2022 General Assembly, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Council is composed of 15-18 members, including the representative to UNESCO, and the non-voting honorary and administrative positions. Members of the Council must be individual members. They are elected for a six-year term by the individual members of the Academy. The Council decides the functions of its members according to its needs. Membership of Council, as far as possible, corresponds to the various geographical regions represented in the Academy.
The newest members of the Council were officially announced via Bulletin 138 in June 2022 – specifically new representatives for North America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East – and took their seats following the General Assembly in September 2022.
Torbjørn Kvasbø, President 2018 – 2024
President 2018 -2024
Torbjørn Kvasbø, Norway
Representative for Scandinavia
Vice President 2018 – 2024
Stéphanie Le Follic-Hadida, France
Representative for UNESCO
Temporary representative for France (election TBA)
Vice President 2023 – 2029
Monika Gass, Germany
Representative for Germany and Austria, 2016 – 2024
Vice President 2023 – 2029
Pim Sudhikam, Thailand
Representative for Southeast Asia and India, 2018 – 2024
Treasurer
Oriol Calvo Vergés, Spain
Representative for Southern Europe, 2016 – 2024
Council Members
Hyeyoung CHO, South Korea
Representative for South Korea, 2020-2026
* Resignation tendered, seat election TBA
Wendy Gers, South Africa
Representative for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, 2020 – 2026
* Resignation tendered, seat election TBA
Janet De Boos is holding this seat temporarily
Shamai Gibsh, Israel
Representative for the Middle East, 2022-2028
Elaine Henry, USA
Representative for North America, 2022-2028
David Jones, UK
Representative for UK, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, 2016 – 2024
Toshio Matsui, Japan
Representative for Japan, 2017 -2023
Hana Novotná, Czech Republic
Representative for Eastern Europe, 2022-2028
Anja Seiler, Switzerland
Representative for Switzerland, 2020 – 2026
Vilma Villaverde, Argentina
Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2016 – 2024
Liya Wan, China
Representative for China, 2020 – 2026
Coordination, Secretariat
Karolina Johansson, Switzerland
Anja Seiler
Hana Novotná
Pim Sudhikam
Wayne Higby, USA, Vice President Emeritus 2012 – 2018
Vilma Villaverde, Barcelona 2016
Oriol Calvo Vergès, Barcelona 2016