Following the conclusion of the 1st World Gastronomy Summit in Barcelona, IGCAT is proud to announce its newest Ambassadors, recognising exceptional leadership and dedication to safeguarding and promoting food and cultural diversity worldwide. The announcement was made during a celebratory interlude featuring a trio performance accompanied by Cava and traditional Catalan Coca.
The IGCAT Ambassador Award honours individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting IGCAT’s mission and values, highlighting the transformative role of gastronomy in education, sustainability, and cultural exchange.
The new Ambassadors are:
- Vincenzo Russo – Sicily, European Region of Gastronomy 2025
- Orazio Bellettini Cedeño – Manabí, World Region of Gastronomy 2026, Ecuador
- Mayada Badr – Aseer, World Region of Gastronomy 2024, Saudi Arabia
- Mai Damgaard – Food Film Menu
- Jaume Gomila – Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy 2022
- Robert Oliver – Food Film Menu
- Robert Palmer – Honorary Ambassador
- Emanuela Panke – Honorary Ambassador
- Davinia Galea – Gozo, European Region of Gastronomy 2026
These distinguished individuals join a legacy of previous IGCAT Ambassadors, including Count Francisco de Calheiros (Minho, European Region of Gastronomy 2016), George Hatzimarkos (South Aegean, European Region of Gastronomy 2019), Joan Roca (European Young Chef Award), Ana Roš (World Food Gift Challenge), Blanca Cros i Moll, Ramon Sentmartí and Lluís Serra (Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025), and Votausi Mackenzie-Reur (Vanuatu, candidate World Region of Gastronomy 2027, Pacific Islands). Together, these Ambassadors have championed gastronomy as a force for cultural preservation, sustainable development, education, and community empowerment across regions and generations.
Each Ambassador has contributed to IGCAT’s global mission in unique ways, from supporting small-scale producers and promoting local culinary heritage, to advancing educational initiatives and harnessing the power of visual media to tell the stories of food and culture.
“By awarding these new Ambassadors, we celebrate leadership that bridges cultures and disciplines, and reinforces the role of gastronomy in community well-being, cultural policy, and sustainability”, said Dr. Diane Dodd, President of IGCAT.
These Ambassadors continue to inspire and strengthen the global gastronomy network, exemplifying the transformative power of food in education, cultural preservation, and sustainable development. The announcement reaffirms IGCAT’s commitment to recognising leadership that bridges cultures and disciplines, placing gastronomy at the heart of sustainable development, cultural policy, and community well-being.
