Neva Sadikoglu-Novaky is a seasoned EU expert working for a globally-leading agtech company. She leads in the business sustainability work of Syngenta, with a geographical span that reaches from Turkey to South Africa, providing private sector solutions to sustainable development in agriculture. She also leads on the public affairs work of Syngenta in Africa, the Middle East and Turkey including vis-à-vis the EU. Her work notably uses private sector solutions to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and applies free market solutions to effect poverty alleviation. Sadikoglu-Novaky’s work helps provide food security to one of the world’s most food-insecure continents, and focuses on an industry that forms the backbone of society in terms of jobs, livelihoods and contribution to the economic development of the countries she covers.
With a decade of experience working in the EU, Sadikoglu-Novaky was the youngest person to become secretary
general. She has also worked in the EU Commission and in Parliament, and holds a number of degrees, including a
Master’s from the London School of Economics and undergraduate qualifications from the University of Kent and SciencesPo in Paris.
Sadikoglu-Novaky’s experience is global. Her policy work has spanned Turkey, Africa and Washington DC (to name a few), and she has worked with think tanks in Ankara, Brussels, London (Localis) and Washington DC (the Center for Strategic and International Studies).
She started her career at the United Nations Development Programme in Ankara, Turkey, before being selected for the Washington DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank’s Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA) International Fellowship programme in 2016, who awarded her a full tuition scholarship. She was also selected for the German Marshall Fund’s Young Transatlantic for Future Leaders network which brings together young leaders to engage on the challenges facing Europe, the United States, and the transatlantic alliance.
On top of all that, Sadikoglu-Novaky is an experienced media commentator, having participated in live radio and TV interviews, including on the BBC and Bloomberg HT. She has also published articles on ConservativeHome and Brexit Central.
Finally, Sadikoglu-Novaky is a grassroots political leader. She has executive experience within the voluntary side of the UK’s Conservative Party, acting as chair of the Runnymede and Weybridge Conservative Association (and previously chair of the Association’s Conservative Women’s Organisation).
