Vaira Vike-Freiberga
Co-Chair, Nizami, Ganjavi International Center & Former President, Republic of Latvia (Latvia)
Dr. Vaira Vike-Freiberga was President of Latvia (1999-2007), President of the World Leadership Alliance/Club de Madrid (2014-2019). Currently Co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. She was Special Envoy on the United Nations reform and official candidate for UN Secretary General in 2006, Vice-chair of the Reflection group on the long-term future of Europe, and Chair of the High-level group on freedom and pluralism of media in the EU in 2011-12, as well as a member of two High-level groups on European security and defense in 2015 and of the Team of Advisors to UN ECOSOC on UN development in 2016.
Dr. Vike-Freiberga is a former professor and interdisciplinary scholar at the University of Montreal, has published 17 books, over 200 articles in addition to her extensive speaking engagements. Recipient of many Awards, Orders of Merit and Honorary Doctorates. Member of 26 international organisations and five Academies. Honorary Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford University.