Dilek Taşdemir-Kalkan is a cultural advisor and community organizer based in Amsterdam, whose work focuses on building sustainable cultural connections across Europe and Asia.

Born in Istanbul and raised in the Netherlands, she represents a multicultural background shaped by Turkish, Kazakh, and Dutch heritage. As a descendant of Kazakh migrants who relocated to Turkey in 1952, her personal history informs her long-term commitment to cultural preservation, intercultural dialogue, and community development.

Dilek has extensive experience in grassroots cultural initiatives and community-based platforms. For more than a decade, she has been actively involved as an administrator of “Amsterdam Anneleri” (Mothers of Amsterdam), supporting women through community building, information exchange, and social engagement.

She collaborates with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Netherlands and works with diplomatic, cultural, and civil society institutions on the organization of cultural and commemorative events, including Nowruz celebrations, national remembrance initiatives, and cultural screenings. Her work contributes to strengthening cultural visibility, representation, and mutual understanding within multicultural societies.

Dilek also serves as a volunteer with the Dutch National 4 & 5 May Committee (4&5 mei comité), supporting national remembrance and Liberation Day activities in the Netherlands, and acts as a Turkic World Advisor at Yunus Emre Institute Amsterdam, promoting Turkic cultural heritage and cross-cultural cooperation.

Within the framework of the Council, Dilek Taşdemir-Kalkan focuses on fostering intercultural networks, supporting cultural diplomacy initiatives, and promoting traditional crafts and cultural design as contemporary, living practices connecting regions and communities across Eurasia.