The Japan Art Association is pleased to announce the appointment of former Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni and President of the Association of Large French Companies Patricia Barbizet as International Advisors to the Praemium Imperiale. Mr. Gentiloni and Ms. Barbizet will preside over the Italian Nomination Committee and the French Nomination Committee respectively, recommending candidates for the Praemium Imperiale Awards.

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Mr. Gentiloni succeeds Mr. Lamberto Dini, former Prime Minister of Italy, who has served as International Advisor since 2005. He becomes the fourth Italian International Advisor, following Mr. Amintore Fanfani, Mr. Umberto Agnelli, and Mr. Dini.

Paolo Gentiloni (Born November 22, 1954 / Rome, Italy)
Mr. Gentiloni is a descendant of the distinguished Gentiloni Silveri comital family. He studied political science at Sapienza University of Rome before beginning his professional career as a journalist and subsequently entering public service. He was first elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 2001. Rising as a prominent figure within the center-left, he went on to hold a series of senior government posts, including Minister of Communications in the Prodi government (2006–2008) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the Renzi government (2014–2016).

In December 2016, following the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, he assumed office as Prime Minister of Italy. His government focused on ensuring domestic political stability while maintaining a strong commitment to international cooperation, and he led the country until June 2018.

After leaving the premiership, he served as European Commissioner for Economy from 2019 to 2024, playing a pivotal role in coordinating the European Union’s economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the stewardship of major recovery funds.

He currently serves as Co-Chair of the United Nations High-Level Expert Group on the Global Debt Crisis and as Chair of the European Investment Bank Global Advisory Council. In addition, he is a Nonresident Distinguished Fellow at the Brookings Institution, a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe (Bologna), and an Adjunct Professor at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.

Renowned for his moderate, dialogue-oriented, and consensus-building political style, Mr. Gentiloni commands deep trust and respect on the international stage.

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Ms. Barbizet succeeds Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France, who has served as International Advisor since 2013. She becomes the fifth French International Advisor, following Mr. Jacques Chirac, Mr. Raymond Barre, Mr. François Pinault, and Mr. Raffarin.

Patricia Barbizet (Born April 17, 1955 / Paris, France)
Ms. Barbizet is one of the most influential figures in the French business community. In 2023, she became the first woman to serve as President of the Association of Large French Companies (AFEP), which represents France’s leading private corporations.

Raised in a family deeply rooted in art and culture—as the daughter of painter Monique Cartier and film producer Philippe Dussart, with siblings also active in the arts—she developed a natural familiarity with, and profound knowledge of, culture and the arts from an early age.

After graduating from ESCP Business School, she held several senior financial positions at Renault before joining the Pinault Group (Kering) as Chief Financial Officer in 1989. She subsequently spent nearly three decades leading Artémis, the Pinault family's investment company, as the closest collaborator of François Pinault. Her unparalleled track record in the corporate world is underscored by her service on the boards of global giants such as Kering, Air France-KLM, Bouygues, PSA Peugeot Citroën, and TotalEnergies, as well as lead independent director of Pernod Ricard.

Concurrently, she has demonstrated formidable leadership at the pinnacle of the cultural sphere, serving as the first female CEO of the major art auction house Christie’s International (2014–2016), Chair of the Philharmonie de Paris (2016–2023), and a board member of the Opéra National de Paris.

Combining outstanding expertise in corporate governance, a deep and lifelong engagement with the arts, and an extensive global network bridging the worlds of economy and culture, Ms. Barbizet stands as a rare and influential leader of international stature.

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International Advisors
In addition to Mr. Gentiloni and Ms. Barbizet, the Praemium Imperiale is supported by three other International Advisors: Lord Patten of Barnes (Christopher Patten, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford), Prof. Klaus-Dieter Lehmann (former President of the Goeth-Institut), and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton (former U.S. Secretary of State).

Each International Advisor recommends candidates across five categories and announces the Laureates in their respective countries.