At an elegant ceremony Thursday evening, the British Embassy in Argentina’s communications director, Oliver Galak, was awarded the prestigious Member of the Order of the British Empire honor for services to “the promotion of UK interests in and people-to-people links with Argentina.” 

British Ambassador to Argentina, Kirsty Hayes, presented Galak with the honor at the Embassy in Buenos Aires. The award — commonly known as an MBE — was approved by King Charles III, and recognizes “achievement or service in and to the community which is outstanding in its field and has delivered sustained and real impact which stands out as an example to others.”

Galak told the Herald he was “very honored” by the award, adding: “many people I admire, from different walks of cultural, political and scientific life, have received this honor in the past, and I did not expect that the Embassy, and ultimately the His Majesty The King, would consider my contribution worthy of such recognition.”

He added that he was “deeply grateful to Ambassador Hayes and to my colleagues at the Embassy who work every day with me to improve communication between the people of our two countries.”

Galak is a journalist and communications specialist who has worked at the British Embassy in Argentina since 2017. Before joining the team, he worked as a reporter at La Nación newspaper and in communications for the United States Embassy in Argentina.

Other Argentine nationals to have received honors in the Order of the British Empire include business magnate Eduardo Eurnekian, who received an OBE in 2020; economist Silvana Tenreyro, who received a CBE in 2023; and Shakespeare Festival director Patricio Orozco, who received a British Empire Medal in 2019. 

The British government awards these honors to “to those who go above and beyond for the community or country.”