Dilek “Dee” Ertukel

Dilek “Dee” Ertukel is NDI’s resident director in Turkey. She brings to this post more than 25 years of experience with advancing women in politics, human rights and democracy. As a consultant and expert trainer for the Institute since 1998, Dilek has worked with women candidates and civic organizations in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Georgia, Macedonia and Turkey, and with young political leaders in countries throughout Eurasia. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, communications, fundraising, and constituent outreach.

Dilek has made important contributions to expanding women’s political power in the United States as well—through her work in the 1986 campaign of Nancy Pelosi, now Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the campaigns of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in 1992 and 1994. As director of development and senior advisor to Emily’s List from 1993 to 1998, she played a key role in the building one of America’s most power political organizations and electing more than 15 women to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Dilek’s career also includes positions with Amnesty International USA, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Democratic National Committee, former U.S. Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley and the American Medical Association.

Dilek earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.