Mr. Risto Nikovski is graduate from the Faculty of Economics, University of Zagreb, Croatia, and post-graduate of International Economic Relations at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius", in Macedonia. His illustrious diplomatic career included tenures as Member of the Council of International relations, State secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Advisor at the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of former Yugoslavia, Undersecretary at Ministry of Information,

He is a former Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Albania, Great Britain, Ireland and Iceland.

He was a Counselor at the Yugoslav Embassies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jakarta, Indonesia, First secretary at the Yugoslav Embassy in Havana, Cuba and Third secretary in Peking, China

He has attend numerous international conferences, as member of Yugoslav delegations in New York, Vienna, Havana, Nairobi and Bali and in the post -Yugoslav period, he has headed delegations to China, Japan, Indonesia, Great Britain, Swiss Federation, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, Spain, as a representing the Macedonian government.

Before starting his diplomatic career, Mr. Nikovski was Head of the Marketing Department at OHIS, the largest chemical giant in Macedonia.

He is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Russian, and his native Macedonian.

Mr. Nikovski has been an advisor to the Arts Council since 2002, in particular for the implementation of the DOORS project in Albania.