Administrative Council Members

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Mr Silverse Lisamula Anami
(Kenya)

Choral music expert Mr Silverse Lisamula Anami is Chairman of the Culture Technical Committee of the Kenyan National Commission for UNESCO. He is concurrently the Founder and Patron of the Mamlaka National Youth Choir and the Regional Advisor for the International Federation of Choral Music in East Africa. From 2003–2009 he served as the Director of Culture in Kenya’s Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services and Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture. From 2001–2003 he worked as Deputy Director of Culture in the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Heritage and Sports. Furthermore, from 1998–2001, he was Head of Performing Arts and Assistant Director of Culture, in the Ministry of Culture and Social Services.

He holds an undergraduate degree in humanities from Kenyatta University (Nairobi), an education degree from Kagumo Teachers College (Nyeri) and degrees in the theory of music from the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music (United Kingdom).

© Saad A. Al-Bazei

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Dr Saad A. Al-Bazei
(Donor Country, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

A prolific author in Arabic and English, Dr Saad Al-Bazei is Emeritus Professor of English literature at King Saud University (Riyadh). He recently worked as the Editor of Huqul, (a quarterly published by the Riyadh Literary Club; 2004–2011) while also serving as the Literary Club’s President (2006–2010). He is a member of the Shura Council (since 2009). In addition he was the Academic Council for King Saud University (2001–2002) and was Editor-in-Chief of The Global Arabic Encyclopedia (30 vols.; 1997–1998).

He holds both a doctorate and a master’s degree in English from Purdue University (Indiana, United States) as well an undergraduate degree in English literature from King Saud University. 

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Mr Roman Bĕlor
(Czech Republic)

Orchestral organizer Mr Roman Bĕlor is currently the Director of the Prague Spring Festival and in the past worked as a member of the Festival’s Committee (1993–2001). He is also a sitting member of the European City of Culture (ECOC) 2015 selection panel. He has served as the Chairman of the Prague International Conference of the International Artist Managers’ Association (2005), Director of the Prague Symphony Orchestra (1992–2001), and Chairman of the Czech Symphony Orchestras Association (1997–2001). He was honored the titles of Chevalier (1995) and Officier (2001) of the French Order of Arts and Letters.

He graduated from Prague Technical University with a degree in applied economics.

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Mr Mohamed Chérif Khaznadar
(France)

UNESCO–Sharjah Laureate for 2010, Mr Mohamed Chérif Khaznadar has been widely honored for his work as a promoter of intercultural dialogue, or as he has described it, as a ‘cultural smuggler’ across Mediterranean communities.  Much of his work has been executed through his posts as President (since 2007) and Director (1982–2007) of the World Cultures Institute in Paris. Concurrently, he is serving at UNESCO as Vice-President of the French National Commission, President of the Culture and Communication Committee (since 2010) and as a French government expert for Intangible Cultural Heritage (since 2002). Since 2009 he has been working as the Director of the project ‘Centre d’Al Aïn pour les musiques dans le monde de l’Islam’ (Abu Dhabi). Furthermore, he was President of the second session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2008–2010).

He has also worked as a cultural journalist and studied at the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).

© Luisa Rebeca Sánchez Bello

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H.E. Mrs Luisa Rebeca Sánchez Bello
(Donor Country, Permanent Delegation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela )  

Since 2008, Ms. Ambassador Rebeca Sánchez Bello has been the Permanent Delegate to UNESCO for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. She previously served as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Mali from 2002 to 2007. Founder, Executive Director and President of OPEC’s Center for Studies (CENTROPEP, Caracas) from 1984 to 2001, Ms. Ambassador Rebeca Sánchez Bello has taken part over the years in actively promoting art and culture in OPEC member countries, through the organization of many intercultural events between the Arab World, Africa and Latin America. She was also, from 1994 to 1995, Coordinator for the UNESCO Latin America Research Project "Contribution of the Arab-Islamic Civilization to Latin American Cultures through Spain and Portugal (ACALAPI)." In 2001 she was appointed as Executive Coordinator of the "Latin-American and Caribbean meeting on the dialogue of civilizations" to mark the United Nations International Year of Dialogue among Civilizations. She has also been Professor of International Relations at the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV, Caracas) from 1991 to 1996, and a thesis Director on the subject "Cultures and Arab-Islamic Societies ", from 1990 to 1998 at the UCV.

H.E. Ms. Rebeca Sánchez Bello holds a Ph.D. in Economics and a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) from the Institute for the Study of Economic and Social Development (IEDES, University of Paris I, Panthéon-Sorbonne), a Master’s in Planning and Development from Centre for the Study of Economic and Social Development, and a Diploma of Law from the Central University of Venezuela (Caracas).

© UNESCO, Nureldin Satti

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Dr Nureldin Satti, President 
(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.

© Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani

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Dr Ramezanali Vasheghani Farahani, Vice-President 
(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.

© María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez

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Dr María Elisa Velázquez Gutiérrez, Vice-President 
(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).

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