Join Bridge to Turkiye Fund Canada’s community supporters committed to improving the future prospects of children and youth in Turkiye.
Şule Kıvanç-Ancieta brings more than two decades of experience in education and community engagement to her role as Development Director at Bridge to Türkiye Fund. She holds a B.S. in Physics from Middle East Technical University (METU) and has taught in both public and private schools across the United States and Türkiye.
Şule has been part of the BTF community since 2014, when she founded the Chicago Giving Circle. In her current role, she leads the organization’s Community Engagement Committee, helping connect grassroots supporters to BTF’s mission of advancing opportunity and equity in Türkiye.
She is also the founder of Cinema4aCause, an awareness and fundraising initiative that uses documentary and narrative film to spotlight issues of gender and educational inequality in rural Türkiye. Her leadership in the Turkish-American nonprofit space has been featured in U.S. and Turkish media.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Şule co-founded the Science Olympiad Club at Brooks Middle School in Illinois, where she has earned recognition for her hands-on, student-centered approach to science and math education. She lives in the Greater Chicago Area with her husband, Victor, and their son, Lucas.
Gözde Arasıl joined the Bridge to Türkiye Fund (BTF) in April 2025. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from İstanbul Kültür University and a Master’s in European Studies from Malmö University in Sweden.
Before joining BTF, she worked in various project development and management roles across civil society organizations, where she contributed to initiatives promoting social impact, equality, and community empowerment.
Özgün Türköz joined Bridge to Türkiye Fund in July 2023 as Programs Coordinator after previously serving as a Project Assistant. He is a 2023 graduate of Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara.
Prior to joining BTF, he completed an internship with Türkiye’s Ministry of Family and Social Services, gaining experience in public service and social policy. Outside of work, Özgün enjoys playing the violin and ukulele.
Sibel Sel Ömrüuzun serves as Donor Database & Administrative Support Services at Bridge to Türkiye Fund, bringing 15+ years of administrative and operational experience across diplomatic, academic, and private-sector environments. She previously supported international delegations and high-level events at the Finnish and Indian Embassies in Ankara, managing office coordination, travel logistics, protocol, and budget processes. She also spent several years at Middle East Technical University (METU), providing administrative and program support for graduate studies and academic leadership.
More recently, Sibel has worked remotely with a U.S.-based company, overseeing CRM operations, client communications, scheduling, and data management. With academic training in Economics and Medical Informatics, she brings strong analytical thinking and digital expertise to her work. She also volunteers as a Salesforce mentor with Supermums, supporting mothers as they build technical skills and professional confidence.
Sibel is currently based in Tampere, Finland, where she lives with her family.
Ebru Çalışkan joined Bridge to Türkiye Fund in January 2022 as IT and Innovation Director, bringing with her a diverse background in engineering, and project management. She holds a B.S. in Mining Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU) and has been involved in a range of technical projects before focusing her expertise on information technology and innovation.
Ebru applies her analytical and technical skills to design creative, efficient IT solutions that support BTF’s operations and growth.
Beyond her professional work, Ebru has been an active volunteer mentor and coach for university students in Türkiye. As Program Coordinator for the METU Istanbul Alumni Association (ODTÜMİST) career mentoring program, she provides guidance on career planning, skill-building, and job market navigation, reflecting her commitment to supporting the next generation of professionals.
