Born in Sofia in 1952, Irina Bokova obtained an MBA from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and studied at the universities of Maryland and Harvard in the USA. During her long and distinguished career, she served as Bulgaria's representative to the United Nations, as her country’s Secretary of State for European integration, as a member of Bulgarian Parliament, as Foreign Minister, as Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to France and Monaco, as Representative to the "Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie" and as Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

As Founder and Chairperson of the European Policy Forum, Mrs Bokova worked to overcome divisions in Europe and to promote the values of dialogue, diversity, human dignity and human rights.  She has received many distinctions for contributing to the development of Bulgarian foreign policy and was laureate of the Golden Lyre distinction for the promotion of Bulgarian music and performance art.

Irina Bokova is the first woman to be elected Director-General of UNESCO, the United Nations specialized agency whose mission is to build peace through education, science and culture. She took office on 15 November 2009 and will lead the Organization for the following four years.