Ms. Zeynep Dereli, Director, Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum
 
Ms. Zeynep Dereli is the Director of the Atlantic Council's Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum and also the director of its new office in Istanbul, Turkey. She hosts a weekly television program on the NTV network called "Leaders and Decisions.” Ms. Dereli has most recently served as the founding Executive Director of an Istanbul think tank, the Turkish Policy Forum. Ms. Dereli is a founding member of Glow Communications firm based in Istanbul, which specializes in ethical marketing. Before founding GLOW, she started her own social responsibility project DRUM (Dialogues, Respect, and Understanding through Music). From 2002-2005 she worked with the derivatives trading desk, risk analysis desk, research and regulatory compliance teams of Shell Trading and Shipping Company in London. After returning to Turkey, her native country, Ms. Dereli took on the roles of financial analyst and supply analyst in the Shell Company of Turkey. Prior to this role she was with the M&A division of Dundas & Unlu Company in Istanbul.
 
Ms. Dereli entered into politics after being elected as board member of Sisli Municipality in March 2009 and served as the adviser to the Tourism and Culture Minister during March 2009 and September 2009. Other projects in which Ms. Dereli is involved include TEDMER (Turkish Ethical Values Foundation), where she serves as vice president and also Endeavor Turkey, in which she is a founding member. She received her M.A. in Development Economics from SOAS University of London and a BA with a Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies from Princeton University, NJ.