October 7, 2019, TORONTO – The Zoryan Institute is pleased to announce that three new members have accepted the Institute’s invitation to serve on its Corporate Board of Directors: Mr. Diran Avedian from Montreal, Canada, Ambassador Armen Yeganian from Yerevan, Armenia, and Mr. Federico Gaitan Hairabedian from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Diran Avedian, Corporate Director

Mr. Avedian is the President and Founder of LACTOPUR INC. For over 40 years, Mr. Avedian has been involved in international trade of commodities.

Diran Avedian is a graduate of the American University of Beirut in Economics and later received his MBA from McGill University in Montreal.

Mr. Avedian is a long-time supporter, philanthropist and representative of the Zoryan Institute. He has provided scholarships for several students from Latin America to attend the Zoryan Institute’s graduate-level Genocide and Human Rights University Program organized in partnership with the University of Toronto History Department.

As a Corporate Director, he will continue to serve as a vital liaison to the academic and Armenian communities in Montreal. He will also continue to help develop many valuable relationships with the Institute, particularly in Latin America.

Federico Gaitan Hairabedian, Corporate Director

Mr. Federico Gaitan Hairabedian is the President of the Luisa Hairabedian Foundation, a fraternal organization to the Zoryan Institute in Buenos Aires. He served as a prosecuting attorney for several years and is currently in private practice in Argentina.

As a Human Rights lawyer, Mr. Hairabedian works on behalf of the families of persons who disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship. Through his work, more than fifty members of the Argentine military dictatorship were brought to justice and condemned for their actions.

Hairabedian is a 2005 alumnus of the Institute’s Genocide and Human Rights University Program. He received his law degree in 2012 and completed postgraduate studies in Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law from 2014-2018.

As a Corporate Director, Federico Gaitan Hairabedian will help the Institute and its affiliated organization, the Luisa Hairabedian Foundation, to expand its activities in Latin America and establish important partnerships with universities and academic institutions as part of the future growth and development plan for the Institute.

Armen Yeganian, Corporate Director

Armen Yeganian was formerly Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada and is now serving as Director of Policy Planning Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Previously he was Chief of the State Protocol Service Agency (2017-2018).

In 1992, Armen Yeganian received Master’s degree from Yerevan State University, graduating from the Armenian History Department. From 1985-1987 he studied Modern History at the Leningrad State University.

As a Corporate Board Member, his role will be critical in guiding and directing the Institute in its efforts in Armenia. He will provide invaluable insight into the Institute’s activities in dealing with the forces and factors that shape Armenia today.

For a complete list of the Institute’s Board of Directors, please visit: https://zoryaninstitute.org/about-us/#team

The Zoryan Institute and its subsidiary, the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, is the first non-profit, international centre devoted to the research and documentation of contemporary issues with a focus on Genocide, Diaspora and Homeland.