Dr. Ayşegül Selışık has been serving as the Assistant FAO Representativein Türkiye since 2009, bringing over 30 years of experience in agricultural economics, rural development, and international cooperation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering with a focus on Dairy Technology from Ankara University, as well asMaster’s degrees in Food Technology and Marketing and ProductManagement from Cumhuriyet University and Cranfield University, respectively. She also earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics fromAnkara University.

With a strong background in sustainable agriculture and food systems, she has played a pivotal role in shaping Türkiye’s policy frameworks, including the FAO Country Programming Framework and the UnitedNations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. Before joining FAO, she worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralAffairs, coordinating Türkiye’s EU accession processes in agriculture and spearheading rural development projects.

As a passionate advocate for sustainability, Selışık has led numerousinitiatives under the FAO-Türkiye Partnership Programmes (FTPP andFTFP), focusing on empowering rural communities and streng theninfood systems across Central Asia. Her efforts emphasize the importanceof multi-stakeholder collaboration and the inclusion of women led cooperatives in achieving resilience and sustainability in agriculture.Fluent in English, she also shares her expertise as a visiting lecturer, contributing to the education of future leaders in food security andrural development.