Speaker Bio
Irina Bokova became director general of Unesco in November 2009, and was re-elected for a second term in 2013. She is the first woman to lead the organization.
Having graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and studied at the University of Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Ms. Bokova joined the United Nations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977. In charge of political and legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York, she was also a member of the Bulgarian delegation at the United Nations conferences on the equality of women in Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995. As a member of the Bulgarian parliament from 1990 to 1991 and again between 2001 and 2005, she participated in the drafting of Bulgaria’s new Constitution, which contributed significantly to the country’s accession to the European Union.
Ms. Bokova was minister for foreign affairs a.i., coordinator of Bulgaria-European Union relations and ambassador of Bulgaria to France, Monaco and Unesco, as well as personal representative of the president of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (O.I.F.) As secretary of the council of ministers for European integration and as foreign minister a.i., Ms. Bokova has always been a strong advocate for European integration and an active member of many international networks and in civil society. A president and founding member of the European Policy Forum, she has worked to overcome European divisions and to foster the values of dialogue, diversity, human dignity and human rights.
As director general of Unesco, Ms. Bokova is actively engaged in international efforts to advance quality education for all, gender equality, cultural dialogue and scientific cooperation for sustainable development, and is leading Unesco as a global advocate for the safety of journalists and freedom of expression.
Ms. Bokova is executive secretary of the steering committee of the United Nations secretary general’s Global Education First Initiative (G.E.F.I.) and co-vice chair of the Broadband Commission.
Ms. Bokova has received state distinctions from countries across the world alongside a number of honorary doctorates from leading universities.
In addition to her mother tongue, she speaks English, French, Spanish and Russian.
Having graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and studied at the University of Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Ms. Bokova joined the United Nations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977. In charge of political and legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York, she was also a member of the Bulgarian delegation at the United Nations conferences on the equality of women in Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995. As a member of the Bulgarian parliament from 1990 to 1991 and again between 2001 and 2005, she participated in the drafting of Bulgaria’s new Constitution, which contributed significantly to the country’s accession to the European Union.
Ms. Bokova was minister for foreign affairs a.i., coordinator of Bulgaria-European Union relations and ambassador of Bulgaria to France, Monaco and Unesco, as well as personal representative of the president of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (O.I.F.) As secretary of the council of ministers for European integration and as foreign minister a.i., Ms. Bokova has always been a strong advocate for European integration and an active member of many international networks and in civil society. A president and founding member of the European Policy Forum, she has worked to overcome European divisions and to foster the values of dialogue, diversity, human dignity and human rights.
As director general of Unesco, Ms. Bokova is actively engaged in international efforts to advance quality education for all, gender equality, cultural dialogue and scientific cooperation for sustainable development, and is leading Unesco as a global advocate for the safety of journalists and freedom of expression.
Ms. Bokova is executive secretary of the steering committee of the United Nations secretary general’s Global Education First Initiative (G.E.F.I.) and co-vice chair of the Broadband Commission.
Ms. Bokova has received state distinctions from countries across the world alongside a number of honorary doctorates from leading universities.
In addition to her mother tongue, she speaks English, French, Spanish and Russian.
Full Name
Irina Bokova
