2024-2026 EXECUTIVE BOARD
Arranged alphabetically according to surnames
Osman BALCIGÄ°L (WB4 ) President of Gilwell Academy
He was born in Istanbul in 1955. He studied economics. His profession is journalism, television and writing.
Balcıgil started scouting as a candidate scout at the age of 12 in the Teachers Union Scout Tribe.
He served for many years as Obababaşı, Deputy Oymakbaşı, Başkurt, Oymakbaşı and Ocakbaşı. He took part in many national camps and courses. When the Turkish Scouts Union (TİB), founded in 1955, was closed down by the 1980 Coup, he was on the board of directors of this institution.
He took part in the Turkish Scouting Federation (TÄ°F) in the late 90s. He served as the Chairman of the Media and Communications Commission of the Turkish Scouting Federation. He represented Turkey in Europe.
Then, as in many areas, a difficult period began in Scouting. Thereupon, he was involved in the establishment of the Scouting Volunteers Association. He served as the Second President.
Balcıgil tirelessly tried to explain the problems of Scouting to both the authorities of our own country and the managers of WOSM (World Organization Scout Movement).
When there was no possibility of success, he made and continues to make efforts to develop and spread the new TIB (Thrace Scouts Union Federation), which was established to provide "fresh blood" to Turkish Scouting.
Balcıgil, who continues actively in scouting, is a World Central Board Member of the World Organization Independent Scouts (WOIS) and the European Regional Manager of the same organization.
Osman Balcıgil is the General Assembly Delegate of the Anatolian Scouting Federation, Board Member of the Gilwell Association and President of the Gilwell Academy.
Pervin BILA (WB3) Media, Social Media, Communication
He was born in 1981 in Erzurum/Aşkale. He completed his primary, secondary, high school and university education in Balıkesir. He worked as a classroom teacher in Balıkesir, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır and Istanbul (still working).
He started scouting within the Turkish Scouting Federation in Şanlıurfa in 2006. He took part in the international camp. After taking a break for a while, he settled in Istanbul and continued his work where he left off. I completed Oymakbaşı and Wood Badge training in 2019. He took Search and Rescue training and took part in disasters. He served in the Education Board within the Anatolian Scouting Federation.
Gilwell serves on the Executive Board of the Türkiye Association.
Cengiz ÇEKDEMİR (WB4) Gilwell Turkey President, Chief Executive
He was born on September 18, 1948 in Balıkesir.
He completed his primary and secondary education in Balıkesir.
He graduated from the French department of Ankara GEE in 1970.
He attended 1980 LTK, 1980 OYMAKBAÅžI, 1982 OCAKBAÅžI branch courses.
He attended 2 TAHTA courses in 1985 and 3 TAHTA courses in 1989.
He took 4 TAHTA by leading the first 3 TAHTA courses opened by WOIS in Turkey.
He took part in branch courses opened by MEB OBESİD on different dates, camp managers seminars, and EE Scout walks in the Footsteps of Atatürk.
He is currently a member of the Anatolian Scouting Federation.
Member of the Board of Directors of Gilwell Türkiye Association.
Sibel ERDEM (WB3) Songs and Games Responsible
I was born in Gaziantep on 03/04/1977.
I was introduced to scouting thanks to my husband Ahmet Ä°lkay Erdem (WB4).
I studied at Gaziantep University "TURKISH MUSIC STATE CONSERVATORY TURKISH FOLK DANCES" department. I have been actively involved in Scouting since 2004. As a family, we are among those who love scouting.
I have been an active Scout leader since 2015.
Ayhan GÜLTAÅž (WB4) Gilwell Net Manager
Retired manager, writer, national scout leader and educator was born on July 2, 1949 in Istanbul.
He started scouting as a cub in primary school in 1960.
Between 1965 and 1968, while he was a student at Vefa High School, he joined the 2nd group of TIB / Turkish Scouts Union Fatih.
While his scouting studies were continuing, he first became a scout leader by attending the Obabaşı course opened under the leadership of Kamil Özkurt, the assistant oymakbaşı course opened in Beykoz AbrahampaÅŸa grove in the same year, and in 1969 by attending the oymakbaşı course led by Nejat CansızoÄŸlu.
Over the years, he served as a fireside leader, group leader, then scout leader, cub leader and Istanbul provincial representative at TIB.
GültaÅŸ, who took part in camps and courses opened within the MEB scouting branch, TÄ°B and TÄ°F, was awarded with two boards in Izmir Buca in 1971, three boards in 1978, and 4 boards in 2023 by AÄ°F.
As a researcher writer, Ayhan GültaÅŸ has 12 books on Istanbul and Byzantine history and 3 books on Scouting.
He is still an active member of the board of directors of the GültaÅŸ Gilwell Association, which trains scouts in Fethiye.
Bora KASAPOÄžLU (WB3) Gilwell Editorial Board Member
He was born in Ankara in 1980. He studied Labor Economics. His profession is sales management in the healthcare industry.
KasapoÄŸlu started scouting as a candidate scout at the age of 12 in the Çankaya Scout Group Sincap Boy Scout Tribe. He completed the Obabaşı Course at the age of 13 and became Obabaşı.
He completed the Leadership Basic Course in Ankara within the scope of MEB OBESÄ°D in 1997, the Oymakbaşı Branch Course in Manisa KırkaÄŸaç in 1999, and the Two Wooden Sign Course in 2008. In 2022, he completed Gilwell Academy's 3 Wooden Sign Course.
He served as Deputy Chief and Chief of Oymakbaşı in the Çankaya Scout Group Sansar Scout Tribe. Namık Kemal served as Chief Oymak in the revival of the Scout Group in 2000. He was the group leader of this group for 2 years.
He took part in MEB OBEID's seminars, courses and camps to carry out Amateur Radio and Orienteering Sports within scouting.
Ayfer KOÇ (WB3) Media, Social Media, Communication
He was born in Afyonkarahisar in 1974. His life and education; It continued in Edirne, Izmir and Istanbul. He graduated from Brand Communication and Cultural Tourism and Heritage departments. After continuing her working life in corporate companies, she runs her own business as an advanced entrepreneurial woman. He lived in Istanbul between 1977 and 2020, and settled in Yalova after 2020.
He participated in voluntary scouting activities with Beylikdüzü Scouting and Nature Sports Club (BİDOSK), which was established in 2014, and his sons were introduced to scouting. With the recommendation of the club managers, he completed his Oymakbaşı leader training in 2015, and his WB2 training in 2017 by writing and implementing the thesis "Recycling waste materials found in nature and carrying out artistic activities in scouting".
He has run Şehit Bilal Özcan Junior Scout Unit, Yakamoz Junior Scout Unit (founder), Bizimkent Junior Scout Unit (founder), Birey Ali Kuşçu Scout Tribe (founder), Birey Atilla HanGezgin Scout Corps (founder) and Yeşilkent Junior Scout Units for many winters and summers. He made camps.
He served as the Chairman of the BİDOSK Board of Directors between 2019 and 2023, and continues his duty as vice chairman due to the change of city. He planned and organized many mother-child and father-child camps in cooperation with Beylikdüzü Municipality. He still continues to do it.
He continues to serve actively in the Education Board within the Anatolian Scouting Federation. Gilwell serves on the Media, Social Media and Communications Board of the Turkish Association.
Mehmet Murat TAHTALI (WB4) General Secretary
Engineer, Occupational Safety Specialist He was born on December 7, 1970 in Ankara.
He started his scouting career in 1982 at the age of 12 in the Kocatepe Scout Group. He continued his work in the Youth Scout Group in 1986 and was among the founders of the Boran Scout Group in 1991.
He is still a member of this group.
He received the LTK (Leadership Basic Course) certificate in 1988, the Oymakbaşı certificate in 1989, the Wood Badge certificate in 1992, the LEY (Assistant Leader Educator) (WB3) certificate in 2011, and the duty (WB4) certificate in 2022.
He has served in various positions in many camps and organizations since the beginning of his leadership years, and started his educator leadership process with Wood Badge. After taking active roles in the Press and Publication Board, Technical Board, Program Board, Education Board and R&D Board within TÄ°F, he joined Gillwell in 2021. He was among the founders of the association. He has been an instructor in 3 board courses held in 2022 and currently serves as the Secretary of the Gilwell Association.
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Yazgülü TUNAR (WB3) Media, Social Media, Communication
He was born in Lüleburgaz. He graduated from Trakya University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Economics in 2013.
He was introduced to amateur theater at the age of 15 and did not give up on this branch, which would become a part of the development of his career. He has worked as an actor, presenter and director.
He took part in many non-governmental projects, and was introduced to camping and nature sports in the project (Kıyıköy Youth Camp) in 2013, and included them in his hobbies.
He received Creative Drama Leadership training in 2016 and wrote his thesis "Basic Scouting Education with Creative Drama" in 2017.
Starting camping projects with Lüleburgaz Municipality led him to become acquainted with scouting. He received Oymakbaşı training in 2015, and founded the Koza Little Scout Cluster in 2016 and the Pegasus Scout Clan in 2018.
He has been working as a professional Creative Drama instructor since 2016.
He works for leader training at Gilwell Academy, a member and subsidiary of the Gilwell Association.
Hamdi TÜRÜDÜ (WB4) Chairman of the Gilwell Editorial Board
He was born in Ankara in 1961. He completed his education in Ankara.
He was introduced to scouting activities as Yavrukurt during his primary school years.
He became a Boy Scout during his secondary school years. In the following years, he continued his scouting life as a scout, leader and leader trainer.
He attended LTK branch courses in 1983, Oymakbaşı branch courses in 1985, and Ocakbaşı branch courses in 1987.
He attended WB 2 in 1992, WB 3 in 2001, and WB 4 in 2011.
He served as Ankara Eagle Scout Leader.
He served as a member and president of commissions within TÄ°F.
He took part in courses and camps within TÄ°F.
Gilwell directed Turkey's 3 Board Training.
Gilwell is the Chairman of the Türkiye Editorial Board.
