Emília Sičáková-Beblavá, also known as Emilia Sicakova, PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

. (born 1975 in Snina

Snina

Snina is a town in Slovakia located at the confluence of the Cirocha river and the small river Pčolinka in the valley between the Beskydy foothills and the mountain of Vihorlat. It is the closest town with rail and bus connections to the Poloniny National Park.-History:The oldest written records...

, Slovakia

Slovakia

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...

) is head of Transparency International Slovakia, a chapter of Transparency International

Transparency International

Transparency International is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a comparative listing of corruption worldwide...

, a global non-governmental organization

Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...

 devoted to fighting corruption

Political corruption

Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...

. She is one of the foremost anticorruption activists and policy analysts in Slovakia.

Sičáková-Beblavá graduated from high school in Michalovce

Michalovce

Michalovce is a town on the Laborec river in eastern Slovakia, with a population around 40,000. It is the biggest town of the Michalovce District in the Košice Region.-Geography:...

 and received an Ing. degree (M.A. equivalent) in Commerce from the Economic University in Bratislava

Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...

 in 1998. In 2004, she received her PhD from the same university based on a thesis

Thesis

A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...

 focusing on the role of multilateral institutions in fighting corruption. In 2003, she spent a semester at the Yale University

Yale University

Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...

 as one of its World Fellows

Yale World Fellows Program

The Yale World Fellows Program is a program run by Yale University that seeks to build a network of emerging global leaders and broaden international understanding at Yale...

.

In 1998, Dr. Sičáková co-founded the Slovak chapter of Transparency International, and was a member of its worldwide Executive Board from 2001 until 2004.

She is married to Miroslav Beblavý, who was the State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic between 2002 and 2006 and is currently the Executive Director of the Slovak Governance Institute. She has one son, Pavol.