Administrative Council Leadership
President
© UNESCO, Nureldin Satti
Dr Nureldin Satti
(Sudan)
Dr Nureldin Satti has served the United Nations and UNESCO for a number of years in many capacities. In November 2011, he was President of the Culture Commission at UNESCO’s 36th General Conference in Paris. He also held the post of Director for the UNESCO Cluster Offices in Addis Ababa (2007–2008) and Dar Es Salaam (2001). For the UN he was Principal Deputy SRSG for the Peacekeeping Mission in Burundi (UNOB – United Nations Operation in Burundi; 2004) and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as Deputy Special Representative at the UN Political Office for Burundi (UNOB; 2002). Dr Satti was also a Senior Fellow and Distinguished African Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington DC (2008–2009).
He received a doctorate in literature from the University of Paris-Sorbonne, a master’s degree from the University of Lyon and an undergraduate degree from the University of Khartoum.
Vice-President
© Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani
Dr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani
(Islamic Republic of Iran)
Dr Vasheghani Farahani has taught various forms of traditional and modern calligraphy since 1987 and also works as a translator of multiple languages. He has participated in a number of art exhibitions in Iran, Europe, Asia and Africa and has also worked in Iranian television production.
He holds a doctorate and a diploma of advanced studies in French language and literature from Azad University (Tehran). He performed his calligraphy training with the Association of Iranian Calligraphers.
Vice-President
© María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez
Dr María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez
(Mexico)
An expert on Africans and their ancestors in Mexico, Dr Velázquez Gutiérrez has served as the President of the International Scientific Committee for the UNESCO Slave Route Project since 2011. She is a Professor at Escuela Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, (Mexico City, since 2001), Research Professor at the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (Mexico City; since 1998) and Professor of museums and art studies at the Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City; since 1996). In 2011 she was awarded the Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán prize for her research and contribution to the promotion of African ancestry.
She holds a doctorate in anthropology from the Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia and a master’s in history from the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (Toluca de Lerdo).