Esra Cankorur joined the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989.

She has served in several positions at the headquarters in Ankara as well as Turkish missions abroad.

Her first foreign assignment was to Helsinki, Finland in 1992, followed by Manila, Philippines between 1995-1997 as Third and Second Secretaries respevtively.

She was later posted to the Turkish Embassy in Rome, Italy (1999-2003, Counsellor) and the Turkish Permanent Mission to UNESCO in Paris (2005-2009, Deputy Head of Mission). While in Rome she also attended the NATO Defence College.

At the headquarters in Ankara she worked at the Minister’s Cabinetas well as at the Offices of Deputy Undersecretaries between 1997-1999 and then at the Policy Planning Department between 2003-2005.

She was Head of Department and later on Deputy Director-General for Asia-Pacific Bilateral Affairs between 2009-2014.

From January 2014 to January 2019 she served as the Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines.

Prior to her current position, as Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Ireland, she wasDirector-General for Asia-Pacific Bilateral Affairs (2021-2025).

Ambassador Cankorur holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Sciences (International Affairs) from the University of Ankara, Türkiye.