Ambassador Roberta Lajous joined the Mexican Foreign Service in 1979 and served for 40 years until her retirement in 2021. She was appointed Ambassador to Austria in 1995-1998, to Cuba in 2002-2005, to Bolivia in 2007-2010 and to Spain in 2014- 2020. She was Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna 1995-1998 the year she served as President of the International Conference of the IAEA. She was also Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York from 2000 to 2002, responsible for Mexico’s participation in the Security Council.

Within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City, she served as director general for North American Affairs 1983-1986 and for European Affairs 1986-1989. She was head of the Instituto Matías Romero (Diplomatic Academy) 1988-2000 and of Mexico´s pro tempore presidency of CELAC 2020.

At the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), she was the editor of the monthly Examen magazine (1990-1995) and Secretary for Internacional Affairs (1992-1994). She also participated in the presidential campaigns of Luis Donaldo Colosio and President Ernesto Zedillo in 1994.

She has published in specialized journals in international affairs, newspapers and magazines. She is the author of the book “Historia mínima de las Relaciones Exteriores de México” published by El Colegio de México. She coordinated the book “Embajadores de Estados Unidos en México” also published by El Colegio de México.

Before she joined the Mexican Foreign Service, she lectured at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in international relations. She holds a BA from El Colegio de México and holds a MA in Latin American Studies from Stanford University. She was President of the Mexican chapter of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) and is now a member of the Global Board. She is also a member of the Board of Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (COMEXI). Within the Council for Global Cooperation, she serves as the Chair of the Latin America Program and is a member of the Board of Governors.