Elif Nuhoğlu

Where international relations meet the open road

I completed my education primarily within the French education system, graduating from Saint Benoît French High School. In 2020, I earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Galatasaray University, one of Türkiye’s most prestigious universities, and subsequently obtained a master’s degree in "Geopolitics, Resources and Territory" from King's College London, with a focus on international relations.

Immediately after completing my master’s degree, I undertook a three-month internship at the TÜSİAD EU Brussels Representative Office, where I gained valuable practical and theoretical insights into the operations of European institutions.

Upon my return to Istanbul, I joined the International Transporters’ Association of Türkiye (UND), an opportunity facilitated by Çetin Nuhoğlu, President of the Board of Directors of Tırsan Treyler.

I have been working at UND for two years. I currently hold the position of European Union and International Relations Unit Manager. I also serve as the inaugural Chair of the UND Women Working Group.

I am actively engaged in a range of lobbying and advocacy initiatives in Brussels, representing the interests of companies within our sector before EU institutions. Through this process, I have developed strong expertise in EU–Türkiye relations, particularly within the transport sector. My focus lies in advancing regional connectivity, enhancing cross-border infrastructure cooperation, and analysing the evolving dynamics of global supply chains and their strategic implications for the region.

In this capacity, I contribute to evidence-based policy analysis and project development, supporting initiatives that promote sustainable, efficient, and resilient transport systems. My work encompasses the assessment of key regional and global frameworks, including those shaping the transition to greener mobility, the digitalisation of logistics chains, and the enhancement of cross-border connectivity.

To ensure both the sustainability and profitability of the sector, we must accelerate the digitalisation of transport through the integration of artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and advanced software systems, while advancing decarbonisation efforts in line with green and circular economy principles, thereby transforming logistics towards a more sustainable structure.

Furthermore, our organisation is at the forefront of efforts in the domain of women's studies. A notable example of this is the UND Women Truck Driver Academy, through which our association collaborates with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Türkiye, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and the Turkish Employment Agency. This initiative aims to address the shortage of drivers while enhancing women’s employment by training international female truck drivers.

Our ministries are actively providing incentives and support for this project. I wish to commend the efforts of the UND Board of Directors and Women Working Group in this regard. I firmly believe that each component of a commendable whole is of utmost importance.

In addition to my role at UND, I serve as a BSEC Expert at the International Secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation – Union of Road Transport Associations (BSEC-URTA). 

In the BSEC region, strategic initiatives, such as international transport corridors, illustrate the growing competition to capture a larger share of global supply chains. The resilience of transport systems depends not only on robust infrastructure but also on the effective integration of digital transformation, sustainability objectives, and adaptive, diplomacy-driven policies. Ultimately, competitiveness and resilience are strengthened through the cohesive management of technological innovation, environmental responsibility, and international cooperation.

It is pertinent to note that my entry into the transport sector was facilitated by my association with UND. This opportunity has enabled me to recognise the inseparability of international relations – my academic field – and the international transport sector. 

In today’s era of change and uncertainty, we are witnessing how wars and unpredictable regional crises significantly impact transport, as geopolitical tensions, conflicts and the disproportionate use of power strongly affect the stability and security of global transport networks.

In conclusion, I wish to share a poignant quote from Antonio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks: “The old world is dying, the new world is struggling to be born. Now is the time of the monsters.”

The views and opinions expressed by the New Industry Shapers do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of IRU.