Besides her management career as a Civil Engineer and Economist, Ilknur pursued her ambition to learn more about the plants and herbs of her native Turkey and their nutritional importance since 2004, gaining degrees in Agriculture and Culinary Arts.

Growing up on the Aegean coast of Anatolia amongst ancient olive groves led her become a Certified Olive Oil Sommelier and in 2019 started her educational path in the ONAOO School ended in 2022 becoming a Professional Taster.

She currently conducts masterclasses and is a consultant on the subject of the Mediterranean lifestyle, specializing in olive oil tasting and its use in cooking since she’s a Chef.

She’s also a Business Consultant based in UK.

Fil Bucchino, a Florence-born and Toronto-bred trilingual documentarian, educator, and entrepreneur, has a fervent passion for olive oil, as showcased in his award-winning documentary “Obsessed with Olive Oil,” which he both hosted and co-produced.

Embracing the mission “No Grove Abandoned,” Fil founded Abandoned Grove to produce premium extra virgin olive oil from regenerated groves, raising awareness and restoring the connection to the olive tree, the landscape, the environment, and the community.

In 2023, A.I.R.O. honored Fil as the “Olive Oil Personality of the Year,” an award given to an individual who has shown remarkable commitment to spreading and sharing their passion for olive oil. Fil collaborates with numerous institutions and culinary icons, teaching master classes and working on projects with organizations such as Yale University, the North American Olive Oil Association (NAOOA), the Italian Trade Commission, Slow Food, the Mediterranean Round Table (MDR), the Lebanese Embassy, the Italian and Spanish Chambers of Commerce, and Women in Olive Oil.

He is a regular fixture as a judge at international olive oil competitions, including EVO-IOOC, Olio Nuovo Days, Olivonomy, Orciolo d’Oro, Olive d’Or, and Canada IOOC. Fil’s expertise has been featured in various global olive oil publications, such as the Toronto Star, UAE’s Shawati’ Magazine, The Brazilian Olive Oil Guide, El Anuario Olivar Español, South Korea’s Magazine F, Italy’s Chef Andrea Perini’s “Trenta Gocce,” and the USA’s David Neuman’s “Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The Truth in Your Kitchen.”

Accredited in the ONAOO International Register of Professional Olive Oil Tasters, Fil is also the only Canadian member of the Italian National Directory of Virgin and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experts at the CCIAA of Florence, Italy.

For nearly 20 years, Fil has been a passionate communicator and avid promoter of extra virgin olive oil, focusing on education, production techniques, sustainability, and health benefits. He holds a BSc in BioMedical Sciences and spent almost a decade as a professional musician, recording and performing throughout his career.

Since 1986 he has been responsible for blending and sensory analysis at leading global companies in the olive oil sector.

Professional taster, Technical Deputy President and Panel Leader of the ONAOO Panel.

Lecturer in professional technical courses and university masters on sensory analysis.

Speaker at international conferences on olive oil and sensory analysis. Author of publications, articles and books on oil and tasting. Expert in international olive oil markets.

Alex, a native food enthusiast and skilled chef from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, runs a restaurant called Alessandro Mediterranean, which offers a wide array of delectable Mediterranean dishes.

Driven by his passion for European cuisine, Alex has also established a European gourmet food store.

This store specializes in various European food products and tableware, with a particular emphasis on Italian cuisine. It aims to bring authentic European flavors to its customers by providing high-quality ingredients, handcrafted products, and elegant silverware, creating a unique dining experience.

Alex honed his skills in this area as a professional olive oil taster by completing his training in ONAOO in 2018. He also serves as a trainer for the Specialty Coffee Association.

With these skills, he ensures that customers receive the finest products and services. To help customers understand European culinary culture better, Alex’s store regularly hosts cooking and coffee classes and wine-tasting events.

These activities allow customers to learn how to create authentic European dishes hands-on and bring the Italian lifestyle to their homes.