BOGYAY, Katalin
resident of UNESCO’s General Conference
President of UNESCO’s General Conference
Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations, New York
Former President of UNESCO 36th General Conference
H.E. Ms Katalin Bogyay has served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations since 1 Januray 2015. Prior to her present assignment in New York, she was Hungarian Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO (2009-2014) and President of the General Conference of UNESCO
(2011-2013) during the 36th Session. A tireless and committed cultural bridge-builder throughout her multifaceted professional life, she has occupied the posts of Hungary’s State Secretary for International Affairs for Education and Culture (2006-2009) and the Founding Director of the Hungarian Cultural Centre in Covent Garden, London, UK (1999-2006). She has also led a career of international television broadcaster, film producer and writer.
She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK) and of the World Academy of Art and Science (US). She is an International Advisor to the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy (Berlin, Germany) and to the Institute for Global and European Studies, IGES (Corvinus University, Budapest, Hungary). She is an honorary member of the London-based Imago-International Psychoanalytical Society.
Katalin Bogyay is an active promoter of music as the medium of intercultural cooperation and understanding. She is a founding member of the Liszt Academy Network, based in London, and a board member of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the oldest Orchestra of Hungary, founded by Ferenc Erkel.
A graduate of Economics faculty of Corvinus University, Budapest, she holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism from the Gyorgy Balint Academy of Journalism, Budapest, and a Master of Arts in International Communications from University of Westminster, London. She read counseling at the Westminster Pastoral Foundation, London. She was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Glasgow University for her work in building cultural links between Hungary and Scotland, as well as promoting cultural diversity and cultural diplomacy throughout the world.
She is a recipient of several high honors, including the Nehru Gold Medal of UNESCO (2013), Special Trophy of Fair Play for promoting sports diplomacy from the International Fair Play Committee (2013), the Chain Bridge Award by Hungary for her services to Hungarian foreign affairs (2013), the Grand Cross of the Order of Sahametrei by King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia for intercultural cooperation (2013), Officer of the Order of Leopold by King Albert II of Belgium (2008), Aphelandra, the humanitarian prize for her work performed internationally building bridges between people( 2009) and the Knight's Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for her contribution to international culture (2005).
She has published several books: a biography on Hungarian actress Margit Dajka (1989, Officina Nova, Budapest ) as well as another biographical work on János Pilinszky, a Hungarian poet (1990, Officina Nova, Budapest).
Találkozásaim a nagyvilágban (My encounters around the globe) is a collection of interviews with internationally acclaimed artists and scientists (1996, H.G.& Co.Budapest). The Voice of Freedom-A szabadság hangja (2006, HCC, London ) is a compilation of interviews on the subject of the 1956 revolution. In the interview book: A Magyar kultúra szolgálatában (Serving Hungarian Culture, interviewed by Hedvig Dvorszky), 2010, Kairosz, Budapest she gives an insight about her professional life . The Art of Cultural Diplomacy: Panorama of the Presidency, 2013, Espace Cinko- UNESCO, Paris is about her work as the President of UNESCO`s General Conference
(2011-13)
Her husband is a lawyer based in Budapest. Her son practices law in the City of London.