Elena Grammenou, Conference Chair
– District 109 Programme Quality Director
Elena Grammenou is a strategy & marketing consultant with strong experience across marketing, communications, strategy, project management, property management and audit. Elena is an Economist and holds a Postgraduate Degree in Marketing, an MBA and an MSc in Banking. She has served in NGO’s more than 25 years and loves to contribute her time and skills to good causes. Elena loves hiking/trekking in nature and meeting people and experiencing new cultures. She is a proud Toastmaster, enjoys every moment of it and promotes Toastmasters, at any chance.
Christoph Aublinger, Conference Project Manager
Christoph has been a Toastmaster since 2016. He has been a member of both corporate and community clubs, and served in leadership roles in both types of clubs. Additionally, Christoph served twice as Area Director in E1. Currently, as Division Director E, he is responsible for 20 clubs in and around Zurich.
An engineer by training, Christoph early on discovered the importance of clear communications. He loves meeting new people and travelling to exciting places through Toastmasters.
Meltem Sahin, Conference Communications Chair
Since 2022, she has been a dedicated member of Bosphorus Toastmasters. In the 2022-2023 term, she served as Vice President of Education. She supported the newly chartered Anatolia Toastmasters Club as a Sponsor in 2022-2023. She supported Toastmasters Turkey Official’s social media accounts between 2022 and 2023.
Currently, she serves as the 2023-2024 President of Bosphorus Toastmasters fostering a culture of continuous learning and aiming to contribute to the club’s growth. Also, she is in the PR team of District 109 Conference 2024, in charge of social media posts. She is passionate about learning and supporting others’ growth.
Meltem Altinay, DTM, Conference Hospitality Chair
Since 2014, she’s been an active Toastmasters member, now leading Anatolia Toastmasters as President and contributing significantly to the District 109 Conference Team as Hospitality Chair.
Beyond Anatolia, she’s actively engaged with Bosphorus Toastmasters and Anadolu Toastmasters. In the 2022-23 term, she takes on diverse roles, including Anadolu Toastmasters President, Anatolia Toastmasters Club Sponsor and Mentor, Speechcraft and Youth Leadership Coordinator, and D109 Administration Manager. Previous roles include Division H Director (2021-22), Area Director H2 (2020-21), and leadership positions at Bosphorus Toastmasters. Her Toastmasters journey reflects a passion for inspiring stories, making her a valuable asset to the community.
Harry Loots, DTM, Conference Web Manager
Harry is a past Lecturer, Software Design Engineer, and current Author, Coach, Mountain leader, Rock climber and Toastmaster. A DTM, and ATM-Gold since 1989, Harry has served as Club President, Area and Division Governor (Director), District Secretary and District Newsletter Editor, for which he was awarded the District 74 ICSA Administrator’s Trophy. He helped to start four new clubs in South Africa, and was named Toastmaster of the Year in 1989. He is a member of Zuriberg Toastmasters. Harry has written a book about his climbs on Africa’s highest mountains. His blog (https://mountain-paths.com) records some of his adventures in the mountains.
Tarek Desir, District PR Manager
He has embarked on a long and fruitful journey with Toastmasters, where he has honed his public speaking skills and taken on numerous leadership roles. He has served his club in various capacities, from Club Secretary to Sergeant of Arms, and has also held the prestigious positions of Vice President of Public Relations, President of the Club, and Public Relations Manager for District 109. Despite the challenges that come with the role of PRM, he has found great joy in working with the amazing Toastmasters in District 109. Tarek’s journey has taken him from Miami to Athens, where he now works as an Electrical Engineer in a Multinational construction company. He looks forward to continuing this journey, attending future conferences, and exploring new possibilities that lie ahead.
Margherita Brodbeck Roth, DTM, District Director
Margherita Brodbeck Roth, DTM holds an MSc UZH in geography, political sciences, and history and an MBA. She currently works as a data quality program manager and is fluent in five languages.
Margherita has been a Toastmasters member since 2016. She currently serves as the District 109 Director, has served as District 109 Program Quality Director, Area Director, Club President, VP Education, VP Membership, VP Public Relations, Secretary and Sergeant at Arms, and as a mentor, club sponsor, and trainer. She loves travelling around the world virtually and, time permitting, in person to experience the many vibrant and diverse Toastmasters communities.
Karina Castella CC, CL, DL4 CV3, District 109 Chief Judge
Karina Castella joined Toastmasters Toronto in 2012. It was the point of no return for overcoming her terrible fear of public speaking. She continued with Bryant Park Toastmasters in New York, where she is still an active member. Upon her return to Zurich, she joined the Zuriberg Toastmasters Club. Over the years, she has served in a variety of roles, including club officer, area director, division director and, most recently, chief judge for District 109. Karina’s professional expertise lies in leading large interdisciplinary teams on highly complex real estate development projects, creating financial models and dealing with demanding regulatory requirements and multiple stakeholders.
Nurbanu Şahan, Conference Social Activities Chair
Nurbanu is an industrial engineer. She holds a master’s degree in management engineering. She is a planning and digital transformation chief who coordinates different functions. During and after her undergraduate education, she worked in many clubs, associations and non-governmental organizations nationally and internationally. Nurbanu became a member of Toastmaster in 2020. She has held various roles in Bosphorus Toastmasters, and now serves as an Area Director. She has an enthusiasm to learn and explore new things and places to expand her knowledge continuously.
Sara Banu Akkaş, Conference Registration Chair
Banu has been a Toastmasters member since February 2019. Her favourite Toastmasters anecdote is her election as president 5 months into her membership. Banu can do things in an unconventional order, as she started her club officer journey as president first, and then secretary and sergeant at arms and nowadays, area director. But in any role, it just feels so right and exciting to give back to something that fills a void in her self-care and personal-development routine!
Mario Plasencia, CC, CL, ALB, VC5, LD5, PM2, Conference Contest Chair
Mario’s Toastmasters journey started in 2009 and includes membership in Bern, EPFL Lausanne and Lakeshore Speakers, Neuchatel, Switzerland. He has served as Club President twice and multiple times as Secretary, Treasurer, and SAA. Mario helped start Lakeshore Speakers, and was a sponsor for Proctor & Gamble Club Geneva. He is currently a mentor for a new club. Mario has served as Area and Division Director. He was Contest Chair for the International Speech Contest at the 2023 D109 Conference. Currently, he is the D109 2024 Contest Chair providing district contest training and will help organise all contests at the D109 Conference in Istanbul. His professional expertise is in design, development, and delivery of industrial power ultrasonic systems.
Nigel Thew, Conference Planning Chair
Since 2017 Nigel has embraced the philosophy and practice of Toastmasters with great enthusiasm. A series of Club Officer roles at Lakeshore Speakers Neuchâtel has culminated in the role of Director of Division D in western Switzerland. Being able to lead, motivate and share ideas with a team of dedicated District Officers has been an enormous privilege and pleasure. Fostering an encouraging and positive attitude has made collaboration easier and more enjoyable.
As an archaeologist, the past has always been a passion, in addition to culture in all its forms, so Istanbul is a treasure trove of potential discoveries.
Other interests include nature, good food, travelling and meeting new people.
Neslihan Özer, Conference Social Activities Team
Neslihan has been a Toastmaster member since 2021. So far, she served as an executive committee member at the Personal Leadership Corporate Summit and assisted with the Youth Leadership Program. She was an executive member at Bosphorus Toastmasters. She is currently the president of Anadolu Toastmasters and the director of the H3 Area. Neslihan has been registered with the Istanbul Bar Association since 2012. She worked in many areas, including performing as a volunteer lawyer in a non-governmental organization working on women’s rights. She currently provides litigation and consultancy services in the maritime industry. Neslihan’s duty for the Thistanbul team is to carry out the role of Social Chair.
Godela Bittcher, Conference Volunteers Chair
Since 2015 in Toastmasters, she has learned and enjoyed a lot. The different officer roles in the clubs and areas have motivated her to take the responsible and challenging role of Director of Division C in Switzerland. To motivate people, help them grow and see their personal development is her pleasure and her satisfaction.
As a teacher and scientist she has genuine interest in understanding people and their different personalities. She likes connecting with people and feeling the satisfaction of working together to reach a common goal.
She loves music, hiking, reading and learning languages, like a bit of Turkish for Istanbul!
Deniz Senelt Kalelioglu, DTM, Conference Networking Chair
Deniz holds an MA in Cognitive Psychology, pursuing her PhD in I/O psychology. She owns Proakademi Consulting and believes in life-long learning. She has been an active member since 2007, enjoying the camaraderie in Toastmasters. Deniz led the first phase of the translation project to Turkish in 2010, and the foundation of multilingual and Turkish clubs, among others, including the first club in Istanbul. She has served multiple times as president, secretary, VP, SAA, Club coach, mentor, sponsor, trainer, that led to receiving the Presidential Citation from Toastmasters International. Having been to 90 countries, Deniz enjoys travelling and diversity, she loves her daughter Denise Zeyno and her Toastmasters fellows.
Alexia Fortez – Conference Education Chair
Alexia, a dynamic persona with extensive corporate experience, merges artistic prowess with strategic expertise. As a passionate Toastmaster, she has refined her public speaking skills to lead and motivate effectively. Alexia proudly introduces “Bring Your A.S.H.A.: Authentic Self – Holistic Approach” Workshop: a unique Team Building designed to empower and inspire. Bring your A.S.H.A. Workshop offers a positive approach to enhance workplace culture by integrating the principles of authenticity and holistic well-being.