Luis Ovsejevich

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Dr. Luis Ovsejevich
Founder and President of the Konex Foundation
Founder of the Konex Awards

Born in Buenos Aires (Argentine) on September 13, 1941. Lawyer (University of Buenos Aires, 1960). Doctoral studies at the National University of La Plata. Piano Professor (1960). Businessman.
Associate Professor of Civil Law III – Contracts at the Faculty of Law (UBA, 1962–74) and of Private Law Institutions at the Faculty of Economic Sciences (UBA, 1966–70). Professor of Family and Inheritance Law (UM, 1964–1967). Diploma in Comparative Law I, II, and III (Faculté Internationale pour l’Enseignement du Droit Comparé, Strasbourg, France, 1965, 1967, and 1970).
Published works include: Legítima (1963), Common Market (1964), Institutions of Private Law (1969), Consent (1971), Invalidity and Ineffectiveness due to Will Defects (1973).
Founder and President of Konex-Canon, created in 1969, which was transferred to Canon USA in 1998.
General Director ad honorem of the Colón Theater (1998–99).
Founder and President of the Konex Foundation since its creation in 1980.
In 2005 he created Ciudad Cultural Konex.
President of the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires (2017–2018).
In 2019 he directed the Restoration Project of the Assembly Hall of the UBA Faculty of Law.
He has received numerous awards, among them: Tribute from Konex Awardees and Jurors (1997). Mecenas (1987 and 2004). Benefactor of National Culture (1997). ADE Award (2003). Sol de Plata (Sun of Silver) from the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires (2004). Security Award (2008). Scopus Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2011). Gratia Artis from the National Academy of Fine Arts (2016). Declaration of “Cultural Interest” by the Buenos Aires City Legislature for the Konex Awards and Ciudad Cultural Konex (2019). Distinguished Personality in the Field of Culture (2023) by the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires.
In 2014 he published his autobiography Album of My Life and in 2024 an Addendum to his Autobiography covering the period 2014–2024.

Extended Biography

Personal information

I. Professional and Academic Activity

Degrees and Postgraduate Studies
• Lawyer (1960). Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires.
• Notary Public (1960). Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires.
• Doctorate (1963). Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, National University of La Plata.
• Corporate Lawyer (1966). Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires.
• Diploma in Comparative Law, Cycles I, II, and III, awarded by the Faculté Internationale pour l’Enseignement du Droit Comparé, Strasbourg, France (1965–1967–1970).

Other Titles
• Piano professor.

Scholarships
• For the completion of Cycles I, II, and III of Comparative Law organized by the Faculté Internationale pour l’Enseignement du Droit Comparé, Strasbourg, France.

Academic teaching positions
• Associate Professor (by competitive examination) at the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Chair of Civil Law III, “Contracts” (1962–1974).
• Associate Professor (by competitive examination) at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Chair of “Institutions of Private Law” (1966–1970).
• Full Professor, Chair of “Family and Inheritance Law,” University of Morón (1964–1967).

Publications
• Legítima (forced heirship) (1963) – PDF download
• Common Market (1964) – PDF download
• Heirs and Universal Successors (1964) – PDF download
• Repurchase Agreement (1965) – PDF download
• Resale Agreement (1965) – PDF download
• Petition of Inheritance (1966) – PDF download
• Possession of Inheritance (1966) – PDF download
• Revocation of Donations (1968) – PDF download
• Analytical Development of Private Law Institutions (1968)
• Institutions of Private Law (1969)
• Consent (1971) – PDF download
• Invalidity and Ineffectiveness due to Will Defects (1973) – PDF download
• Album of My Life (2014) – Autobiography published by Eudeba – PDF download – view online
• Album of My Life – Addendum 2024 (Period 2014–2024) – PDF download – view online

II. Institutional activities

A) Konex Foundation
Founder and President of the Konex Foundation since its creation in 1980. (fundacionkonex.org)
Its activities include:

• Konex Awards: The most notable activity is the annual granting of the Konex Awards, since 1980, to the most distinguished personalities and institutions in all areas of national activity. Each year a different field is recognized, and the cycle repeats every ten years.

• Konex Mercosur: Since 2002, the Grand Jury has had the authority to grant Konex Mercosur Awards to the most relevant living personalities from Mercosur countries.

• Konex Decoration: The Konex Foundation also awards the Konex Decoration to honor distinguished figures worldwide for their significant contributions to universal culture. It was granted to Yehudi Menuhin in 1994 and Mstislav Rostropovich in 2002.

• Vamos a la Música (Let’s Go to the Music): Since 1991, the “Vamos a la Música” Cycle has presented operas, ballets, concerts, tango, and musicals adapted for children, with the goal of promoting appreciation of these important artistic expressions. These include “Vamos a la Ópera” (Let’s go to the Opera) “Vamos al Ballet” (Let’s go to the Ballet), “Vamos al Concierto” (Let’s go to the Concert), “Vamos al Tango” (Let’s go to the Tango) and “Vamos a la Comedia” (Let’s go to the Comedy). When presented at the Colón Theatre, the series is called “Vamos al Colón” (Let’s go to the Colon). (vamosalamusica.org)

• Konex Classical Music Festivals: Since 2015, the Foundation has organized Classical Music Festivals at Ciudad Cultural Konex. (festivalkonex.org)
- 2015: Great Composers in history
- 2016: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- 2017: Ludwig van Beethoven
- 2018: Bach, Vivaldi, and the Baroque
- 2019: Chopin and Romanticism
- 2021: Tchaikovsky and the Russian School
- 2022: Verdi, Wagner, and Opera
- 2023: Brahms and Gypsy Music
- 2024: Bizet and French Music
- 2025: Great German Masters

• Piazzolla Experience: In 2016, 2018, 2020 (“Road to the Centennial”) and 2021 (“Centennial Edition”), tributes were held celebrating the music of Astor Piazzolla. (experienciapiazzolla.com)

• Ciudad Cultural Konex (Konex Cultural City): In 2005, Ciudad Cultural Konex was inaugurated, a space where diverse cultural expressions coexist and interact, with the shared goal of enriching the community’s cultural and artistic life. (cckonex.org)

• Konex Culture Festivals: Since 2003, several Culture Festivals have been held.
- Jan–Mar 2003: First Festival, in Mar del Plata.
- Jan–Mar 2004: “Festival Verano Porteño,” in Buenos Aires, at Ciudad Cultural Konex.
- Feb–Apr 2005: “Festival de Teatro Griego,” marking “25 Years of Konex Culture – 25 Centuries of Greek Culture.”
- Feb 2005: “Festival Campo Konex,” (Country Konex Festival) held in the village Carlos Keen (Luján, Province of Buenos Aires).

• Konex Awards Books:
- In 2008, the Book of the Konex Awards 1980–2007. History – Awardees – Juries was published, presenting the general history of the Awards. [See online version]
- In 2010, the Konex Awards: Who’s Who. 30 Years: 1980–2009 was released, including biographical summaries of all awardees and jurors. [See online version]
Both publications were endorsed by 18 National Academies, the Secretariat of Culture of the Presidency of the Nation, and the Ministry of Culture of the Buenos Aires City Government.

• Argentine Painting Collection: Since 1994, the Foundation has assembled a collection of Argentine painting, featuring works by leading artists. The collection now includes over 100 works and is itinerant.
- In September 2001, it was exhibited at the Shanghai Art Museum (China), with the sponsorship of the Department of International Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- From January to March 2003, it was exhibited in Mar del Plata, at the “Juan Carlos Castagnino” Municipal Museum of Art, as part of the 1st Konex Culture Festival.

• Other Activities:
- Organizes regular Master Chess Tournaments.
- Grants Awards for Novels, Short Stories, Painting, and Ecological Research.
- Established the Teodoro Ovsejevich Annual Scholarship, primarily to encourage Scientific Research.
- Established the Aída Ovsejevich Scholarship, to promote the Arts.
- Grants scholarships and subsidies to individuals and public-interest institutions.

B) Teatro Colón
General Director of the Teatro Colón from May 5, 1998, to December 10, 1999, ad honorem.

C) Other institutions
He is or has been a member of the Boards of Directors of various institutions, among them:
• Argentine Advertisers Chamber (Cámara Argentina de Anunciantes)
• ORT Argentina Association
• Argentine Franchising Association
• Tzedaká Foundation
• Wagnerian Association of Buenos Aires (Asociación Wagneriana de Buenos Aires)
• Weizmann Scientific Institute
• Friends of Tel Aviv University Association
• Rotary Club of Buenos Aires (where he served as President during the 2017–2018 term).

D) Rotary Club of Buenos Aires
President of the Rotary Club of Buenos Aires from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018.
• Achieved an increase of 92 new members, bringing the club to 282, the highest number since 1991/1992.
• Incorporated 18 Ambassadors as honorary members.
• Organized two cycles of conferences with distinguished personalities, generating strong media coverage.
• Promoted significant financial improvement for the club, attracting 22 sponsors and achieving a large surplus.
• Received several awards in recognition of his leadership.

E) Faculty of Law, University of Buenos Aires – Restoration of the Assembly Hall
He undertook the restoration of the Assembly Hall, which was in severe deterioration. The work began on January 4, 2019.
• Led a team that successfully completed the restoration by April 1, less than 90 days after the start of the project.
• Seats were repaired and reupholstered with fireproof fabric; two LED screens were installed; carpeting was replaced; the padded paneling (capitoné) and handles of the entrance doors were renewed; improvements were made to the stage; additional stools were added, among other works.
• Safety improvements were implemented for evacuation and spaces were provided for people with reduced mobility.
• New technological equipment was acquired for live video and streaming.
• A Special Book was published on the history of the Assembly Hall and the Restoration Project.
• The project was carried out with the support of companies, law firms, lawyers, and individuals who contributed as Benefactors.
• On April 9, 2019, a concert by Camerata Bariloche was held to celebrate the reopening of the Assembly Hall.

Publication: Book of the Restoration of the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Law – UBA (2019)

III. Distinctions

A) Awards received personally and/or as President of the Konex Foundation

Among the many distinctions received, the following stand out:
• Mecenas Award (1987).
• Argentine Association of Music Critics (1991): for the creation of the “Vamos a la Ópera” (Let’s go to the Opera) Cycle, considered the most significant cultural event for developing new audiences.
• Rómulo Raggio Foundation Medal of Merit (1993): for promoting Argentine culture.
• Benefactor of National Culture (1997): awarded by the National Secretariat of Culture.
• ADE Award (2003): Business and Community category, for Konex Foundation.
• Mecenas Award again (2004).
• Sol de Plata (Sun of Silver) Award, Rotary Club of Buenos Aires (2004).
• Security Award (2008): for “Career in Culture.”
• Scopus Award (2011): awarded by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (See video of the ceremony)
• Distinction from the Embassy of Austria in Argentina (2011): for his permanent commitment to human rights and non-discrimination.
• Gratia Artis Award, National Academy of Fine Arts (2016): for supporting the arts beyond creative work.
• Distinction from the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires (2019): for declaring the Konex Awards and Ciudad Cultural Konex of “Cultural Interest.”
• Distinguished Personality in the field of Culture (2023): by the Legislature of the City of Buenos Aires. (See video of the ceremony)

B) Tribute from Konex Awardees and JuriesIn 1997, in recognition of his long-standing role as creator of the Konex Awards (at that time, it had been 18 years of activity), all those who had been awardees (1,800) and jurors (360) up to that date paid tribute to him at the Cervantes National Theatre.
The tribute was coordinated by the University of Business and Social Sciences (UCES) and endorsed by:
• National Secretary of Culture
• Secretary of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires
• National Academy of Agronomy and Veterinary Sciences
• National Academy of Fine Arts
• National Academy of Sciences of Buenos Aires
• National Academy of Economic Sciences
• National Academy of Exact, Physical, and Natural Sciences
• National Academy of Law and Social Sciences of Córdoba
• National Academy of Geography
• National Academy of Medicine
• National Academy of Journalism

IV. Business Activity

Founder and President of Konex S.A., created in 1969, exclusive distributor in Argentina of Canon Japan’s line of office machines. In 1998, he transferred the entire shareholding package to Canon U.S.A.