Tacan Ildem is the Chairman of the Istanbul-based think-tank EDAM, Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies. Ildem, who was one of the members of the Independent Experts Group appointed by the NATO Secretary General, that presented a report entitled “NATO 2030: United for a New Era”, is a senior Turkish diplomat. From the start of his long career in 1978 till he retired in February 2021 he held bilateral and multilateral positions including NATO Assistant Secretary General between 2016 to 2020. He served as the Turkish Ambassador to the Netherlands and the Permanent Representative of Turkey to NATO and the OSCE. He also held positions as the Director General for International Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Cabinet, Principal Foreign Policy Advisor and Spokesperson of the President of the Republic. His earlier postings abroad also include those at the Turkish Permanent Delegation to NATO and the Turkish Embassies in Washington DC, Athens and New Delhi. Ambassador Ildem is a graduate of Ankara University Faculty of Political Science. He is a recipient of the decoration of Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity and the Medal of Gratitude of Albania.