Team
Director
Ceren Kenar
Ceren Kenar is a senior strategic communications consultant and former journalist with two decades of experience in political communications, international media, and advisory. She has written for The Guardian, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, BBC World, The Washington Post, and CNN, offering in-depth analysis on geopolitics, culture, and socio-political dynamics across Türkiye, the Middle East, and the wider MENA region. Alongside her media career, she advises investors in the MENA region, providing strategic insights that bridge complex political and cultural landscapes.
Lead Analyst
Baran Atilmis
Baran Atilmis holds degrees in Politics and International Relations from the University of Cambridge and International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. He has worked in the UK Parliament as a Policy Analyst, providing research and strategic advice on legislative and political developments, and later went on to lead research projects exploring both domestic and international political trends. Baran brings extensive experience in commissioning policy reports, organising high-level events with policymakers, and navigating the processes of Westminster. His analytical work combines academic depth with practical experience.
Lead Project Coordinator
Enis Aydin
Enis Aydın is a communications and project management specialist with extensive experience across Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. A native Turkish speaker with deep connections in political and media landscapes, he has contributed to international outlets such as the Associated Press and TRT, offering insight into regional politics, democracy and cultural affairs. His career includes managing high-profile international events, including UEFA ceremonies and final matches, where he oversaw planning, logistics and stakeholder engagement.
Operations Manager
Cem Anil
Cem Anil holds a degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a Master of Fine Arts in New York. In addition to his work in the private sector, Cem has nonprofit experience, having worked with the Turkish Coalition of America in Washington, D.C., where he contributed to initiatives promoting dialogue and educational exchange.
Board members
Ümit Yalçın
Former Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom
Ümit Yalçın is a former Turkish Ambassador and senior diplomat with extensive experience in bilateral relations, multilateral diplomacy, and strategic affairs. He previously served as Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the United Kingdom and has held senior postings across Europe and within the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on diplomacy, security, and international cooperation.
Sir Dominick Chilcott
Former Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Türkiye
Sir Dominick Chilcott is a former British diplomat with a distinguished career in international diplomacy and public service. He served as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye and held senior roles within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with expertise spanning European affairs, international security, and bilateral relations.
Timothy Ash
Associate Fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House
Timothy Ash is a senior political risk analyst and distinguished fellow with extensive expertise in emerging markets, geopolitical strategy, and European and Middle Eastern affairs. He is a senior fellow at Chatham House and has held research and advisory roles focusing on macroeconomic trends, political developments, and international policy engagement across Türkiye, Europe, and global financial centres.
Ussal Şahbaz
Founder and Managing Partner at Ussal Consutancy
Ussal Şahbaz is a public policy expert with extensive experience in business diplomacy, innovation strategy, and government affairs. He is the founder of Ussal Consultancy and has held leadership roles at GE Istanbul Innovation Centre, TEPAV and the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), working on innovation policy, multistakeholder engagement and global economic dialogue.
Fellows
Aysu Biçer
The London Correspondent for Anadolu Ajansı (AA), Türkiye’s leading news agency. Based in Westminster, she covers UK domestic politics, Turkish diaspora affairs, and the evolving relationship between Britain and Türkiye. Her reporting provides on-the-ground insight into British political developments, parliamentary debates, and government policy, with a particular focus on how these issues resonate with and affect the Turkish community in the UK. Biçer also follows broader foreign policy discussions, offering analysis on bilateral ties, trade, and cultural diplomacy between London and Ankara. With her extensive experience as a field journalist, she brings a nuanced understanding of both domestic British affairs and Türkiye’s international engagement, bridging perspectives for audiences in both countries.
Emin Emrah Danış
A Turkish energy economist and policy advisor with extensive expertise in global energy markets, geopolitics, and regional energy strategies. He is the founder of MOBEN Consulting (est. 2022), an Istanbul-based advisory firm providing strategic insights across energy, mobility, and geopolitics. Danış has built a career at the intersection of economics and international affairs, advising public institutions, private sector stakeholders, and think tanks on issues ranging from energy security to sustainable mobility transitions. His research and commentary focus on Türkiye’s role within shifting regional energy dynamics, as well as the wider geopolitical implications of global energy transitions. With his entrepreneurial and analytical approach, he contributes to policy debates and strategic planning in Türkiye and beyond, positioning himself as a key voice in discussions on energy and international strategy.
Ömer Özkizilcik
A prominent Turkish analyst specialising in the Syrian conflict, counterterrorism, and regional security. Based in Ankara, he is a non-resident fellow with the Syria Project at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs, where he contributes research and analysis on Türkiye’s security policy and military engagements. His work focuses on the dynamics of the Syrian civil war, the role of non-state armed groups, and the evolving security challenges posed by terrorism and regional instability. Özkizilcik is also a frequent commentator in Turkish and international media, providing timely insights into developments along Türkiye’s southern border and the country’s broader regional strategy. With his deep expertise in conflict dynamics, Turkish defence policy, and counterinsurgency, he offers nuanced perspectives that bridge the worlds of policy, security studies, and public debate.
Ragıp Soylu
An experienced journalist and the Turkey Bureau Chief for Middle East Eye, where he leads coverage of Türkiye’s domestic politics, foreign policy, and regional affairs. Based in Ankara, he has reported extensively on the country’s shifting relations with both the West and the Middle East. Soylu’s reporting, featured not only in Middle East Eye but also in outlets such as The Times, has established him as a trusted source on issues ranging from Ankara–Washington relations and NATO debates to Türkiye’s role in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean. Frequently invited to share his insights on international platforms, Soylu has appeared on CNN and the BBC, further underscoring his reputation as one of the leading voices on Türkiye’s evolving geopolitical posture.
Dr. Mehmet Levent Yılmaz
Dr. M. Levent Yılmaz is an economist and security analyst whose work focuses on the intersection of macroeconomic policy, economic security, and strategic industries. A Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Technology and Development, he is the author of Economic Security: How Secure is Turkey? and has written extensively on the Modern Silk Road and the economic dimensions of terrorism. He has lectured internationally, including at the University of Oxford, and contributes analysis to both Turkish and international outlets such as The Conservative. Bridging academia, policy, and media, Yılmaz offers authoritative insight into how economic choices shape Türkiye’s foreign and security policy.
Dr. Gökhan Çınkara
An Assistant Professor of Political Science at Necmettin Erbakan University, where he also serves as Director of the Global and Regional Studies Center (NEU SAM). A seasoned analyst of Middle Eastern politics and international relations, he contributes regular commentary to Habertürk and writes as a columnist for Independent Türkçe. His research focuses on Israel/Palestine, the Arab Gulf, and the broader dynamics of political Islam, including the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafism.