Irina Bokova, born in Sofia (Bulgaria), has been two terms the Director-General of UNESCO from 2009 to 2017. As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was actively engaged in the adoption of UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, advocating for inclusive and equitable quality education and life-long learning for all, promoting the critical role of science for development, gender equality and the protection of the world’s cultural heritage. She has received state distinctions from more than 40 countries and is Doctor honoris causa of leading universities across the world, such as Tonji University, China, King’s College and University of Edinburgh, UK, Paris-Saclay, France, Boston University, US, Catholic University of Milan, Italy, among others. In 2016 Irina Bokova was on the Forbes list of the most influential women. In 2020, she was elected International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 2021 - Honorary Fellow of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences (WAAS). Currently, she is a Member of the Board of “Ban Ki Moon Centre for Global Citizens”, Member of the Board of Governors of the UN University of Peace, Costa Rica, Patron of the International Science Council (ISC) and Co-Chair of the Commission for Global Scientific Missions for Sustainability, Member of the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), New York, , Member of the Strategic Committee of the Paris School of International Affairs /PSIA/ at SciencesPo, among other activities.