IVONNE BAKI Profile Ivonne A-Baki, artist, painter, diplomat, peace negotiator, humanist, and politician, is a multifaceted woman who has always been driven by her ideals. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador of Arab Lebanese parents, she gets involved, from a very young age, in the world of the arts through dance and classical music. It is then that she discovers the magic and power of art to unite ideals, cultures, people and nations. According to Ivonne ABaki, Art speaks to the heart. It knows no religious, cultural or language obstacles, and it is not limited by words. She meets Sami Abd-El-Baki, her future husband, during a visit with her parents to Beirut, Lebanon. They soon after get married and have three children: Mohammad, Faisal, and Tatiana. Then the war starts in Lebanon, and Ivonne s world is completely shaken: death, violence, and suffering urge her and inspire her to paint, to defy with brushstrokes and color the bullets, bombs, hate and intolerance. It is through her art that she tries to promote peace, unity, and love among nations, to make them see that beyond hate and prejudice there is a power, bigger and more sublime, which can reach into our innermost being and change us forever: Art. With this purpose, to change this world into a better and more tolerant place, Ivonne starts her long and successful career as a visionary artist. She has exhibited her paintings in many countries on four continents, and her works of art have touched the souls of thousands of people. In 1990 she moves to the United States and becomes Artist-in-Residence at Harvard University. Her art, as always, has a conscience and is socially responsible; it promotes peace, unity, and social justice. She creates the Harvard Arts for Peace Foundation through which she organizes many joint exhibitions and art shows between countries at war; the purpose is to build bridges and find
solutions. At the same time, she starts the Beyond Boundaries Foundation to improve the health of the poor people of Ecuador through prevention and education. The foundation has worked in the eradication of river blindness (onchocerciasis) and currently is focusing its efforts to educate people in the diagnosis and early treatment of tuberculosis and diabetes. Ivonne A-Baki s obsession for peace and social justice finally takes her to the realm of diplomacy, peace negotiation and politics. She was instrumental in reaching a peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru on October 26, 1998. Then, as ambassador of Ecuador to the US, she successfully procures the extension of the Andean trade preferences, which are granted by the United States for the purpose of fighting the trafficking of drugs in the Western Hemisphere. She also works to promote regional integration through commerce and cultural exchange. After the tragic spill from the oil tanker Jessica in the Galapagos Islands, Ivonne A-Baki urgently creates the Galapagos Conservancy Foundation. The foundation has achieved important goals to create a consciousness for protecting the environment in many countries; it has been instrumental in the protection of fragile species, such as sea cucumbers, sharks, turtles, and penguins. In 2002 she becomes a candidate for the presidency of Ecuador. She runs on a social justice platform aimed at shrinking the great gap between the affluent rich and the desperately poor through education and sustainable development. Her message was also aimed at advancing the cultural and economic integration of Latin-America and eradicating the specter of corruption, which for many decades has haunted her country. In 2003 she becomes Ecuador s Minister of Foreign Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, Fisheries, and Competitiveness. Through various programs designed to increase the value added of Ecuadorian products, she strives to strengthen the national industry and promote job creation and trade. She also initiates the negotiation of trade agreements with several important trade partners, including the United States and the European Union. In 2006 she runs and wins in the elections for the Andean Parliament, and in 2007 she is elected President of the Andean Parliament with the unanimous vote of the 5 member countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Her goals are to achieve the real integration and unity of the Andean nations through education, cultural exchange, trade, science and technology, tourism, and, most importantly, peace and regional security. As President of the Andean Parliament she incessantly worked to achieve these goals. Currently, she is the Chief Negotiator for the Yasuni-ITT initiative which aims to keep 846 million barrels of oil from being exploited to preserve the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, the most biodiverse place on the planet. Following are notable facts about the education, work, awards and other events in the life of Ivonne A-Baki
CURRICULUM VITAE IVONNE BAKI POLITICAL CAREER February 2010 to 2013, Chief negotiator of the Yasuni-ITT Initiative which aims at preserving the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador. 2009, Candidate for Director General of UNESCO. November 2007 to August 2009, President of the Andean Parliament. With the unanimous vote of all the Andean Parliamentarians from Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, Ivonne A-Baki was elected President of the Andean Parliament for a period of 2 years. 2007, President of the Committee for Economic Affairs of the Andean Parliament. 2007 to 2009, President of the Commission for Economic Affairs of the EuropeanLatin-American Parliament (EUROLAT). October 2006 to 2009, Elected to the Andean Parliament to represent Ecuador for a 4 year term after getting the second highest number of popular votes on a national level. January 2003 April 2005, Minister of Foreign Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, Fisheries, and Competitiveness of Ecuador, first woman to occupy this position. From this ministry she was instrumental in advancing important processes for regional integration. 2003-2005, Member of the Board of Directors of PETROECUADOR (the Ecuadorian National Oil Company) 2003-2005, Member of the Board of Directors of the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) 2003-2005, President of the National Foreign Trade and Investment Council of Ecuador (COMEXI) July 2003 June 2004, Chair of the Commission of the Andean Community of Nations 2002, Candidate for President of Ecuador. August 1998 November 1998, Advisor to the President of Ecuador during the peace negotiations with Peru, which finally led to the signing of the peace treaty. DIPLOMATIC CAREER 2010 present, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO for the Dialogue of Civilizations 1998 2002 - First woman ambassador of Ecuador to the United States of America. 1992 1998, Honorary Consul General of Ecuador in Boston, MA USA. 1984 1990, Honorary Consul General of Ecuador in Beirut, Lebanon. EDUCATION 1993, Master in Public Administration. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
1993, Master in Public Policy. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. LANGUAGES Spanish, mother tongue. Arabic, mother tongue, English, French, German MEMBERSHIPS IN SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS 2001 to the present, Founding Member and President of the Galapagos Conservancy Foundation, which works for the preservation of the fauna and flora of the Galapagos Islands through the collaboration and support of local and international organizations such as WildAid. 1994 1997, Member of the board of directors of Conflict Management Group, led by Prof. Roger Fisher, Harvard University. Participated in conflict resolution negotiations around the world from 1995 to 1998. 1990 1998, Artist-in-Residence at Harvard University and Founder of the Harvard Arts for Peace Foundation which is dedicated to the advancement of peace through artistic events. 1995 to the present, Founding Member of the Beyond Boundaries Foundation, which is dedicated to the prevention of disease among the poorest communities in Ecuador. 2004 to the present, Co-founder and member of the board of directors of the Act for Lebanon Foundation that supports education, sports, and social events in excluded neighborhoods in Lebanon. 2006 to the present, Co-founder and member of the board of directors of the Wayyak Pan Arab Cultural Icons Foundation, an organization committed to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality, and equity in the Arab world by using Arab cultural icons and celebrities. 2009, Member of the international board of directors of the Lebanese American University. AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS 2006, Humanitarian Rose Award of the Princess of Wales Foundation. 2004, Women in Leadership Award. 2004, Global Citizen Award of the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding, which she shares with Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. 2003, Excellence in Leadership Award of the Inter-American Economic Council. 2003, National Merit Award for distinguished contributions to Lebanon. 1998, Recognition of the US House of Representatives. 1992, Honorato Vásquez Award for distinguished services to Ecuador. 1989, Orden Nacional al Mérito medal from Ecuador. 1988, Order of the Cedar medal from Lebanon. 1984, Le Mérite de l Excellence Européenne for outstanding achievements as an artist. ARTISTIC CAREER
A world renowned professional painter, her works are exhibited in museums and private collections in Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.