Mehmet Kalyoncu

ABOUT

Mehmet Kalyoncu was born in Gaziantep in 1992, he is originally from Trabzon. He completed his high school education at Ümraniye Anatolian High School. In the last year of his high school education, he became the first Turkish student accepted to the academic program organized by Oxford University, St. Hugh's College. Influenced by his interest, he conducted academic research on the architecture of Renaissance period. Graduated from Istanbul Technical University, Department of Architecture in 2014, Kalyoncu has studied at the Architectural Association University as a visiting student.

While carrying out his education and responsibilities in non-governmental organizations, he also did internships in architecture offices and construction companies. After graduating from university, he worked at different levels in Kalyon Holding's subsidiaries. While continuing his career, Mehmet Kalyoncu completed Negotiation training at Harvard University, Entrepreneurship training at Babson College and Corporate Diplomacy training at Tufts University in 2014.

He founded the Türkiye Design Council in 2016 with friends with whom he shares similar concerns, in order to contribute to Türkiye becoming a country that values design and protects designers. Aiming to contribute to the social and economic development of our country with a design-oriented approach, the Foundation continues to provide design and planning services while supporting the development of young designers.

Mehmet Kalyoncu served as an Executive Board Member at iGA Istanbul Airport between 2015 and 2022. Kalyoncu has been serving as a Board Member of iGA Istanbul Airport since September 2022.

Mehmet Kalyoncu served as the president of the Real Estate Investors Association (GYODER) between 2020-2023. As of November 2023, he handed over his post as president of the association to Neşecan Çekici in order to concentrate on design and planning studies in the earthquake zone with the Türkiye Design Council. Kalyoncu continues his duty as GYODER Board Member.

Mehmet Kalyoncu, with his interest in music besides his professional life, started at the Üsküdar Music Society at the age of 9. He later received a certificate in piano from the London School of Music. Kalyoncu has 11 total of compositions and performed his composition “Entrustment “dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye on his piano at the gala held at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall.[6] In the performance of the composition, which was arranged by Esin Aydıngöz, Kalyoncu was accompanied by the Istanbul Film Music Orchestra under the direction of conductor Kerem Esemen. Kalyoncu recently composed the song titled “Voice of Gaza” by pouring the human tragedy in Gaza into notes.

In addition to his business life, Mehmet Kalyoncu has also been closely involved with non-governmental organizations since his university years. Kalyoncu is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of Gaziantep Education and Service Foundation, the foundation of Hasan Kalyoncu University, a Member of the Board of Directors of the Real Estate Investment Partnership Association and since December 2023, a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Turkish Design Council.

Mehmet Kalyoncu is married and has three children. He puts his family above everything else in life.