Mayor of Bilbao
country:Spain
website: www.bilbao.net/nuevobilbao/jsp/bilbao/pwepla00.jsp?idioma=I&color=rojo&padre=exa&subtema=10
Bio
The Mayor - Iñaki Azkuna Urreta
Date of birth
14 February 1943
Professional Background
• Degree in Medicine and Surgery (1966, Salamanca)
• Doctorate 'cum laude' (1971, Salamanca)
• "Assistant Etranger' at Broussais Hospital, University of Paris (1971-1972)
• Specialist in Radiology and Cardiology.
• Professor of Physical Medicine and Radiology at the University of the Basque Country (since 1973).
• Associate Doctor at the Hospital de Cruces since 1973. Subsequently, Head of Department and since 1986, Head of Radiology Unit.
• In 1979, Chair of the Board of Hospitals of the Bizkaia Medical Association.
• In 1981, Director of the Hospital de Cruces.
Political Posts
• In June 1982, Director of Hospitals of the Basque Government.
• From 1983-87, Director General of Osakidetza (Basque Health Service).
• From July 1989 to February 1991, Director-Secretary of the Presidency of the Basque Government.
• From February 1991 to May 1999, Health Minister of the Basque Government.
• From July 1999 to present, Mayor of Bilbao.
• President of Eurocities from 22 October 1999 to 27 October 2000.
• Currently President of the International Association Cities and Ports.
• Awarded the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Health by the Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs on 31 January 2000.
Other positions
• Chair of the Board of Directors of the publishing company Iparraguirre S. A, publishers of DEIA (1988-89) and Muga.
Works and Publications
• Over 100 articles and communications in the speciality of Cardiovascular Radiology, in: Journal of the Spanish Society of Radiology; Journal of the Spanish Society of Cardiology; American Heart Journal; Archives des maladies du Coeur, etc.
• Author of the book Radioangiografía de las cardiopatías Congénitas (1988).
• Co-author of Tratado de Cardiología Pediátrica /Salvat, 1983).
Scientific Societies
• Spanish Society of Cardiology.
• French Society of Cardiology.
• Basque Association of Radiologists, etc.
• Basque Navarra Society of Cardiology.
Recreational Societies
• Member of ABAO, Bilbao Friends of the Opera Association.
• Member of the Bilbao Philharmonic.
• Friend of the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts.
• Friend of the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. Friend of the Arriaga Theatre.
Photo credits:
photo 1,2, 6 + profile ©Iñaki Azkuna
photo 3, 4 ©www.bilbao.net
photo 5 ©Alex Vandoros
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My point of view:
on Architecture and Politics
Interview Date: 15-12-2010
Every city in the world wants to become a viable city, on a human scale if possible. How would you characterize your city?
Public spaces, green spaces, public transport. Is the urban environment of your city satisfactory for the people who live in it?
Is the world financial crisis an opportunity for everyone to reconsider the ways that we design and construct the buildings and the urban environment?
I believe that citizens are increasingly aware of the environment and sustainability. The crisis helps us to sharpen our ingenuity, but I think the new generations have taken a giant mental leap in this respect.
In recent years attention turns to green urban regeneration. Do you think that it is imperative for the city or it’s just a new fashion with economic outcomes and covertly interests?
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