Board of Directors

Yiğit Taşyumruk was born in Istanbul in 2002. He graduated from Eyüboğlu College and earned his bachelor’s degree in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts from Özyeğin University. In 2017, he spearheaded the founding of 10’larla Onlar İçin, now one of the association’s projects, and managed it until it became part of Cana Yakın Association. He also played an active role in the Comenius Recycling Project held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 2014–2015 and in the Values Equality and Peer Solidarity Project supported by TÜBİTAK in 2018–2019. Taşyumruk is the association’s founding President. He serves as Chair of the Board at Değirmen Pastaneleri, Our Space Ajans and Altara Global Gayrimenkul ve İnşaat A.Ş.; as a Board Member at Cintaş Sigorta Aracılık Hiz. Ltd. Şti.; and as an adviser to the Akıncı Disaster Coordination Platform. He speaks English at an advanced level.

Zehra Yılmaz was born in Istanbul in 2003. After graduating from Eyüboğlu College, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Energy Systems Engineering at Bahçeşehir University. Throughout her education, she took active roles in numerous social responsibility initiatives and projects. She has contributed to 10’larla Onlar İçin since 2017 and currently serves as Deputy President of Cana Yakın Association. She has also gained professional experience in various roles at companies including Foks Kablo A.Ş., DBE Energy and Ağaoğlu Energy. Experienced in project management, business development and coordination, Yılmaz speaks advanced English and intermediate Spanish.

Eda Aksoy was born in Istanbul in 2003. After graduating from Uğur Schools, she completed an associate degree in Interior Design at Istanbul Bilgi University. She joined the association as a volunteer in 2021 and was elected to the Audit Board in December of the same year. She became Chair of the Audit Board in 2022 and was elected Vice President at the General Assembly held in December 2024. Aksoy continues to serve in this role and also contributes to the 10’larla Onlar İçin project. From 2009 to 2011, she volunteered with the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Türkiye. She speaks English.

Deniz Sekmen was born in Istanbul in 2003. After graduating from Bilfen College, he began his bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering at Yeditepe University, where he continues his studies. During university, he has developed projects in software engineering, artificial intelligence, mobile application development and database systems. Alongside his academic work, he has pursued ventures in mobile software, consulting, e-commerce and social media content creation, while researching technology, innovation and AI-based solutions. Having previously served as Treasurer, Sekmen was elected Vice President at the association’s 2021 Ordinary General Assembly. He speaks English at an advanced level.

Adile İpek Yılmaz was born in Istanbul in 2003. After graduating from Doğa College, she continued her education in the International Business and Trade bachelor’s program at Özyeğin University. She served on the association’s Audit Board from 2022 to 2024 and has held the position of Secretary General since December 2024. In 2023, she studied Russian at Minsk State Linguistic University. She speaks four languages.

Arda Emin Çimen was born in Istanbul in August 2002. After graduating from Özden Cengiz Anatolian High School, he completed a fully funded bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering at Fenerbahçe University’s Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, graduating in 2024. Active in social responsibility projects throughout his education, he joined the governance of Cana Yakın Association as an alternate member in 2022 and currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member. His professional experience includes full-stack development in corporate organizations, an artificial intelligence internship in the defense industry, mobile application development and work as a professional developer for a UK-based independent development company. He currently leads mobile application development at a prominent company in the electronic components sector. He has built mobile applications using React Native, Swift and AI-supported technologies and has led projects released on the App Store. Experienced in project management, software development and AI-based mobile solutions, Çimen speaks English at an advanced level.

Yüksel Doruk Kandeğer was born in Istanbul in 2001. After graduating from Atacan College, he continued his studies in English Language and Literature at Istanbul Bilgi University. He has served as a Board Member of the association since 2021. He speaks English at an advanced level.

Bora Kocababuç was born in Istanbul in 2002. After graduating from Nakkaştepe Bahçeşehir Science and Technology High School, he graduated on a full scholarship from Istanbul Bilgi University’s Law Program while also completing a double major in Economics and Finance. During his university years, he served as a founding board member of Istanbul Bilgi University’s Information Technology Law Club (BilgiLawTech). Kocababuç has served as a Board Member of our association since 2024 and speaks English at an advanced level.

Nazlı Nalbantoğlu was born in Istanbul in 2002. After graduating from Eyüboğlu College, she completed with honors both the English-taught Interior Architecture and Environmental Design bachelor’s program and a minor in Architecture at Özyeğin University’s Faculty of Architecture. She volunteered with 10’larla Onlar İçin in 2017. During university, she worked on a hotel renovation project conducted jointly by Dedeman Hotels and Özyeğin University, participated in the Özyeğin Social Umbrella Club and earned a KOSGEB entrepreneurship certificate in 2024. She completed internships at TAV Holding and Murat Cengiz Architects. She currently works as an interior architect and sales specialist at House of Icons within Eroğlu Global Holding and runs her own interior design platform, NN Interiors. Nalbantoğlu continues to serve as a Board Member. She speaks advanced English and beginner-level Spanish.

Şekip Efe Demircan was born in Istanbul in 2001. After graduating from Eyüboğlu College, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Özyeğin University Faculty of Law. Since 2017, he has volunteered with the association’s 10’larla Onlar İçin project. In 2023–2024, he completed Özyeğin University’s certificate program on Current Issues in Private Law. Demircan continues to serve as a Board Member and is completing his legal traineeship at Bilim Law Office. He speaks English at an advanced level.