Safak Handan Karakulak
Trade Expert
Coldean Brighton
Summary
Trade specialist with experience working for the Ministry of Trade in Turkiye. Fluent in English and Turkish. Currently studying for LLM in International Law at the University of Sussex as a Jean Monnet Scholar 2022-23, focusing on a wide range of topics including co-operatives, legal counselling, and international issues. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
13
13
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Certifications
2
2
Language
Work History
Senior Trade Expert
The Ministry of Trade
Ankara
02.2019 - Current
- Supervising the auditing process of cooperatives by evaluating of complaint petitions, related litigation proceedings
- Ensuring the official flow for the follow-up of litigation related to cooperatives
- Drafting, amending and implementing regulations related to cooperatives including legal documentation and giving legal opinion and guidance
- Doing procedural and administrative support to department
Trade Expert
The Ministry of Trade
Ankara
02.2012 - 02.2019
- Run drafting, amending and implementing regulations related to cooperatives and giving legal opinion and guidance
- Carried out preparing sample cooperative contracts, product bundling and reporting, issuing official permission for the modification of cooperative contracts, issuing permission to the foundation of cooperatives
- Executed researches, gathering information, conducting field surveys and producing sector or product-based reports about subjects related to Cooperatives
- Prepared and issued the country reports on the products produced by agricultural cooperatives
- Gave sector-specific presentations about legal regulations and Run induction workshops for the Executors and directors
- Coordinated or took part in projects related to cooperatives
- Organized events or took active roles in national and international organizations
- National and international travel in the field, interviewing members, executors and directors of cooperatives
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade
01.2018 - 08.2018
- Under the project of “the Registration, Protection and Marketing of Geographically Indicated Products through Cooperatives in Turkey”, defined the problems that producers challenge and the goals and objectives of the project, determined what to deliver to producers and members of cooperatives by work with key stakeholders to determine expectations, determined Black Sea Region as the pilot study area and set the outline, date of meetings and deadlines for output
- Worked as a member of the establishment and execution committee related to the protocol with the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA) about the project called the Registration, Protection and Marketing of Geographically Indicated Products through Cooperatives in Turkey
- Worked as presenter and participant as the ministry representative in meetings to identify the gains of the producer cooperatives that have registered the Geographical Indications (GIs), the problems and solutions
- In Ankara, Trabzon, Rize and raised awareness of GIs’ contribution to marketing their products both in internal and external markets
- Displayed strong leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively manage six members of the team.
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade
01.2017 - 08.2018
- Under the project of “ The Potential Of Cooperatives in Agriculture Market” (awarded by The Deputy Minister.) carried out a high-responsibility task as an co-coordinator of senior meeting( involving the participation of the Finance Minister and Trade Minister) called “Measures for Increasing the Efficiency of Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Unions” and 10th and 11th traditional meeting about Turkish Agricultural Sales Cooperatives
- Took notes for what legal amendments we need to make, attending debates and activities
- Wrote lucid, well-structured reports, accurately, under pressure and to the deadline
- Displayed strong leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively manage ten members of the team.
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade, School
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Under the project of “The Potential of Cooperatives & The Role of Waste Pickers in The Recycling Sector”, organized an International Workshop in cooperation with the ILO in Ankara
- Provided all kind of support in the organisation, worked in a multilingual environment, providing translation services
- Took notes for what legal amendments we need to make, attending debates and activities
- Involved in Social Cooperatives International, In Naples, Italy to be informed so that the citizens of our country can also benefit from the experience of social cooperatives.
Education
LLM - International Law
University of Sussex
09.2022 - 05.2023
MA - Latin American Studies
Ankara University
02.2013 - 05.2020
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Hacettepe University
Ankara, Turkey 09.2004 - 06.2009
Skills
( IELTS score 6,5, minimum 65 in each component, date in June 2021)Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
MS Office
Organization and Time Management
Teamwork and Collaboration
Cultural Awareness
Self-Motivated
Attention to Detail
Teambuilding
Multitasking Abilities
Google Workspace
Problem-Solving
Clerical Support
Critical Thinking
Written Communication
Certification
Certificated Project Preparation Education by Ministry of EU Affairs of Turkiye (2013)
Timeline
LLM - International Law
University of Sussex
09.2022 - 05.2023
Senior Trade Expert
The Ministry of Trade
02.2019 - Current
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade
01.2018 - 08.2018
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade
01.2017 - 08.2018
Project Co-coordinator
Ministry of Customs and Trade, School
01.2016 - 12.2017
MA - Latin American Studies
Ankara University
02.2013 - 05.2020
Trade Expert
The Ministry of Trade
02.2012 - 02.2019
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Hacettepe University
09.2004 - 06.2009