Dr Irina Ghaplanyan is a political scientist, climate negotiator and published author. Irina holds a Doctorate degree in political science from the University of Cambridge. Her main areas of expertise are political leadership, states in transition, climate politics, environmental management, gender and gender in conflict as well as security studies.
Her previous education includes a Masters Degree in Diplomatic Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of London and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from the University of Malta.
Dr Ghaplanyan served as Deputy Minister of Environment for the Republic of Armenia between 2018 and 2020. Currently, Irina acts as a Senior Advisor on Climate Change to the World Bank Group and as International Expert on Climate Change to the FAO, she also teaches at the American University of Armenia. Dr Ghaplanyan has worked in a number of international organizations and think tanks around the world to include UNDP, Georgetown University, Eurasia Foundation, and Chatham House. Irina has been a catalyst for change in the field of sustainable business and social entrepreneurship in Armenia.
Irina was noted for her work in this field and in 2015 was awarded as one of the top social venture entrepreneurs by the Global Good Fund Leadership program in Washington DC.
Dr Ghaplanyan has a number of academic and media publications, among which the most recent is a Routledge published book titled “Post-Soviet Armenia: The New National Elite and the New National Narrative”.
