Karel Kovanda (Order of Thomas Garrigue Masaryk 2nd Class) is a former Czech Ambassador with extensive experience in European affairs, international security and multilateral diplomacy. He was the first Czech Ambassador to the United Nations (1993-1997), first Czech Ambassador to NATO and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (1998-2005) and then Deputy-Director General for International Relations in the European Commission and EC Political Director (2005-2010).   From 2015 to 2026 he was Senior Advisor at Covington & Burling LLP, focusing on EU institutional relations and Central and Eastern Europe. (based in Brussels)

‍