Jaime Lissavetzky Diez, born in Madrid in 1951, holds a doctorate in Chemical Science from Madrid’s Complutense University. He was assistant professor of organic chemistry at the University of Alcalá de Henares and, since sitting a public competitive examination in 1979, has worked as a scientist at the Institute of Medical Chemistry of the High Council for Scientific Research. As an expert in pharmaceutical chemistry, he has published numerous articles in a variety of international scientific journals and has taught doctoral courses at the Complutense, Autónoma and Alcalá de Henares universities.
From 1985 to 1995, Mr Lissavetzky served as Minister of Education, Culture and Sports for the Community of Madrid and achieved the following during his term of office: establishment of the Carlos III University, the Ramón Carande University, the Madrid Training Institute (IMAF), the School of Cinema, the Teatro de la Abadía and the City of the Arts, inauguration of the La Peineta Olympic stadium, and approval of the first regional Research and Development plans.
Mr Lissavetzky was Secretary General of the Socialist Federation of Madrid, and spokesperson for the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Madrid Assembly between 1995 and 2000. He was also a Senator during the VI legislature (1996-2000). As a member of the Congress of Deputies for Madrid during the VII legislature, he was second vice-president of the Science and Technology Commission. Re-elected at the general elections on 14 March 2004, he resigned as deputy upon his appointment in April as Secretary of State and President of the High Council for Sport.
Mr Lissavetzky was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit and the Madrid Complutense University Medal of Honour. He served as president of the Ibero-American Sports Council (CID) from 2004 to 2007. Currently he is Vice-President of the Conference of States Parties to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.
In November 2008 Mr Lissavetzky was elected President of UNESCO’s Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport Committee.
In December 2008 he was honoured by the French Government with the Legion of Honour (Chevalier) Medal.
On 12 December 2008 he was awarded the Oro y Brillantes Medal by the mutual insurance society, Mutualidad General Deportiva.
