Ana Urkiza Ibaibarriaga (Ondarroa, Bizkaia, 10 January 1969) is a writer, translator, communications expert and a leading promoter of the Basque language and culture. Since 19 September 2020, she has been president of Eusko Ikaskuntza - Sociedad de Estudios Vascos, the first woman to hold this position in the more than one hundred years of history of the institution.
She holds a degree in Social and Information Sciences from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and a diploma in Linguistics from the UNED. She has completed postgraduate studies in Business and Commercial Communication, Commercial Banking, and Human Resources Management. She has also taught Communication at the University of Deusto 2003 and 2010.
Professionally, she has held various positions of responsibility in the business sector. She was head of communication at the Ideko Technology Centre (1995-1996) and at the Danobat Group (1996-2000). Since 2007, she has headed the Internal Communication and Training departments, as well as the Human Resources Department of Bankoa Crédit Agricole (now Abanca).
Urkiza has been a member of the Basque Advisory Council of the Basque Government since 2000. 2004 and 2006 she was Managing Secretary of Euskal Idazleen Elkartea. In 2016, she was awarded the Elhuyar Prize for her work in promoting Basque in the business world.
As a writer, she is the author of some thirty works in Basque covering a wide range of literary genres, from poetry, narrative and aphorisms to children's and young people's literature, biographies and translations. Her work also includes interviews and essays, and she writes articles for the media and specialised magazines. Her versatility as an author is evident in titles as diverse as:
- Narrative and essay: Desira izoztuak (2000, translated as Deseos de hielo), Bekatuak (2005), Atzorako Geratzen Dena (2011), Mamuak (2014), Garen hori (2021).
- Poetry: Gela ilunetik (2000), Bazterreko ahotsa (2002), Nire hiriko poemak (2006).
- Literature for children and young people: Nik betaurrekoak ditut, eta zer? (2001), Ondarruko piratak (2003).
- Aphorisms and other genres: two books of aphorisms, books of interviews and works focusing on Basque cultural identity.
Throughout her career she has been awarded several literary prizes, thus consolidating her reputation within the Basque cultural scene. She currently lives in San Sebastian and continues to develop her creative and professional work in the service of culture, communication and Basque society.