Experience

• 

  European Union in Aotearoa New Zealand

  • Ambassador

    • Dec 2023 - Present

• 

  European Commission

  • Belgium
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Director - Neighbourhood East & Institution Building - DG NEAR

    • Dec 2015 - Nov 2023

    I manage our relations and cooperation with Eastern Partnership countries to promote EU values and interests.To this end, I lead 180 passionate and motivated civil servants, of which 90 work in EU Delegations, and oversee an annual cooperation budget of EUR 500 million. Over a 5-year period, this budget is leveraging EUR 17 billion of investments through public-private partnerships.In response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full scale invasion of Ukraine, I redirected EU support to help meet immediate humanitarian needs. To showcase the EU’s positive impact in the region, I launched the Young European Ambassadors programme. Together with 900+ young multipliers, we communicate on the EU in local languages across all major social media platforms.

  • Head of Unit - Policy & Strategy - DG NEAR / Enlargement

    • Mar 2013 - Nov 2015

    Shaped a team of 18 people to deliver high quality briefings, reports and speeches under tight deadlines.

  • Acting Director - Policy & Strategy - DG Enlargement

    • Nov 2013 - Aug 2014

    Negotiated Council conclusions on the new EU enlargement strategy. In the final document, Member States agreed on the need for active and credible accession negotiations — and underlined the importance of the rule of law & EU values in the process.

• 

  European Commission

  • Belgium
  • Government Administration
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Head of Unit - Kosovo issues - DG Enlargement

    • Mar 2009 - Feb 2013

    Negotiated politically sensitive issues related to Kosovo’s European perspective shortly after the unilateral declaration of independence. Laid the groundwork for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

  • Assistant to the Director-General - DG Enlargement

    • Feb 2006 - Feb 2009

  • Cabiner Member - Commissioner for Development

    • Nov 2004 - Jan 2006

  • Team Leader - Former USSR & Balkans Directorate - EuropeAid

    • Jan 2001 - Nov 2004

  • Programme Manager - Former USSR Directorate - DG External Relations

    • Mar 2000 - Dec 2000

  • Programme Manager - Training & Youth, International Unit - DG Education

    • Feb 1997 - Feb 2000

• 

  UK government

  • Civil Servant

    • Sep 1993 - Dec 1996

    At the start of my career, I worked on economic & development cooperation with former Soviet Union countries. I was responsible for technical assistance programmes that supported independent media, human rights and rural development.