İlayda Biberoğlu

Implementation Coordinator
ilayda@andwider.com
Joined &Wider in: 2022
Location: The Hague/Den Haag, the Netherlands
Fun Fact: I have 21 tattoos but many of them are small and in invisible areas, so people get surprised when they hear the number
Favourite Song: I don't have one favorite song but there is one that touches me every time I listen to it since I was a kid. It's Deniz Üstü Köpürür from Cem Karaca which is the rock version of an anonymous Turkish folk song

Ilayda has always been captivated by the power of stories to inspire change. Her middle name, Öykü, meaning “short story”, "narrative", and "tale" in Turkish, mirrors her lifelong passion for listening to others and their stories. She finds her inspiration in the lived experiences of people.

As someone who has been found by many too romantic for the "real" world, there were times that Ilayda lost her faith in having a working life that she found purposeful, and that she would respect and enjoy every day. Currently an Implementation Coordinator at &Wider, she is committed to improving working conditions and preventing human rights violations in global supply chains. She finds meaning in unlocking invisibilities and ensuring that workers’ voices are heard and acted upon. The stories she hears about how suppliers acted on workers' feedback to improve their working conditions are Ilayda's fuel! 

Before joining &Wider, Ilayda worked closely with refugee women and children, people living with HIV/AIDS, LGBTIQ+ communities, minorities, and disadvantaged/marginalized groups across Turkey, Greece, and the Netherlands. These experiences sharpened her understanding of systemic and institutionalized inequalities and invisibilities and reinforced her commitment to social justice. Today, she channels her passion for human rights and social justice into her work at &Wider. 

Ilayda’s role at &Wider allows her to channel her passion into practical change. She works closely with suppliers and clients, guiding them through the implementation process and ensuring projects run smoothly to gather meaningful data. She bridges the gap between data and impact.