Inaugural Lecture by Cristina Gallach

Journalist Cristina Gallach is to give the inaugural lecture for the UOC's 2019/2020 academic year. As the High Commissioner for the 2030 Agenda of Spain, a post Gallach has held since July 2018, she is responsible for the country's implementation of the United Nations' sustainable development goals.

She has also worked as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, as spokesperson for the Spanish Government during its presidency of the Council of the European Union, and as spokesperson for former minister Javier Solana. Previously she worked as a correspondent for the EFE news agency in Moscow and in Brussels, and was a writer for El Periódico de Catalunya newspaper, specializing in coverage of international affairs.

Cristina Gallach was selected by the Financial Times as one of the thirty most influential people in European institutions (2009) and the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) considered her one of twelve "women inspiring Europe" (2010). In 2019 she was awarded the Equipara prize by El Periódico de Catalunya, for her extensive track record defending gender equality. In 2011 She won the Javier Bueno award, a recognition of her professional commitment from the Madrid Press Association. In 2010 the Economic Sciences Diplomats Association of Catalonia awarded her the ADICEC prize for her efforts reporting on European Union activities. And in 2010 the European Journalists of Catalonia Association gave her the Ernest Udina award, in recognition of her work promoting Europe in the media.