Hakan E. Gunel is a seasoned engineering professional with extensive experience in the railway sector, currently serving as Senior Advisor Freight at the UIC - International Union of Railways since September 2020. Previously, Hakan held roles including Senior Test and Commissioning Engineer at DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH and Senior Certification Engineer at STM. A significant portion of Hakan's career was spent at Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (TCDD) from 2002 to 2017, where responsibilities included managing and implementing predictive maintenance projects, steering committee membership within EUROC, and overseeing the establishment of a Railway Components Test Center. Hakan's foundational work experience includes positions such as Chief Engineer, Expert Engineer, and Depot Chief. Hakan holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gaziantep University, earned between 1989 and 1995.