Gizem is from Cyprus and holds a PhD from Istanbul Technical University in Urban and Regional Planning. As part of her professional experiences, she has worked in various fields of urbanism (urban regeneration, master planning, disaster risk management and risk sensitive land use planning, capacity-building etc.) in multiple cities around the world (Istanbul, Nicosia, Gaza), taking on diversified roles (project coordinator, advisor, urban planner). From 2016 to 2024 she was a full-time lecturer at Cyprus International University and continues to give part-time lectures at different universities. Since 2024, she is working as a special urban planning advisor for the Nicosia Turkish Municipality.