Amber Deniz Kale
Deniz is a storyteller passionate about uplifting communities through meaningful connection. She studied Arts Administration at Sorbonne University and earned an MA in Media Studies from The New School, where her thesis explored gender-based violence in Türkiye. Before joining the nonprofit world, she worked in art galleries and taught baking, believing both art and food foster connection. At TPF, she manages content across all communication platforms, sharing stories that inspire giving and impact. Based in Los Angeles, she represents TPF on the West Coast and believes even small acts of kindness can spark meaningful change.
Burçak Küçükusta
Burçak is a marketing and innovation professional with 15+ years of experience in the consumer goods and footwear industries. She began her career at Unilever Türkiye and later led B2B consultancy and e-commerce at her family’s fourth-generation footwear business. Deeply committed to social impact, she has championed scholarship initiatives, led alumni engagement for ACI (Izmir American Collegiate Institute), and supported family business development through TAIDER. She serves as President of the R&D Committee and on the Supervisory Board of TASEV (Turkish Shoe Sector Development Foundation), fostering cross-sector collaboration. A Sabancı University economics graduate, she also holds an executive MBA from Boğaziçi and a digital marketing certificate from Northwestern University.
Seda Özdemir Şimşek
Seda is a seasoned researcher and strategic program leader with extensive experience in civil society. She has also served as a university lecturer for many years, integrating academic knowledge with real-world impact. Seda holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Marmara University and a master’s degree in Modern Turkish History from Boğaziçi University, where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. Her work spans research, program development, and capacity building, reflecting a deep commitment to social change. Seda’s interdisciplinary approach bridges academia and community, driving inclusive, impactful, and sustainable initiatives across diverse sectors.
Bahar Aldanmaz Fidan
Bahar is a sociologist with expertise in gender justice, disaster response, and transnational philanthropy. She earned her MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago and her PhD in Sociology from Boston University, where she was awarded the Community Impact Award. A Fulbright scholar and recipient of the Sociologists for Women in Society Social Impact Award, she has combined academic research with nonprofit leadership throughout her career. She co-founded Konuşmamız Gerek, Türkiye’s first NGO dedicated to menstrual justice, which has reached more than two million girls and women across 32 provinces. She is also the co-author of Hadi Konuşalım, the first children’s book in Turkish on menstruation. At TPF, she applies her academic and civil society experience to strengthen partnerships and advance community-driven philanthropy.
Mustafa Kemal Abadan
Mustafa Kemal Abadan, is a retired design partner from the world renown architectural firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP (SOM). Throughout his 40-year career in New York City, he practiced as an architect with a worldwide reach, completing many award-winning buildings on five continents. Amongst his most recognized projects are The Islamic Cultural Center, Time Warner Center, and CUNY John Jay College in New York and Tokyo Mid-Town in Japan, Guoco Tower in Singapore and AIA Tower in Hong Kong. In recognition of his exemplary service to the architecture profession he was elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2007, and in 2023, Mr. Abadan was honored at the 100-year anniversary of the Republic of Turkiye as one of the country’s 100 most important Architects. Mr. Abadan has served for more than 40 years as a lecturer, design critic and adviser to Dean’s at architecture schools, including Cornell University, Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture. Mr. Abadan, who was one of the 6 founding members of the Turkish Philanthropy Funds in 2007; has recently returned to his passion in helping Turkish communities here and Turkiye; and serves as the Chairman of the Board of TPF, the most respected Turkish community foundation in the USA. In recognition of his tireless contributions to his native and adopted societies, Mr. Abadan received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2016.
Osman C. Kurtuluş
Osman Coşkun Kurtuluş is the CFO of the Museum of the City of New York since April 2015. For nearly 20 years, prior to joining the Museum, he was working at different capacities as a Finance executive in Non-Profit world such as Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Teach for America (TFA), Fortune Society and Turnaround for Children. Osman Coşkun Kurtuluş is a native of Turkey, after living in England for a couple of years moved to New York in 1988. Osman Coşkun Kurtuluş holds a BSc. in Economics from the University of Istanbul, Turkey and an MBA in Finance, St. John’s University, Peter J. Tobin College of Business, School of Risk Management. Osman Coşkun Kurtuluş lives in Upper Montclair New Jersey with his wife and daughter.
Selin Gülçelik
Zeynep Oğuz Bilimer
Zeynep Oğuz Bilimer is a creative director and philanthropist. She earned her undergraduate degree in Economics and Fine Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in Communications Design from Pratt Institute. Early in her career, Zeynep trained under legendary designers Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar— the creative minds behind iconic identities such as Chase Bank and Mobil—and later founded ZEO, a boutique branding and design agency. Zeynep's iconic designs include the brand identities of the King's Academy in Jordan, Kayra wines and the Super Cup of the Turkish Football Federation. Beyond her professional endeavors, Zeynep and her husband Evren Bilimer have focused their philanthropy on education and the arts in Türkiye and the U.S. Zeynep and Evren are members of the Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) Founders Society. Zeynep has been on the Board of Directors of TPF since 2018, where she serves as the Secretary of the Board and the Chair of the Programs Committee. In this role, she has been partnering with the TPF team to identify, develop and fund reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Southeastern Turkiye after the devastating 2023 earthquake deploying TPF’s Earthquake Fund. An avid art collector, she is a member of the Chairman’s Council of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she also serves on the Visiting Committee of the Islamic Art Department and chairs the Turkish Centennial Initiative. She serves on the Board of the University of Virginia College Foundation and is a member of Pratt Institute's Design Council.
Lawrence Kaye
Lawrence Kaye is Senior Counsel to Freedman Normand Friedland LLP. He is noted for his representation of foreign governments, victims of the Holocaust, families of renowned artists and other claimants in connection with the recovery of art and antiquities. He represented the Republic of Turkey in its successful efforts to recover the fabled Lydian Hoard antiquities, long held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and some 1,800 ancient Greek and Lycian coins which Connoisseur Magazine called “The Hoard of the Century,” among many other artifacts. He presently represents many museums, collectors and foreign governments in connection with a variety of cultural property matters. Mr. Kaye served as the Legal Advisor to the Republic of Turkey’s delegation to the Diplomatic Conference held in Rome in June 1995, at which the UNIDROIT Convention on the International Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects was adopted. He writes and lectures extensively on international art litigation and the repatriation of cultural property. He has presented papers at numerous academic and business symposiums, including, among others, forums sponsored by the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the All-Russia State Library for Foreign Literature in Moscow, the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation, the American-Turkish Council, the Institute of International Business Law and Practice, Lloyd’s of London Press, the American Bar Association, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Columbia University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Bard College, New York University, Princeton University, the American Institute of Archaeology, and many law schools, including Harvard, Villanova, Fordham, Texas Tech, Rutgers, Cardozo, Willamette and the University of Texas. While pursuing his law degree, Mr. Kaye was editor-in-chief of the St. John’s Law Review. He has served two terms as a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York’s Art Law Committee and was the Program Chairman for their Cultural Property Roundtable in November 1996. Memberships & Associations: Association of the Bar of the City of New York, International Bar Association, Board Member and Counsel, Turkish Philanthropy Funds
Ahmet Bozer
Ahmet Bozer served as an Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company until his retirement in March 2016, serving as the President of Coca-Cola International since January 1, 2013. In that position, he was responsible for all units outside North America. Ahmet began his career in 1983 as an Assistant Professor at the DeVry Institute of Technology. He joined the audit firm Coopers & Lybrand in Atlanta in 1985, serving in a variety of audit, consultancy & management roles. He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1990 as a Financial Control Manager in Atlanta, and then moved to his native Turkey in 1992 as Region Finance Manager. In 1994, he joined the Coca- Cola Bottlers of Turkey as Finance Director and was named Managing Director of the bottler in 1998. He rejoined The Coca-Cola Company in 2000 as President of Eurasia Division. During 2000 to 2012, Ahmet’s responsibilities increased from a geographic scope of 9 countries to 90 as the President of the Eurasia and Africa Group including, Africa, India, Russia, Middle East and Eurasia. A founding member of The Coca-Cola Turkey Life Plus Foundation, Ahmet also previously served as head of various business councils including Brazil – US, US-Pakistan and US – Turkey business councils. In 2013, Ahmet was named Chair of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), and served in that capacity until 2016. Following his retirement, Ahmet assumed various non-executive business roles around the globe. He is an advisory board member of Swire Coca-Cola. He is also a Board Member at the Turkish Philanthropy Funds in New York and holds various advisory Board membership positions at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. Youth development is Ahmet’s top priority, and to that end, he is committed to a variety of initiatives in this area. Ahmet has a Master of Science in Business Info Systems from Georgia State University, US, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Admin from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. He is married to Fatos and has two children, Kerem and Esra.
Alper Dağlıoğlu
Alper Daglioglu is a Managing Partner and the Head of the Investment Solutions Group at Brookfield Asset Management. In this role, he leads the firm’s efforts to deliver innovative investment strategies to institutional, wealth, and family capital clients globally. Prior to joining Brookfield, Mr. Daglioglu spent 22 years at Morgan Stanley, where he most recently served as a Managing Director and Head of the Portfolio and Investment Manager Solutions (PIMS) group. His leadership spanned several key areas, including Global Investment Manager Analysis (GIMA), Morgan Stanley Portfolio Solutions (MSPS), the Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO), the Family Office Investment Team, and Morgan Stanley Private Markets. He also served on the Operating and Management Committees of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Mr. Daglioglu holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Galatasaray University and an MBA in Finance from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he received a full merit scholarship and research assistantship at the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets. He has authored several research papers on alternative investments and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.
Aydın Tucer
Aydin Tuncer has more than 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Raymond James in 1999 he was a telecom equity analyst at Standard & Poor’s and an Internet equity analyst at Prudential Securities in New York. Aydin brings institutional Wall Street experience to the comprehensive financial planning process. He earned his MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from McGill University in Montréal, Canada. He currently serves on the Board of the Turkish Philanthropy Fund. Aydin is fluent in Turkish and conversant in French. Aydin and his wife, Beatriz, reside in Potomac, Maryland, with their two daughters, Gabriela and Sophia. When he is not working with clients, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and traveling.
Ayşegül İldeniz
Ayşe Ildeniz is a global technology leader, author, award-winning executive, and a pioneer leading at the intersection of innovation, technology, and the future of business. Ayşe was recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Creative People by Fast Company Magazine in 2015, is the author of “Ayşegül 5.0”, a book on AI won business book of the year award 2025 and is a 2010 Eisenhower Fellow. She has pioneered in development of “smart things”, smart cities, smart energy, wearables and IoT products; built and led internationally diverse teams to deliver breakthrough results. Ildeniz serves on conglomerate boards in technology, venture capital, media, consumer electronics, energy, and aviation industries—Doğan Holding, Pegasus Airlines, Zorlu Holding and Tekfen Ventures; and provides consultancy in Silicon Valley. With a focus on AI, innovation, and smart future, Ayşe also serves as the Chair of TUSIAD Silicon Valley Network and is a member of the board of Turkish Philanthropy Funds. Ildeniz served as COO for Silver Spring Networks, publicly traded smart energy and smart cities company till its exit. Prior, she had worked at Intel Corporation as Vice President and General Manager of New Devices Group. Ildeniz also was on the EMEA board and ran 67 countries across Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. Ildeniz is a tech columnist at Oksijen Newspaper, author of two books and an international speaker honored with multiple awards.
Bahadır Önalan
Batur Biçer
Batur Biçer is a Portfolio Manager focusing on investment strategies related to structured credit products both in cash and synthetic markets at Napier Park Global Capital. Napier Park separated from Citigroup’s alternative investment arm, Citi Capital Advisors (“CCA”), in February 2013. Prior to Citigroup, Batur served two years as Vice President at Goldman Sachs as a Credit Strategist covering primarily credit derivative products where he was responsible for recommending trade ideas and providing quantitative solutions for both internal and external clients. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Batur worked as a Credit Strategy Research Analyst for five years at Barclays Capital where he published weekly reports on the structured credit market. Batur has a PhD degree in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Princeton University and a BS from Boğaziçi University.
Didem Altop
Didem Altop is a Turkish American venture capitalist, strategist, and community builder passionate about fostering innovation, collaboration, and positive impact. With over 25 years of experience across strategy, business development, and entrepreneurship, her career bridges corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit ecosystems in the U.S. and Türkiye. Today, as General Partner at Treeo VC in Miami, Didem invests in AI-native, immigrant-led B2B startups expanding into the U.S. market. She also serves as a board member and advisor to startups and family businesses, helping them scale and transform responsibly. Her professional journey began in management consulting, holding positions at The World Bank, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Lockheed Martin Mission Systems, and IBM, where she focused on digital transformation, competitive and organizational strategy. She later founded ECOM Consulting & Project Finance, a boutique advisory firm specializing in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development. Didem went on to pioneer Turkiye’s innovation ecosystem as the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Endeavor Turkey, catalyzing a new generation of high-impact entrepreneurs and reshaping the national entrepreneurship agenda. Beyond her work in venture capital, Didem has been a driving force in civil society. Today, she is a Co-Founding Board Member of the Global Entrepreneurship Network in Turkiye (GEN Türkiye), advancing entrepreneurship as a driver of economic and social progress; a Co-Founder of YenidenBiz, helping women return to the workforce after career breaks; and an Executive Board Member of Turkish Philanthropy Funds, empowering global Turkish communities through philanthropy and social impact. She continues to serve or has served as a founding or executive board member and advisor to leading NGOs including TurkishWIN, Tohum Otizm Vakfi, Ashoka Türkiye, Özel Sektör Gönüllüleri Derneği (OSGD), Genç Başarı Eğitim Vakfı (Junior Achievement Turkey), Türkiye Üçüncü Sektör Vakfı (TÜSEV), and Türkiye Eğitim Gönüllüleri Vakfı (TEGV). Didem holds a B.A. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University and an M.S.I.A./M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.
Ergün Kırlıkovalı
Ergün Kırlıkovalı is a polymer scientist, inventor, and community leader whose work has made pioneering contributions to material science and aerospace technology. After earning a degree in Chemistry from Boğaziçi University and a master’s in Polymer Science from the University of Manchester, he began his career in advanced materials and polymer engineering, focusing on high-performance coatings and composites. In 1985, he founded his own company, which became a key innovator in developing polymer technologies for the aerospace and defense industries. Ergün is best known as the inventor of the polymer coating that enables B-2 Spirit bombers and F-35 fighter jets to evade radar detection, a groundbreaking advancement in stealth programs. His scientific innovations, recognized internationally for their precision, creativity, and real-world impact, have redefined the possibilities of polymer applications in aviation and beyond. Beyond his technical achievements, Ergün has been a steadfast advocate for the Turkish-American community. As President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), he championed cultural diplomacy and civic engagement, fostering understanding and collaboration between Türkiye and the United States. A lifelong learner and mentor, he continues to inspire new generations of scientists and entrepreneurs to pursue innovation with purpose and integrity. He shares with college students the nine phases of his philosophy and wisdom his 50 years in business imbued in him which can be summarized as “innovation is a teachable skill”.
Ersin Karaoğlu
Ersin Karaoğlu joined the TPF board in June 2021. He has been a member of TPF’s Investment Committee since 2015 and currently chairs the committee. Ersin works as a portfolio manager at Brevan Howard, a leading global alternative investment platform. Ersin specializes in cross-asset investment and trading strategies in the US credit and equity markets. Before joining Brevan Howard in 2022, he worked as a portfolio manager for three years at Squarepoint Capital, a global investment management firm focused on quantitative strategies. From 2007 to 2019, Ersin worked in various investment roles at Bluemountain Capital, a multi-strategy hedge fund. His core focus was relative value strategies in credit markets. Prior to joining Bluemountain, he was an associate at Deutsche Bank in the Debt Capital Markets division for two years. In this role, he assisted in the origination of debt issuance and liability management transactions for companies in various sectors. Ersin has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS in Industrial Engineering and International Economics from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. He lives in New York City with his wife, two daughters and their beagle Max.
Gamze Ateş
Gamze Ateş is the founder and CEO of My Beachy Side, an ethical luxury fashion brand dedicated to empowering women and promoting sustainable craftsmanship. She founded the company in 2015 with a mission to create stylish, high-quality resort wear while providing fair, flexible, and dignified employment opportunities for women artisans in Turkey. Driven by a vision to merge social impact with conscious design, Ateş built a supply chain that prioritizes transparency, sustainability, and human connection. Today, My Beachy Side employs thousands of women artisans. Every My Beachy Side piece is handmade by women artisans, offering them a reliable source of income and independence while preserving traditional crochet and knit techniques. Under her leadership, My Beachy Side has gained international acclaim for its ethical craftsmanship and elegant designs. The brand has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, and other leading fashion media, and its distinctive handmade pieces have appeared in acclaimed television series such as Emily in Paris and The White Lotus—celebrated for embodying the effortless sophistication and sustainable values at the heart of the brand. Through her work, Gamze Ateş continues to redefine what it means to be a changemaker in fashion, proving that style, empowerment, and social good can thrive hand in hand.
Maria Figueroa Küpçü
Maria is a founding partner of Helia Advisors and counsels family offices, nonprofit and for-profit organizations on social impact and philanthropy including strategic planning, communications, stakeholder engagement and outcome measurement. Her experience, over the past decades, has focused in the areas of environmental sustainability, climate solutions and education. Maria’s career has spanned roles at the United Nations and in U.S. foreign policy, opinion research in support for political campaigning around the world, and advising corporate and nonprofit clients in strategic communications. Prior to founding Helia Advisors, Maria was a Partner at Brunswick Group, a global critical issues and financial situations advisory firm, where she led multiple practice areas and was also head of the firm’s New York office. She has worked with a range of nonprofit and corporate clients including: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Columbia University, Mars, PepsiCo and WWF. Her involvement with TPF dates to it’s earliest days and she has served as a board member and also Vice Chair. Maria is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Tufts University. She and her husband founded, Double Knot rug gallery, dedicated to the art of kilims, carpets and textiles.
Metin Negrin
Mr. Negrin has over 35 years of experience in real estate development and investment management. He is the Founder and President of Lexin Capital, a private real estate investment firm he established in 2002. Under his leadership, Lexin invests its own capital alongside global partners in private real estate projects, serving as General Partner with responsibility for development, management, and strategic direction (www.lexincapital.com). In addition, Mr. Negrin serves on the Board of Directors of Hanover Bank, where he is a member of both the Credit Committee and the Audit Committee. He assumed these roles following Hanover Bank’s acquisition of Savoy Bank, where he had been the largest shareholder and Chairman (www.hanoverbank.com). Prior to founding Lexin, Mr. Negrin was a co-founder and partner of The Athena Group, a real estate investment firm recognized for its innovative strategies and successful track record in the 1990s. Mr. Negrin is also Trustee Emeritus of The Allen-Stevenson School in New York City, where he served for ten years and as Chairman of the Board for five years and led the school’s renovation and expansion project (www.allen-stevenson.org). He holds a B.S. in Economics and an MBA in Finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Onur Erzan
Onur Erzan is Head of Global Client Group and Head of Private Wealth at Alliance Bernstein (AB). He oversees AB’s entire private wealth management business and third-party institutional and retail franchise, where he is responsible for all client services, sales, and marketing, as well as product strategy, management, and development worldwide. Erzan is also a member of the Equitable Holdings Management Committee. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, he spent over 19 years with McKinsey, most recently as a senior partner and co-leader of its Wealth & Asset Management practice. In addition, Erzan co-led McKinsey’s Banking & Securities Solutions (a portfolio of data, analytics, and digital assets and capabilities) globally. He has been active in nonprofit organizations for the last several years and has served on Graham Windham and Turkish Philanthropy Funds boards. Erzan holds a BS in business administration from Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Senay Ataselim Yılmaz, PhD
Senay leads Turkish Philanthropy Funds as its Executive Director and has been instrumental since its inception. She is a writer, lecturer, and passionate advocate for social change. Recognized with the 2025 Beacon Award presented by the Ellis Island Honors Society, the International Herst Fellow by the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, and as a Young Society Leader by the American-Turkish Society. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Graduate Center, CUNY, and has completed executive education programs at Columbia and Harvard Business Schools. Additionally, Senay is a trained yoga and mindfulness instructor.
Seran Müdüroğlu Trehan
Seran Müdüroğlu Trehan is a Board Member of Turkish Philanthropy Funds and a long-time advocate for women, children, and the arts. Originally from Northern Cyprus, she earned her B.S. in Economics from the London School of Economics and her M.A. in International Relations from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. She began her career at the World Bank’s Legal Department and later worked at UNICEF’s Information and Public Affairs Division in New York. An avid art collector, Seran is a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Visiting Committee of the Islamic Art Department and the leadership committee of the Turkish Centennial Initiative. She served as Board Member of the Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture for 20 years. Based in NYC, Seran brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to advancing education, equality, and cross-cultural understanding.
Seray Incoğlu
Seray Incoğlu is a Portfolio Manager and the Global Head of Commercial Real Estate Debt Asset Management at PIMCO, based in New York. She leads the firm’s global CRE debt asset management platform with a focus on both performing and nonperforming credit strategies. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2020, she spent 15 years in Wells Fargo’s commercial real estate division, where she led originations and workout efforts for large institutional sponsors and complex credit situations. Mrs. Incoglu also serves on the Board of Phipps Houses, New York City’s oldest and largest nonprofit developer of affordable housing and social services. She has 19 years of investment experience and holds a degree from George Mason University. Seray and her family have always believed deeply in the power of education to change the trajectory of a child’s life and, over the past two decades, they have been committed to supporting initiatives that expand access to opportunity. She is equally passionate about empowering single mothers, believing that when a mother is given the chance to stand strong—financially and independently—she raises stronger children, and stronger children build a better society. In conjunction with Turkish Philanthropy Funds, Seray is currently working on a project focused on empowering single mothers and helping them build more secure and sustainable futures for their families.
Tamer Seçkin
Ülkü Rowe
Ülkü Rowe is a technology executive and cultural entrepreneur, currently serving as the Chief Information Officer for the Commercial Bank at Lloyds Banking Group. She is also the Co-Founder of the Turkish American Orchestra (TAO), which brings together musicians from Türkiye and the U.S. to promote cultural exchange through the universal language of music. Previously, Ülkü was the Technical Director of Financial Services in Google Cloud’s Office of the CTO, where she helped global financial institutions accelerate digital transformation through cloud, AI, and data innovation. Before Google, she held senior technology leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America. Ülkü holds an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Boğaziçi University. She serves on several advisory and nonprofit boards, including University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Engineering, and University of Illinois Chicago.
FOUNDERS CIRCLE
TPF’s six founding members had a vision for a foundation that could encourage philanthropy among those interested in supporting Turkey and addressing vital needs in local communities. TPF’s success is a direct result of these pioneers, who have stood behind the organization and have brought ideas, positive energy, and a beautiful intensity. Their leadership contributes daily and to our legacy. And, we are forever grateful for their service.
Chairman Emeritus
Mustafa Kemal Abadan
Murat Ağırnaslı
CEO Emeritus
Mehmet L Kırdar
Chairman Emeritus
Erinch R. Özada
Haluk Soykan
