ATAA UN Related Announcement# 47
ATAA NextGen Webinar Series
Empowering Youth for People, Planet & Progress
Session 4 – UN Decade of Water: Global Lessons
**Sunday, April 12, 2026
1:00pm ET, 12:00pm CT, 10:00am PT
**
Empowering Youth for People, Planet & Progress
The Turkish American youth are the cornerstone of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations’ (ATAA) mission and the future of our community. They represent the bridge between our proud Turkish heritage and the dynamic American society we are part of. ATAA invests in youth leadership, civic education, and cultural outreach to ensure that new generations are empowered, confident, and active participants in shaping a better future. By nurturing their voices and potential, we help them carry forward Atatürk’s vision of progress, equality, and enlightenment—values that continue to inspire our collective path toward a stronger and more connected Turkish American community.
About
The ATAA NextGen Webinar Series is a four-part online program connecting Turkish-American youth (ages 14–24) and the broader ATAA community with global sustainability and civic leadership themes. Spearheaded by ATAA President Alev Wieland, ATAA Southeast Vice President Canan Özaktay, and curated by Didem Altop, the series invites participants to explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Decade of Water (2018–2028) while celebrating Turkish heritage as a foundation for leadership, service, and global citizenship.
This session explores how impact is sustained — through inner clarity, intentional structures, strong communities, and long-term systems. Our main goals include:
- Teach without lecturing
- Inspire through lived journeys
- Share practical frameworks accessibly
- Leave youth — and the adults who support them — with concrete next steps
Program
Opening Remarks and Introduction by
**Alev Wieland
**ATAA President
Moderator
**Didem Altop
**General Partner, Treeo VC &
Board Member, Turkish Philanthropy Funds
Speakers
**Olcay Ünver, PhD
**Professor of Practice, Arizona State University;
Senior Water Advisor (FAO & UNESCO);
Former Vice-Chair, UN-Water
**Ayşegül Kibaroğlu, PhD
**Chair, Department of Political Science and International Relations
MEF University, Türkiye
**Gökçe Okulu
**Climate Adaptation Program Manager,
Development Workshop of Türkiye
**Alev Wieland
**President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
Biographies
Olcay Ünver, PhD
Professor of Practice, Arizona State University; Senior Water Advisor (FAO & UNESCO); Former Vice-Chair, UN-Water
Dr. Olcay Ünver is a globally recognized expert in water policy, sustainable development, and international water governance. As Professor of Practice in Environmental and Resource Management at Arizona State University’s Fulton Schools of Engineering, he works at the intersection of engineering, environmental systems, and public policy to advance sustainable water management worldwide.
Throughout his career, Dr. Ünver has held senior leadership roles across the United Nations system and global water institutions. He served as Vice-Chair of UN-Water and previously led the Food and Agriculture Organization’s global water programs, where he worked to integrate water management across agriculture, climate, and development sectors. Earlier, he directed the UNESCO Program Office on Global Water Assessment and coordinated the UN World Water Assessment Program, which produces the UN’s flagship report on global freshwater resources.
Prior to joining the United Nations, Dr. Ünver served as President of the Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration in Türkiye, helping transform a large infrastructure initiative into a broader sustainable socioeconomic development program. His work across academia, international organizations, and public institutions continues to promote cooperation, science-based policy, and sustainable water governance around the world.
**His work directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
**___________________________________
Ayşegül Kibaroğlu, PhD
Chair, Department of Political Science and International Relations, MEF University, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Kibaroglu is a leading expert in transboundary water politics, international water law, and environmental security. As Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at MEF University in Istanbul, she focuses on the intersection of water governance, diplomacy, and regional cooperation, with particular expertise in the Middle East and the Euphrates-Tigris river basin.
Throughout her career, Prof. Kibaroglu has contributed extensively to international research, policy dialogue, and academic scholarship on water diplomacy and cooperation. She has held academic and research positions at institutions including the Middle East Technical University and the University of Dundee’s International Water Law Research Institute, and has collaborated on major international projects addressing water governance, climate risk, and sustainable development.
In addition to her academic work, she has served as an advisor to the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Administration and co-founded the Euphrates-Tigris Initiative for Cooperation, bringing together stakeholders across borders to promote dialogue and shared water management. Her work continues to advance cooperation, legal frameworks, and peaceful approaches to managing shared water resources.
**Her work directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
**________________________________________
Gökçe Okulu
Climate Adaptation Program Manager, Development Workshop of Türkiye
Gökçe Okulu is the Climate Adaptation Program Manager at the Development Workshop of Türkiye (Kalkınma Atölyesi), where she leads field-based research and community programs addressing climate resilience, water scarcity, and sustainable agriculture. Her work integrates environmental science with local knowledge, empowering communities to adapt to climate change through practical and inclusive strategies.
She collaborates closely with farmers, women’s cooperatives, and youth groups to design approaches that protect ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and build long-term resilience in vulnerable regions.
**Her work directly supports SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
**______________________________________
Alev Wieland
President, Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
Alev Wieland is the President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), where she leads national efforts to strengthen community engagement, cultural connection, and youth leadership across the Turkish American diaspora. Her work focuses on building platforms that connect younger generations with global issues, civic responsibility, and opportunities for meaningful contribution.
Alev brings over three decades of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and operations across global industries. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and has held leadership roles at major organizations including Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo, where she served as Capability Director. She is also the CEO of Manufacturing Excellence Technical Services and Alev Cosmetics, with expertise in lean manufacturing, product lifecycle management, and operational excellence.
In addition to her professional career, Alev has been deeply engaged in nonprofit and community leadership for many years, serving in various roles across Turkish American organizations and international initiatives. As ATAA President, she continues to expand the organization’s impact by fostering partnerships, supporting community-driven programs, and encouraging young people to see themselves as active contributors to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
**Her work directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
**______________________________________
Project Team
Canan Özaktay
ATAA Southeast V.P. and ATAA UN Committee Member
Canan was born in Istanbul and moved to Michigan in 1969. She received her BS degree from Michigan State University in 1978 and spent most of her career through 2005 in the Automotive Industry and later moved to New Hampshire where she received her MS degree in Healthcare Management from Franklin Pierce University. In 2007 Canan moved to Florida where she received her Real Estate license in 2012 and Broker’s License 2019.
Currently she is the Broker/Owner of Epic Solutions Realty, Boca Raton FL. Canan is an enthusiastic member of the community and believes in service. While she lived in Michigan, she was a member of Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan (TACAM) and served in various positions which included the President of the organization (2004-2005).
She joined Florida Turkish American Association (FTAA) as a member in 2008 and volunteered in several committees and was the President 2022-2024 term. Canan’s memberships include Boca Raton Rotary Club where she serves in the Foundation Committee and also the Leadership Boca Class of 2023.
She is a proud new member of the ATAA UN Relations Committee. Living in Boca Raton, Fl, Canan is married to Dr. Cüneyt Özaktay. She is mother of Crystal Smith, Brandon Hampton and Levent Özaktay.
Didem Altop
General Partner, Treeo VC & Board Member, Turkish Philanthropy Funds
Didem Altop is a Turkish-American venture capitalist, ecosystem builder, and social-impact leader with over 25 years of experience advancing entrepreneurship across Türkiye and the United States. She is a General Partner at Treeo VC, a Miami-based early-stage fund investing in AI-native, B2B, immigrant-led startups entering the U.S. market. At Treeo VC, she provides capital, strategic guidance, and global network access to help founders scale with purpose and resilience.
Didem is widely recognized for spearheading the launch and expansion of Endeavor Turkey as its Founding Managing Director, catalyzing one of Türkiye’s most influential high-impact entrepreneurship movements. She later co-founded and led a venture studio in Istanbul, supporting early-stage founders and designing corporate innovation programs for companies.
Alongside her venture career, Didem has engaged deeply with nonprofit associations—often as a founder, board member, or strategic advisor—championing initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, youth development, and volunteerism across Türkiye.
As a Board Member of Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) , she supports diaspora-driven impact initiatives and hosts the monthly Voices of Partners webinar series spotlighting social innovators.
**Her work directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
**
For further inquiries, please contact Alev Wieland, ATAA President, president@ataa.org or Canan Özaktay, ATAA Southeast VP – southeastvp@ataa.org, canan.ozaktay@gmail.com, Didem Altop, hdidemaltop@gmail.com
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