Alev Scott Keynote Speaker

Journalist and author previously based in Istanbul and Athens
Journalist for The Financial Times, The Guardian & BBC
Author of "Turkish Awakening", shortlisted for Debut Political Book of the Year 2015

Alev Scott's Biography

Alev Scott is a journalist and author previously based in Istanbul and Athens.

She writes for numerous publications, including the Financial Times, Harper’s Magazine, Politico Europe, the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian and Newsweek, and has been a regular panel guest on the BBC World Service.

She is also the author of three books: Turkish Awakening (Shortlisted for the Paddy Power Political Book Awards, Debut Political Book of the Year 2015), Ottoman Odyssey (Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year 2019) and Power and the People, co-authored with Andronike Makres.

In 2017 she was barred from Turkey for her journalism. She has addressed organisations including the OECD and the European Commission on the subjects of human rights, censorship and gender politics, and is an experienced moderator.

She is currently writing a book about the commercialisation of motherhood for HarperCollins coming out in 2026.

Democracy and Human Rights

Jailing and expulsion of journalists, media censorship, protest movements and why they fail, how female journalists get the best stories

Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

Regional power balance, cultural and historical connections, Turkish and Greek nationalism and multiculturalism

Women, Fertility and Money

The maternal body, global fertility industries, mothers at work, the commercialisation of parenthood

She brings rare on-the-ground expertise from years based in Istanbul and Athens, translating Turkey and the wider Eastern Mediterranean’s political currents into clear insight on security, democracy and regional risk.
She is an acclaimed author whose books on modern Turkey and the Ottoman world have been award-shortlisted, giving audiences the long-view context to understand today’s geopolitical tensions and identity politics.
She reports for leading global outlets including the Financial Times, Harper’s Magazine, Politico Europe and The Guardian, helping leaders cut through headlines with rigorous, independent analysis.
She speaks with authority on censorship, human rights and gender politics, informed by being barred from Turkey for her journalism and by advising institutions such as the OECD and European Commission.
She is an experienced moderator and BBC World Service panel guest, bringing sharp questioning and cultural fluency that elevates live discussions and leaves audiences with clearer, more actionable understanding.

Videos of Alev Scott

#ESPAS18: "Intellectuals in Exile - A Metaphor of the Future?" by Alev Scott

Articles, Media & Podcasts

FT articles

Financial Times

The Guardian articles

The Guardian

TLS articles

Times Literary Supplement

Newsweek articles

Newsweek

Seeking Asylum

Harper's Magazine

Books by Alev Scott

Turkish Awakening

Ottoman Odyssey

Power & The People

Comments & Testimonials

Your presentation was without any doubt one of the highlights of the day and I was immensely touched by your powerful testimony - we have received extraordinary feedback.

Ann Mettler Chair of the European Commission's in-house think tank, the EPSC

Alev was an excellent chair, she came well-prepared with plenty of questions but was confident and flexible to be able to respond in real-time to the conversational flow. We'll definitely be using her again for future events.

Kate Abbey Director Curious Minds Festivals and Bath Arts Collective Founder

Alev did a wonderful job of chairing our recent event with Peter Frankopan for the paperback launch of The Earth Transformed. It was clear Alev had engaged rigorously with the book's content, but she wore this lightly in conversation with Peter and achieved a good balance of pertinent questions and humour. She also handled the audience Q&A brilliantly. We look forward to working with her again.

Lily Blacksell Literature Programmer at the Southbank Centre