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.

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.

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 Director at the Dialogue Society.

After attaining a first Class BA Honours degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster, Havva commenced her writing career in the freelance industry whilst also working full time for a PR, Marketing and Advertising agency. Her work focused on designing and delivering successful campaigns to fit business needs whilst also strategising projects to appeal to the media and wider audiences. With a constant search for new and exciting ways to build a healthy rapport with the public fused with a fascination for the vast opportunities provided by new digital technologies, Havva has developed social media projects for national and global brands.

Her underlying interests in multiculturalism, community cohesion and engagement lead Havva to the Dialogue Society where she aspires to present positive media stories concerning intercultural dialogue. Havva’s thoughts on culture, religion and humanity are often effused into her poetical writing more commonly known in her columns placed in a weekly London-centric Turkish newspaper.

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. Since June 2010 she is a full-time member of staff and is currently working on a range of Dialogue Society projects.