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.

CEO & Co-Founder The O Collection

I began the ONAOO tasting course initially in March 2023. After passing the first stage, I then transitioned into the two-year advanced course in October 2023, and completed the course in November 2025.

Olive oil is far more than a food – it’s a world of culture, community, science, and craftsmanship. I’m grateful to be part of this journey of discovery, deepening my understanding, and sharing that knowledge with others.

Professional Taster since 2024

Osman, who is passionate about olives and olive oil, grew up in Izmir, one of the major olive producing regions of Turkey.

He has extensive experience in blending and sensory evaluation in the tobacco business since 1996 and is currently a master blender and panel leader in a leading global tobacco company. In 2019, he decided to expand his sensory knowledge in olive oil with ONAOO’s technical course.

After two years of training, he obtained the qualification of Professional Taster of ONAOO in 2023. He provides consultancy to farmers and olive oil producers in Turkey and product experience in Switzerland.