May 26, 2024
WoEgypt

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi appointed Dr. Jean Zaki a Executive Director of the Grand Egyptian Museum. Gehane Zaki, Phd,  is a member of the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and she was the first female to Head the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts in Rome from 2012 to 2019.

Gihane Zaki studied at the Universities of Helwan (Cairo), and and Université Lumière Lyon 2, France,  up until 2000, when she received her (PhD) in Egyptology. 

Following the completion of her educational journey, Gihane Zaki went back to Cairo where she joined the Helwan University’s teaching staff to be in charge of courses for “Civilization and Religion of Ancient Egypt” as well as courses for « History of Art ». In parallel, she supervised Masters and PhD programmes in Egyptology, History of Art in collaboration with different European Universities.

MP Gehan Zaki  is also a member of the Egyptian Scientific Society, the oldest scientific society in Egypt. Its membership is for life.

For almost 10 years (2003-2012), Gihane Zaki acquired a large experience in the International Organisations realm as she was a key player of the Egyptian Government for the World Heritage convention for the protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage as well as different strategic UNESCO dossiers in regards with the Egyptian Culture.

In 2011 Gihane Zaki moved to UNESCO’s regional office and dealt with the World Heritage dossier of Egypt as Consultant for UNESCO. In September of 2012, Gihane Zaki started a new path, after winning the National Concours launched by the egyptian government for the prestigious position of Director of the « Accademia di Belli Arti d’Egitto a Roma » to be the first woman taking the lead of this unique arab and african renowned cultural platform in Europe, since it opened in 1929.

Gihane Zaki received numerous awards and honors, among them the « Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite », the honorific Membership of the German Institute for archeology (2010) and others. She has represented the Egyptian government at the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.