People
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Ozcan Keles, Executive Director
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Ilknur Kahraman, Co-Director
Ilknur has been an active volunteer within the Turkish speaking community for the past 10 years. Between 1998 and 2000 she worked for an educational trust, mentoring and providing learning support to secondary school children. In 2002, she was a founding member of a women’s association; a charity focusing on the needs of women, as well as mentoring Muslim girls. At present she is involved with the same charity in an advisory capacity. Since 2004 she has been actively involved in interfaith dialogue with a number of churches and inter-faith organisations, appearing as a guest speaker on behalf of the Dialogue Society.
Ilknur, a graduate from Metropolitan University in 1997 with a BA in International Business and Human Resources Management, was born and raised in London, is married and mother to two boys.
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Dr Cem Erbil, Academic Coordinator
Cem is a graduate of Marmara University, Istanbul, (BA, International Relations). He undertook MA courses at the European Community Institute of the same university. He obtained his MA degree from the Diplomatic Academy of London, University of Westminster, before receiving his PhD degree in Mediterranean Studies from King's College London, University of London. He is the Academic Coordinator at the Dialogue Society.
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After spending a year living and working with adults with learning disabilities in an ecumenical L'Arche community in France, Frances studied Philosophy and Theology at Oxford University. Her BA was focused on Christian Theology but she became increasingly interested in understanding other religions and in the relationships between different faiths and faith communities. She went on to a Masters degree in the Study of Religions at Oxford, opting for papers on Islam and Judaism. After finishing the degree in October 2009 she started volunteering at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Her interests include poetry and playing the classical guitar. Frances joined the Dialogue Society in February 2010 as a part-time intern and is currently working on the DIY Dialogue Manuals.
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Amir has a Diploma of Higher Education in Law with Business from Brighton University and is currently completing an LLB degree at Kingston University. He undertook a political science course in 2008 at the University of Detroit where he also took part in organising many intercultural events for the American Balkan community. Amir speaks four languages and is now learning to speak Chinese. His interests include digital photography, cycling, playing squash, cooking and travelling. Amir joined the Dialogue Society as a part-time intern in January 2010 with responsibilities including the Dialogue School and support for Dialogue Society's newly emerging branches.
Ozcan, a non-practising Barrister and member of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, is a full-time Doctoral Candidate in Human Rights Law at the Human Rights Centre of the University of Essex, where he holds the Scholarship Award of 2006. He was called to the Bar in 2005 after successfully completing the Bar course at the Inns of Court School of Law. He obtained his LLM in Human Rights Law from SOAS, University of London, in 2002. Ozcan’s research interests include: international human rights law, freedom of belief and religion, the European Court of Human Rights, Muslims in Europe and faith-based movements.
Ozcan has been an active volunteer for a number of different charities since 1997. He has founded and coordinated new charities and projects whilst also volunteering for ongoing initiatives and programmes. Born and raised in London, Ozcan is married and has two sons.