Eduardo González
Diplomat María Victoria González Román has been appointed Secretary General of the Council of Spain Foundations with India, Japan, China, and Australia.
A diplomat since 1991, González Román has served at the Spanish embassies in Gabon (1993), Bolivia (1994-1996), Belgium (1999-2004), and the Czech Republic (2004-2008). She has also served as Minister-Counselor at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Permanent Representative of Spain to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE, based in Vienna), and Ambassador on Special Mission for the Alliance of Civilizations and the 2030 Agenda.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she served as Director General for Western, Central, and Southeastern Europe, responsible for coordinating political relations in that region. Her last posting was as Spain’s ambassador to Denmark from 2022 until January 2025, when she was replaced by Salvador Rueda Rabanal.
González Román’s appointment was officially announced during the recent meetings of the Boards of Trustees of each of the Council Foundations.
Specifically, the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Spain-India Council Foundation took place in early December at the Acciona Campus, with the participation of the Foundation’s president, Juan Ignacio Entrecanales; the new Indian ambassador to Spain, Shri Jayant N. Khobragade, in his first meeting with the Board of Trustees since his appointment; and the Director General for North America, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Luis Fonseca. At the meeting, it was announced that 2026 will be marked by the celebration of the Spain-India Dual Year.
The Board of Trustees of the Spain-China Foundation met on December 15th in the presence of the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Global Relations, Diego Martínez Belío, who recalled the recent State Visit of the King and Queen to China in November. The Board approved the 2026 Action Plan, which highlights the 10th Spain-China Forum, to be held in Spain in a city and on a date yet to be determined.
Finally, the Board of Trustees of the Spain-Japan Foundation also met on December 15th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and approved its 2026 Action Plan, which includes the 26th Spain-Japan Forum to be held in Japan, in a city yet to be announced.
The Council of Foundations network is comprised of private, non-profit institutions whose purpose is to promote mutual understanding between Spain and other countries, improve the institutional framework of the countries in which they work, and strengthen Spain’s image abroad. The Council Foundations, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are comprised of public and private companies, organizations, and institutions, whose representatives serve on the various boards of trustees. The presidencies of the different Council Foundations are held by presidents and executives of large companies.