Yonca Erkan  is an architect (YTU, 1993) master in Architectural Conservation (YTU, 1993) and master in Architectural Studies (Aga Khan Program, MIT, 1998). Her PhD is titled ‘Architecture along the Anatolian Railway and Its Heritage’ (ITU, 2007). Her research focuses on the intersection of nineteenth and twentieth century industrial heritage, world heritage and urban history. Since May 2022 she holds a fulltime position as professor in heritage studies at the Faculty of Design Sciences of the Universiteit Antwerpen. Since 2015, she is one of the jury members of the European Heritage Awards / EUROPA NOSTRA Awards. ). Between 2015-2024 she was the UNESCO Chair holder on Management and Promotion of World Heritage Sites: New Media and Community Involvement at Kadir Has University.