Bridge to Türkiye Fund Announces New Appointments to the Board of Directors
[Chapel Hill, North Carolina, December 9, 2025] – Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) is pleased to announce exciting updates to its Board of Directors, including the addition of new members, key executive committee appointments, and the continued leadership of longtime dedicated governing board members.
Ela Eskinazi, MSc continues to serve as Board Chairperson, bringing over 15 years of experience in sustainable finance and clean energy solutions with Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, including BMO Commercial Bank, Bank of America, and GE Healthcare. A long-serving volunteer leader of BTF, Ela is a passionate advocate for education and women’s empowerment.
Gonca Cengiz Soysal, Ph.D. remains as a member of the Executive Committee, serving as the Board Vice President, leveraging her expertise in marketing analytics, retailing, and e-commerce, along with her academic background, including a doctorate from Northwestern University. She is the founder of the Bridge to Türkiye Fund Giving Circle in Dallas-Fort Worth. Gonca leads initiatives such as empowerment scholarships and youth education advocacy to further the organization’s mission and impact.
Bridge to Türkiye Fund is also pleased to have founding Bridge to Türkiye Fund member, Dr. Bulent Ender as Board President. A retired physician and longtime resident of North Carolina, Bulent is committed to advancing the organization’s mission and ensuring a sustainable future for its impactful programs.
Two new members to the Executive Committee include recently appointed Board Treasurer, Pelin Muharremoglu, MBA. With expertise in finance and engineering and an MBA from Columbia University, Pelin brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a strong dedication to supporting youth education and community initiatives. She has helped Bridge to Türkiye Fund’s successful completion of the organization’s audits for the past two years.
Deniz Ertaş, Ph.D. rounds out the Executive Committee and was recently appointed as Board Secretary. A distinguished physicist and energy sector innovator with over 50 authored peer-reviewed publications, Deniz holds two dozen patents and is an industry leading expert in oil and natural gas. Deniz champions science, education, and equity for youth, leading initiatives to empower the next generation.
Bridge to Türkiye Fund is also thrilled to welcome Sevda Kupoglu Aleckson and Yasemin Ipek Blanton to the Board of Directors.
Sevda is a leading environmental engineer and national QA consultant, who returns to the Board of Directors after a few years doing direct volunteering and fundraising to support Bridge to Türkiye Fund’s scholarship programs and is a dedicated advocate for STEM-focused initiatives and educational programs that open pathways to young people pursuing dreams of a college education.
Yasemin, a global fintech leader with over 25 years of experience in tech innovation, banking, and financial systems, has been a longtime volunteer leader for Bridge to Türkiye Fund, spearheading initiatives like Cinema-for-a-Cause and inspiring youth volunteering.
Both new Board members bring a deep passion to build bridges to brighter futures for children, youth, and young people in Türkiye.
Deniz Tasdemiroglu Conger, Executive Director of Bridge to Türkiye Fund, serves as an Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Directors.
About Bridge to Türkiye Fund
Founded in 2003, Bridge to Türkiye Fund is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing child-focused philanthropy in Türkiye. Bridge to Türkiye Fund is the first leading nonprofit in the U.S. to further philanthropic impact in areas of children’s learning, youth education, academic scholarships, children’s health and well-being, disaster response and recovery, including projects that address environmental and sustainable initiatives in Türkiye. Bridge to Türkiye Fund is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Consultative Status with the United Nations (UN).
With a mission to empower children through education, well-being, and disaster recovery, Bridge to Türkiye Fund connects grassroots efforts with international support to create sustainable, community-led change. Through trusted partnerships locally and with other NGOs, and a transparent giving platform, Bridge to Türkiye Fund has positively impacted the lives of nearly 200,000 children over 22 years through educational resources, scholarships, school supplies, building new schools, establishing science labs, health recovery from disasters, and emergency aid. Powered by more than 40,000 donors and 5,000 volunteers across the globe, Bridge to Türkiye Fund is the bridge to brighter futures.
To learn more about Bridge to Turkiye Fund, please visit: www.bridgetoturkiye.org.
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For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:Deniz Tasdemiroglu Congerdeniztas@bridgetoturkiye.org
