Ambassador of Mexico to France
Ms. Blanca Jiménez Cisneros took office as Ambassador of Mexico to France on August 30, 2021. She has a rich experience as a civil servant and researcher, particularly in environmental engineering, water management, climate change and scientific diplomacy. Throughout her career, she has worked in academic research, government and international multilateral organizations.
An environmental engineer (1980), Ms. Jiménez Cisneros holds a master's degree in pollution control (1982), a doctorate with first class honors (1985) and a post-doctorate in wastewater treatment and reuse. During her 35 years of experience, she has held several leadership positions with public institutions and prestigious Mexican universities. From 2018 to 2021, she served as Director General of the Mexican National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the institution responsible for the management and preservation of national waters and water security in Mexico. She is a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Autonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico.
Internationally, she resided for a year in South Africa to monitor water and food projects at the University of Pretoria, in partnership with UNAM. She was a staff member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), where she served as Director of the Division of Water Sciences and Head of the Intergovernmental Integrated Hydrological Programme with 165 countries from all regions. Since 2004, she has been a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), where she has written, coordinated and edited publications in the areas of water, cities, North America and the relationship between water, energy, food and the environment.
She is a former project manager on more than 194 projects, including 31 international projects, and has served as a senior consultant on 10 programs, including multilateral international organizations. She is the author of more than 509 articles in journals and books, as well as 24 norms or rules in Mexico and internationally. She has delivered more than 310 invited lectures in Mexico and abroad, not only in her area of expertise, but also in disciplines of general interest.
In addition, Ms. Jiménez Cisneros is a member of the editorial boards and reviews articles for more than 60 Mexican and international journals.
Awards and Decorations
- National Environmental Engineering Award (2016)
- Global Water Award (2010)
- National Science and Arts Award (2009)
- Heberto Castillo Medal for the Environment (2008)
- National University Award in Technological Development (2008)
- Nobel Peace Prize (2007, as a member of the IPCC)
- University Merit Medal of the University of Veracruz (2006)
- National Ecology Award (2006)
- Royal Order of the Polar Cross (2002, awarded by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden)
- Prize for Ecology and Environment of the Miguel Alemán Valdés Foundation (2001)