Dr. Mehmet DUMAN

Dr. Mehmet Duman was born on December 4, 1955, in the Bergama district of western Izmir province, Türkiye.

He graduated from the English Department of Gazi Education Institute in Ankara in 1980. In 1989, he completed the English Program of the Faculty of Foreign Languages Education at Gazi University, earning a bachelor's degree. In 1991, Dr. Duman successfully completed the International Institute for Educational Planning and Management (IIEP) in Paris, affiliated with UNESCO.

In 1999, he graduated from the Master's program in Political and Social Sciences at the Public Administration Department of the Institute of Social Sciences of Gazi University. In 2022, he completed the Doctorate Program in Business at Istanbul Commerce University, Institute of Social Sciences, specializing in leadership.

Dr. Duman began his career in 1976 at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock. Between 1982 and 1994, he held high-ranking positions at the Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sports. During the same period, he served as the Ministry Representative on the Inspection Board and Board of Directors at the UNESCO Türkiye National Commission.

From 1994 to 2002, he worked at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) as the Director of Foreign Relations and the Head of Information Processing Department. He also represented the municipality in the Preparation and Organization Committee and Executive Committee for the Istanbul Olympic Games. During this time, Dr. Duman took on roles such as Board Membership and Vice Chairmanship in various IBB subsidiaries, including commuter ferry operator İDO Inc., AĞAÇ Inc., BELBİM Inc., İGDAŞ, BELTUR Inc., ULAŞIM Inc., İSBAK Inc., SAĞLIK Inc., İSTAÇ Inc., and ŞEHİR HATLARI Inc.

Between 2002 and 2017, he served as an Advisor to the Mayor of IBB. In 2002-2003, he acted as the Founding Secretary-General of Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality. Concurrently, he held Board Membership and Vice Chairmanship positions at BELPAŞ and AGDAŞ Inc., subsidiaries of the municipality.

From 1995 to 2022, Dr. Duman held leadership roles in various periods at the Türkiye-Turkmenistan Friendship and Solidarity Association, Local Governments Association, and the Islamic Countries Academics and Authors Union (AYBIR). Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors for the Türkiye Handball Federation and the Türkiye Taekwondo Federation from 2002 to 2010.

From 2003 to 2010, Dr. Duman served as the Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister of Türkiye. During the same period, he assumed the roles of Deputy Chief of the Prime Ministry for Social and Cultural Affairs and General Secretary of the Board for the Protection of Minors from Obscene Publications.

Since 2010, Dr. Duman has been the Chairperson of the Board of Directors at the World Academy for Local Government and Democracy (WALD). Simultaneously, he holds the position of Secretary-General at the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA).

With many years of experience in senior government positions, Dr. Duman continues to implement numerous joint venture projects in collaboration with WALD, UCLG-MEWA, and local governments.

Proficient in English, he has been actively engaged in professional life for 47 years.