Nancy Duxbury Nancy Duxbury. PhD. in Communication from Simon Fraser University in Canada. Nancy Duxbury is a leading scholar in the global conversation on culture in sustainability. She is a Principal Researcher at the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, Portugal, where…

Amareswar Galla Amareswar Galla. Salzburg Global Fellow (2019 & 2025); Emeritus Faculty, Australian National University, Canberra is the Founding Executive Director of the International Institute for the Inclusive Museum (iiiM). Distinguished Professor of Indigeneity and Inclusive Museum &…

Milena Dragićević Šešić MILENA DRAGIĆEVIĆ ŠEŠIĆProfessor Emerita of the Faculty of Performing Arts (University of the Arts of Belgrade), former Rector of the University of Arts (Belgrade), and founding director of the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Management - Interculturalism and Mediation in the Balkans (2004-2019…

Alfons Martinell Sempere ALFONS MARTINELL SEMPEREProfessor at the University of Girona (Catalonia, Spain), and co-director of the Pau Casals UNESCO Chair (on music and promotion of Peace and Human Rights). He was the founding director of the UNESCO Chair on Cultural Policies and Cooperation at the University of Girona (…

Lourdes Arizpe DR. LOURDES ARIZPEDr Lourdes Arizpe was appointed Secretary General and member of the United Nations Commission on Culture and Development at the same time that she was managing cultural projects in many countries of the world as UNESCO's Assistant Director General for Culture. As a consultant for…

Daisy Fancourt Dr. DAISY FANCOURTDaisy Fancourt. The work of Dr Daisy Fancourt has decisively contributed to prove the benefits of cultural activities for people’s health. She is Associate Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology and Head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College…

Eusebio Leal He has devoted his entire life to the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Cuba and of humanity. Dr Leal’s distinguished sensibility, as well as his early incursion into public administration, allowed him to understand the scope and value of the cultural heritage of cities,…

Vandana Shiva Vandana Shiva is one of the pioneering figures of ecofeminism most recognized worldwide. Born in Dehradun, India, Ms Shiva is doctor of Physical Sciences, philosopher of science, ecologist, feminist and pacifist. She directs the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource…

Basma ElHusseiny Cultural manager and activist. Basma El Husseiny is now leading the organisation Action for Hope, based in Beirut, that seeks to provide cultural relief and cultural development programmes to communities in crisis, with a focus on refugees and impoverished communities. She has been involved in…

Patrice Meyer-Bisch He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and completed a professorial thesis on Political Ethics at the University of Strasbourg, France. Until 2016, he coordinated the Interdisciplinary Institute of Ethics and Human Rights (IIEDH) at the University of Fribourg,…

Jon Hawkes Author of the book "The Fourth Pillar of Sustainability: culture's essential role in public planning". With this book, Hawkes significantly contributed to transforming the basic structure of public policy making. The core concept that informs his work has become central to many policy…

Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui Sociologist and activist, she is a member of the free independent collective Colectivx Ch’ixi in Bolivia. Silvia Rivera Cusicanqui has been professor of Sociology at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz (UMSA), where she is now Emeritus Professor, and has been a visiting lecturer…

Manuel Castells Professor Emeritus of Sociology and of City and Regional Planning of the University of California at Berkeley and Professor of Sociology and Director of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) in the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. Manuel Castells’ work has emphasized the important role of…

Farida Shaheed Pakistani sociologist, Farida Shaheed has worked on projects which incorporate culture to reinforce human rights. Her career in the United Nations began in 2009 as an independent expert and since 2012 she has been the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. From her position, Shaheed…