Ambassador Braže advises the Secretary General on issues within her remit, oversees the coordination of all Strategic Communications activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies and commands, and also directs all public diplomacy activities (except press and media, which are directed by the NATO Spokesperson on behalf of the Secretary General).

ASG PDD directs the Public Diplomacy Division (PDD), which plays a key role in conveying the Alliance’s strategic and political messages to opinion formers and to the public in general. Baiba Braže was born in Riga, Latvia. She holds two Masters degrees from the University of Latvia: one in Law (1990) and another in Communication Science (2002).

Ambassador Braže served most recently as Latvia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom (August 2016-early May 2020), prior to which she was Director General Security Policy and International Organizations (June 2011-January 2016) and Director General of the Communications Directorate (February 2016-July 2016) at the Latvian Foreign Ministry in Riga.

Ambassador Braže previously served as Latvia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (July 2003-August 2008), prior to which she was Director of the Europe Department, served as Foreign Policy and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister in Riga. She has held numerous other posts since joining the Foreign Ministry in August 1993, both at home (Legal Department, International Organizations Department) and abroad (United Nations, New York).

In addition to Latvian, Ambassador Braže is fluent in English and Russian, and speaks Dutch proficiently.

Follow Ambassador Braže on Twitter @NATOBrazeB, Instagram @baibabraze and on LinkedIn.

Cornelia leads Microsoft’s European Responsible Tech & Competition team which focuses on new technologies and their impact on society and markets. Her team covers policies responsible AI, digital safety and content regulation, privacy, law enforcement access to data, human rights, competition and health & life science. As part of Microsoft’s Academic Program, she engages with leading European scholars to advance tech law. Cornelia has a long-standing experience in Information Society & Internet policies and speaks regularly at regional and international conferences. Before joining Microsoft, she led the legal department of BEUC, the European Consumer Organisation. She has also gained experience in a top 10 law firm and in a social fund focused on European labour law. She started her professional career in the European Parliament as a political advisor. Cornelia is a qualified German lawyer and holds a master's degree in information technology and telecommunication laws. She studied law at the Universities of Passau, Porto, Hamburg and Glasgow/Strathclyde.

Kvarving is a Norwegian national, currently Officer in Command of the Education and Training Department (ETD) at the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM). She has served as Head teacher for UN Operations at the Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC), been seconded from Norway as Gender Adviser at the Politico-Military Domain to OSCE, worked as Senior Staff Officer at the Norwegian Defence Staff on equality, diversity and gender perspectives (WPS agenda), Leader of the Gender Project at NDUC, and various military positions in Norway, USA and Afghanistan. In addition to her military higher education and training, she holds a PhD in Political Science from University of Oslo.

Her doctoral thesis revealed cultural, structural and functional factors that affect implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the Norwegian Armed Forces and NATO. Her Master degree from London MET compared the work for equal opportunities in the EU and the Council of Europe. She has also led a centre for refugees for Norwegian People’s Aid, and she has published and lectured widely internationally in cooperation with NGOs, IGOs and international security organizations. Kvarving has supported the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with her expertise i.e. China, Lithuania, and in the Human Rights Dialogue with Indonesia. She is a member of Nordic Women Mediators (NWM), and has been a Steering Committee member of the NCGM and the Norwegian delegate to NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives for several years.

Dr. Manfred Boudreaux-Dehmer is the inaugural Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He commenced his position at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on September 1, 2021. His principal responsibility is to realize the Allies’ vision for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in support of NATO’s purpose to guarantee the freedom and security of its 30 member nations. Under the mandate of the North Atlantic Council, and under the delegated authority of the NATO Secretary General, he is tasked with facilitating ICT coherence across NATO’s 41 civil and military bodies with 25,000 users. He also performs the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) function as the Single Point of Authority for all cybersecurity issues.

From 2010 until 2021, Dr. Boudreaux-Dehmer directed all global computing and information technology systems for Sierra Wireless in Vancouver, Canada. The company provides Internet of Things (IoT) solutions that empower businesses to thrive in the interconnected global economy. Prior to assuming this role, he spent eight years at Hewlett-Packard (HP) IT in Business Intelligence and Strategy & Planning leadership roles. From 1993 to 2002, he oversaw Supply Chain systems at Compaq’s Latin America Division in Houston, Texas and São Paulo, Brazil. Prior to that, he supported material planning processes at Compaq’s European Headquarters in Munich, Germany and Gorinchem, The Netherlands.

Dr. Boudreaux-Dehmer has an MBA from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA. He also holds a Doctorate in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Research from University of Reading, UK.

Eleanor is the co-founder & CEO of Metta Space. Her background is in Data Science, specialising in Natural Language Processing. She has worked on models using NLP models to predict and prevent workplace harassment, discrimination and bullying. Since 2021, 75% of Metta Space's hired tech talents have been women. Eleanor advocates for more women and historically marginalised individuals to join tech both personally with mentorship and professionally with Metta Space's a mission to help companies prevent, report & resolve workplace misconduct for safe empowered workplaces.

Nadiia Vasylieva is a transformation business leader, strategist, technological and development policy advisor, leading sustainable development and digital expert.

As a CEO of crypto-exchange Nadiia had been working as a program project manager to establish setup from compliance regulatory requirements as well as operationally efficient and product oriented.

2 Audits by regulator were passed. As a VP in military manufacturing holding, she was responsible for R&D and business development via offset contracts. Nadiia’s experience in change and talent management to avoid resistance as well as high tech ecosystem partnership development would be relevant for the Boards with old fashion and conservative style of company’s management to drive them to sustainable development further.

An example in managing one's own consulting business and DTI analytical center can be useful for building the company's strategic potential while simultaneously tracking the implementation of the approved current strategy. As an expert in the field of digital transformation in her practice, Nadiia helped companies develop a new business model and go through the difficult path of digital transformation with the challenges of change.

The launch of 4 incubators in the field of big data, open government data, IoT, 3D, high-tech engineering and AI allowed to open more than 150 startups, to understand the details of financing, the formation of a proposal from Seed to a strategic investor, copyright and patents, deep interaction between partners or the owner and employees, building relationships with venture capital, investment funds and family offices.

In the role of GM Microsoft for several years, then taking responsibility for the Black Sea region of 15 countries, I have experience in not only implementing best practices in other regions of the company, but also developing an entry strategy to new markets or restarting in weak regions based on a partnership strategy and alliances, in cooperation with the regulator and local investment groups. Framing of new policies and processes in connection with a radical change in the company's strategy in the transition from a product to cloud services, the development of a new partner ecosystem with additional M&A assistance for strategic partners.

2.5 years of work in FMCG Direct Sales Market as GM of Amway Ukraine gave me experience in launching new categories of products in the field of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food products, consumer goods and to delve into the processes of transport, warehouse logistics and retail network management in 40 mln country.

12 years of experience in the Telenor Group from zero to the largest telecom operator (over 15 million subscribers) with responsibility for the entire B2B market gave extensive experience in all telecommunications processes, including: building a radio and overlay network, releasing frequencies, obtaining licenses for various communication generation, development of commercial segments, several reorganizations and restructurings, attraction of investments through bonds and the first successful closure of such a project in Ukraine, transition to a matrix organization and then to a project one, change of owners and their courts among themselves while retaining personnel, work with talents, as well as operational efficiency to maintain the company's leading position, passing through M&A, improving offers for business clients through network quality and individual service, building a partner ecosystem.

Experience in non-profit boards has provided a serious reputation and trust of foreign partners. And the role in such boards as the Treasurer, the head of the Finance Committee or the Head of the board emphasizes the high confidence on the part of the team members.

All this could not be achieved without systematic and consistent work in continuous education and development.. Professionalism in the field of work in Supervisory Boards is confirmed by training at the Kellogg Business School (Evanston, USA) in November 2017 and at the IMD Supervisory Board Development Center (Lausanne, Switzerland) in February 2018.

Julie Baker co-founded Ursa Space Systems in 2014 to connect satellite-derived insights with decision makers around the globe. As Ursa’s Chief Operating Officer and member of its board of directors, Julie has built diverse, interdisciplinary teams across the company, guiding them to unlock their full potential and exceed customer expectations. Ursa has served as a model for diversity in the industry.

Prior to co-founding Ursa, Ms. Baker served as Vice President of Cyber Technology at Architecture Technology Corporation from 2001 to 2014. Under her direction, the ATC-NY division in Ithaca, NY produced innovative, award-winning products and 19 patents.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Baker worked as a software engineer at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA in Stuttgart, Germany where she developed scheduling software for industrial applications in the automobile and steel industries. At Applied Decision Analysis in Menlo Park, CA, Ms. Baker developed interactive software applications to gather customer input for market research analysis. At Daniel H. Wagner Associates, in Sunnyvale, CA, she developed software for the Commander's Console on the P-3C Orion.

Ms. Baker holds a Master of Science in computer science from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ms Chan-Allen is the Legal Adviser of the NATO Communications and Information Agency. She heads a team of civilian and military lawyers advising on a wide range of technology matters. These include cybersecurity, data, defence contracts, and legal risks related to digital transformation. As the Director of the Office of the Legal Adviser, she is responsible for the full spectrum of legal advice to the General Manager and Board for legal matters impacting 3,200 staff across 12 NATO nations.

Ms Chan-Allen’s background spans both the public and commercial domains. As a private sector lawyer with Cleary Gottlieb, and Shearman & Sterling, she was a senior advisor to numerous technology firms including the communications, software, and semiconductor industries. She also represented governments and multinational firms as a litigator in international disputes. Her commercial background focused on international trade, export control, antitrust, and litigation. She has also served as Global Head of Competition at Dassault Systemes.

Prior to that, Ms Chan-Allen was Counsel at the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. She has represented Canada in state-to-state disputes before the World Trade Organization, as well as multilateral treaty negotiations. She has also served as a prosecutor at a Canadian regulatory tribunal.

Vice Admiral Louise K. Dedichen serves as the Norwegian Military Representative to NATO from the 1st of January 2020. She was appointed on June 21st, 2019.

Dedichen came from the position as Commandant of the Norwegian Defence University College (NDUC). The NDUC is dedicated to higher education and research in the field of security and defence policy, military power and the conduct of war, leadership and military athletic skills. It is an academically independent institution that provides research and education at the master and bachelor levels to military professionals from all branches of the Norwegian Armed Forces, their partners and to eligible civilians.

During her time at the NDUC, Dedichen led the most comprehensive restructuring of national military education for officers and NCOs in modern times. She was tasked to ensure a complete merge, restructuring and streamlining of all military education. All military academies and NCO schools are now incorporated in the NDUC, which is today a joint military university college for all services.

After starting her military career at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in 1983, she got her seagoing experience on board HNoMS Trondheim as paymaster. This was followed by duty in various positions in the Defence Logistic Organisation, the Defence staff and in the Ministry of Defence. Dedichen has served as spokesperson to CHOD and to two different Ministers of Defence. In 2006 she was appointed to Commodore and took up the position as Commandant of the Norwegian Defence Command and Staff College.

Dedichen graduated from College Interarmès de Dèfense in Paris in 2003. Studying in France marked a start of a close relationship to the country, and in 2011 she was awarded Ordre national du Mérite for her efforts in strengthening the cooperation between France and Norway.

She was appointed Rear Admiral in 2008, as the first female officer to reach OF7 level.

Advocating gender equality

She was awarded the Chief of Defence’s prize for equality in 2014 for her efforts in advocating gender equality in the Armed Forces. Dedichen is chair of the independent cross-sector initiative organisation SHEconomy. In her capacity as Commandant of NDUC, she launched seminars in order to promote knowledge of defence and security policy and leadership among groups, and particularly women, outside of the Armed Forces.

Initiative, effort and responsibility

Dedichen has also been awarded the Norwegian reserve officers medal for her contribution to enhance the cooperation between the Armed Forces and the Reserve Officers’ Association. For her, initiative, effort and responsibility are defining traits. In close cooperation with the Norwegian Olympic Top, she initiated Next Step, Norway, an academic program for military veterans and Olympian athletes, aiming for a smoother transition into a second career. The initiative is highly appreciated by the International Olympic Committee.

Focus on security

In her capacity as the Norwegian Military Representative, Dedichen will carry on her predecessor’s timely focus on the security challenges in the High North. From the Norwegian perspective, bringing situational awareness to the Northern flank makes NATOs strategy even more sustainable and comprehensive.

Dedichen is from Fredrikstad, Norway. She has two grown-up daughters and is married to Per Høiby.

Ludwig Decamps of Belgium was selected by the Nations to serve as General Manager of the NATO Communications and Information Agency, effective 1 July 2021.

Ludwig Decamps joined the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) as Director Demand Management on 1 March 2017, shortly after he became full-time Chief Operating Officer (COO) on 15 February 2018. As COO, he was responsible for aligning demand and supply to create customer value by leading business planning, prioritizing incoming requests, leading life-cycle business development, and overseeing resource allocation to projects and services.

As part of the NCI Agency’s Strategic Plan, he was is in charge of strengthening project, programme and portfolio management and service delivery in support of Allied and Partner Nations, NATO Headquarters, and NATO Commands.

Prior to his position as Director Demand Management, Ludwig Decamps served as Director for Armaments and Aerospace Capabilities (2012-2017) and Director for Strategy (2011-2012) in the Defence Investment Division at NATO Headquarters. In that capacity, he led a Joint Civil Military Team in support of the Secretary General’s Smart Defence initiative, introduced a Total System Approach to military aviation and promoted multinational armaments cooperation, in particular NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) and Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) programmes. As NATO’s JISR Capability Area Manager, he played a key role in the delivery of an Initial Operating Capability for NATO JISR and the launch of the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control project aimed at defining a successor to AWACS.

Ludwig Decamps held the position of Head, Armaments Programme Support Section at NATO Headquarters from 2008 to 2011. His portfolio included Ballistic Missile Defence, the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) programme, and NATO’s Defence Against Terrorism programme.

From 2004 to 2008, Ludwig Decamps was assigned as a policy adviser to the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General, where he mainly focused on issues related to defence transformation, capability development, defence planning and the reform of NATO Headquarters.

He was Staff Officer at the Belgian Representation to the NATO Military Committee from 2001 to 2004 dealing mainly with NATO outreach programmes, NATO-EU relations and the NATO Security Investment Programme.

From 1997 to 2001, he was Executive Assistant to the Director-General of the Belgian Military Intelligence and Security Service. Prior to this engagement, he held various command and staff positions in armoured units of the Belgian armed forces in Germany (1983-1991) and on the Army Staff (1992-1996). Ludwig Decamps is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy in Brussels (1978-1982). He also attended the senior course at the Royal Defence College, Brussels (1996-1997) and followed the Advanced Security and Defence Studies co-organized by the Belgian Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2007). He holds a Master’s degree in International Politics (2001-2002) from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.

In 2017, Ludwig Decamps was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for his contribution to NATO’s capability development agenda.

He is married with two adult children.

Emily S. Weinstein is a Research Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), focused on U.S. national competitiveness in AI/ML technology and U.S.-China technology competition. She is also a Nonresident Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub and the National Bureau of Asian Research. In her previous role at CSET, Emily conducted research on China’s S&T ecosystem, talent flows, and technology transfer issues. She has written on topics related to research security and China’s S&T developments in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Lawfare, DefenseOne, and other outlets. Emily holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University.

Julia Daviy (Berezovska) is the signatory and president of the Ukrainian Club of Berkeley, the first NGO within the world’s number one public university (UC Berkeley) ecosystem. The Ukrainian Club of Berkeley launched the Rebuild Schools Movement, with a mission to rebuild school facilities in Ukraine, raising awareness about the educational infrastructure destroyed by the Russian military. With the help of a local partner, SavED, they are now completing the reconstruction of the first school in Chernihiv.

As a Berkeley Innovation Fellow at Berkeley Haas, Julia is part of a team working on the global sustainability project called “the Earth Balance Sheet” in collaboration with companies like Google and NASA. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Imageneria, a digital platform that enables decentralized and localized manufacturing using 3D printing and AI, creating digital carbon-free supply chains for physical goods.

Julia's groundbreaking work in sustainable digitally-made (3D-printed) consumer goods and fashion has earned her recognition as one of the key innovators in the industry. In 2020, she won a Gold Edison Award in sustainable consumer tech (Reebok won Silver), was a finalist for Fast Company's World Changing Ideas in North America, and was named among the six women who innovate sustainability in fashion by ELUXE Magazine. Her innovative, digitally-made fashion and consumer goods disruptions have been showcased in exhibitions such as the Boston Center for the Arts, the Sustainability Museum in Miami, Rethinking Plastics in the Netherlands, and are part of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Innovations Collection in Los Angeles. In 2018, Julia presented the world's first collection of sustainable, zero-waste wearable clothing collection created fully digitally using solar energy and large-scale industrial 3D printers, during the New York Fashion Week. She is also a Guinness World Record holder in 3D printing.

As one of key ideologists of the Ukrainian clean tech industry, Julia co-founded and managed IB Centre (Innovative Business Centre), a gateway for international and local market players into the Ukrainian and other CEE markets. The company developed the largest heating plant using solid biofuel in Kyiv and was recognized for its Solar Academy project, which provided education to over 3,000 small entrepreneurs and householders, as well as for premier sustainable energy trade shows and conferences in CEE and one of the biggest cleantech events in Europe at large. In 2014, IB Centre organized the EuroSEF, the European Energy Security Forum in Brussels, which emphasized the importance of switching to renewables for safety and security in Europe and the CEE region.

In addition to her work in clean tech, Julia is a co-founder of the Institute of Green Economics in Kyiv, a non-profit organization since 2012. She was also a co-founder and board member of the Association of Alternative Fuel and Renewable Energy of Ukraine (2009-2016), founder of the Green Awards of Ukraine (a premier national contest for green social and business projects), and publisher of CleanTech Magazine EE. From 2012 to 2015, she served as Vice-Chairman of the Public Council of the State Agency of Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings of Ukraine.

As a co-initiator of energy decentralization, Julia started the initiative "One Million Solar Roofs for Ukraine" in 2011, which has led to a rapid increase of PV installations by households in the following years. At the beginning of 2022, Ukraine had over 50,000 households with PV. These decentralized and autonomous electricity and heat generation facilities have proven to be vital in times of war, as demonstrated during the first year of the Russian invasion.

Promotion 2005 de l’Ecole de l’air

Actuellement officier programme au Commandement de l’espace sur la future capacité d’observation de la Terre (IRIS), successeur du système MUSIS/CSO à horizon 2030.

J’occupe ce poste depuis 3 ans et je quitte le CDE cet été pour réaliser une année de scolarité à l’Ecole de Guerre.

J’ai débuté ma carrière en tant qu’officier renseignement au sein de l’escadron de transport rattaché au commandement des opérations spéciales à Orléans, ce qui m’a permis d’acquérir une solide expérience opérationnelle.

J’ai ensuite occupé un poste d’instructeur au centre d’instruction des équipages de transport pendant 3 ans.

Et enfin, avant mon poste actuel, j’ai servi à l’Etat-major des Armées dans le domaine du contrôle d’exportation de matière de guerre.

Nathalie Matthijs is the NATO IS Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources, since 1 September 2021. Before, she had been acting in the role for almost 10 months. Nathalie started her career in 2006, in the private sector, as business consultant in government institutions for IBM, later she moved to Deloitte Consulting, where she served for 10 years in the area of Human Capital. She specialised herself in HR, change management and organisational design advice for international governmental institutions and worked in several Directorate Generals of the European Commission, European Agencies (EFSA, EMA, REA, …), and at all levels of the Belgian, Flemish and Brussels administrations. Later she acted as Director with a focus on Life Sciences. She moved to NATO in January 2019, as Head of Talent management and HR integration. Her focus was on Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Performance Management and HR Business Partnership.

Currently, as DASG HR, she is responsible for the entire HR domain (including pay and allowances, pensions, HR policy, Diversity and Inclusion, insurances, recruitment, learning, HR advisory), and has a team of 65 staff members working on HR matters. She regularly acts as Acting Assistant Secretary General for Executive Management, responsible for ICT, Budget, HR and HQST. Until 2018, Nathalie was also guest lecturer at several ‘Hautes Ecoles’ in Brussels. Nathalie studied Law and Criminological Sciences in Ghent, Fribourg (CH) and Brussels.

Klara Sveinsdóttir is an Executive Vice President of Product Life Cycle at the medical device company Kerecis. Klara holds a MSc. degree in pharmacy and a MBA, and has more than a decade of experience from the pharmaceutical industry. For the last five years, she has held various management roles at Kerecis within manufacturing, quality, regulatory, R&D as well as business development, and has seen the company go from a small start-up to the fastest-growing - and one of the top five companies - in the U.S. biologics-skin and dermal-substitute market. Keeping a high focus on gender equality and diversity at the workplace, half of Klara´s hires in management roles have been women.

Sandra Oosterveer is a People leader within NCI Agency and a member of the Executive Management Board since August 2021. She works with the Agency’s management team to help them address their critical challenges and enable step-change transformation across the Agency. While she covers a broad range of issues, her particular areas of focus are strategic thinking, leadership development and building a peak performing culture.

As a leading team player with strong business acumen, she brings innovative, intuitive and inclusive approaches in creating successful teams to improve productivity in an organisational culture that is foremost healthy. She strives to create an environment of trust and safety for staff. She is optimistic, full of energy and is able to establish consensus among stakeholders quickly. With her direct approach upholding respect and common sense, she is result oriented, takes an independent role and can quickly analyse and understand underlying issues.

Prior to joining the Agency, with her 20+ years of international work experience she has been and is a respected transformational corporate strategy professional. She has provided strategic planning, leadership, and oversight of organizational-wide people activities in a broad range of international profit and not for profit organizations.

She has done interim HR (change) management assignments, in which she was responsible for creating and implementing integrated People Strategies globally, focused on enhancing the effectiveness and creating an employer of choice environment, in continuously changing environments, amongst other, led big global projects, transformations, performed training and coaching at board level.

Being brought up in the Netherlands, Sandra graduated from University in Leiden with a Master degree in Civil law and Criminology. She resides in Voorburg, the Netherlands, with her dog, a 3 year old rescue from Spain. Sandra enjoys writing, hiking, kickboxing and not to forget training her dog!

Cyber: Counsellor Political and Security Department at Permanent Representation to the EU and NATO in Brussels

Previously: First Secretary Political Department in Washington, counterterrorism; Western Hemisphere Affairs including OAS. Bureau Politieke Zaken; Head PPC in Buenos Aires; DIE-IN responsible for Competetiveness Council (Concu raad), Transport Council and Telecommunications Council; intern at DDE-IM.

Liesje Klomp started her career at the ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009 working on internal European affairs. From 2011-2013 she served at the embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina heading the political, press and cultural affairs. She returned to The Hague to work for the Political Director dealing with political affairs. From 2016-2020 she worked at the embassy in Washington DC at the political department where she covered counterterrorism and the Western Hemisphere including the Organization of American States. In 2020 she started as counsellor at the Political and Security Department at the permanent representation of the Netherlands to the EU and at the permanent representation to NATO. She has a master degree in political science at Leiden University, in European Studies and in French language and culture at the University of Amsterdam and Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris.

Lt Col Katherine Prudhoe, has a background in Human Security and Information Operations, and comes from the British Army unit, 77 Brigade, where she trained soldiers from AMISOM and NATO partners deploying on UN missions.

She joined the army after studying modern languages at St Andrews University, attracted by the scope for leadership development and international travel. She served in the Iraq war, working in media relations, and then in Bosnia, as part of its peacekeeping mission. Then later deployed to Türkiye as well.

She has combined her Reservist military career with a civilian career running large digital change projects for private sector organisations. She currently serves at NATO as the Gender Advisor (GENAD) for the International Military Staff.

Carmen Romero was appointed NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy in October 2016. She joined NATO in May 2004 as Deputy Spokesperson and Head of Press and Media, a position she held for 12 years. She has also been Acting NATO Spokesperson, including during the Russia-Georgia war in August 2008.

Prior to this, Carmen had a long career as the Foreign Affairs Correspondent for EFE News Agency based at the United Nations in Geneva, Moscow and Paris, covering events such as the revolution in Romania, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the war in Chechnya, the crisis in Kosovo, and the NATO campaign in the former Yugoslavia. From 2001 to 2004 she was the Defence and Foreign Affairs Correspondent for EFE News Agency to the European Union and NATO. During that period she was also special envoy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Carmen has a Master’s degree in Journalism and Information Science from the Universidad Complutense de Ciencias de la Informacion de Madrid. In 1996, she received an award for Young Journalists by the International Press Association in Madrid for her coverage of the war in Chechenia.

In 2018, Carmen was awarded the Bernardo Álvarez del Manzano Prize by the Spanish Association of Defence Journalists for her collaboration from NATO with the Defence correspondents.

In 2019, she was awarded the Decoration of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy (Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia) by the President of the Republic of Italy.

In 2022, Carmen was included in the ranking of the 500 more influential Spanish women by ‘Yo Dona’; the same year, she was awarded with the Order of Civil Merit Medal (Cruz de Oficial de la Orden del Mérito Civil).

Vineta Kleine has more than two decades of experience in high-level public information and communication, both in Latvia and internationally, which has been gained working for the EU and NATO. Covering all roles from press officer to head of strategic communications and public diplomacy, she has been responsible for planning and implementing communication doctrines, policies, and concepts, and running a variety of public information events and engagements. She has provided both advice and coaching to senior leaders and government authorities in the Western Balkans and in Eastern Partnership countries, including as Public Relations Adviser to the Ministry of Security Forces in Kosovo, Head of Strategic Communications Team of the European Advisory Mission in Ukraine and Communication and Public Partnership Adviser in Moldova. In September 2020, she took up office as Head of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine. Vineta Kleine holds master’s degrees in Philology and in Political Science.

Laryssa Patten has spent her career in the space field on civilian, government and military space programs. This includes working in Canada on RADARSAT operations and International Space Station Operations. She also supported the European Commission on European Space Policy Development and Galileo Applications. For the last 10 years, she has been part of NATO, responsible for both Space and the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) activities within the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance service center at NCI Agency.

NATO has recently announced a new space initiative, the Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space Programme (APSS), which will enhance and accelerate situational awareness and decision making through the establishment of an Alliance Virtual Constellation for access to shared data and services from space, and the integration of these data and services into NATO systems. Laryssa the Programme Manager of this initiative.

Prof. Dr. Maria-Paz Zorzano is a Scientific Researcher and Civil Servant of INTA (National Institute of Aerospace Technology, Spain), at the Center for Astrobiology (CAB). She is a planetary physicist and has conducted research for more than two decades in astrobiology, investigating the habitability of Mars, participating in several NASA and ESA Mars exploration missions, including the Mars Sample Return program, the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, Rosalind Franklin Rover, and the Kazachok surface platform. Dr. Zorzano investigates the conditions necessary for the origin and evolution of life on Earth and Mars.

She is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, and has supervised multiple PhD and master's theses. She has led multiple national and international research projects on Mars exploration, planetary protection, and atmospheric and surface research. Since 2018 she is a member of the COSPAR (Committee On SPAce Research) Planetary Protection Panel. She is committed to outreach, promoting diversity within STEM careers and facilitating inclusion, and is the author of a research paper on "Gender Balance in Mars Exploration: Lessons Learned from the Mars Science Laboratory " that analyses good practices to promote inclusion, diversity and excellence in Space Exploration.

Ms. Sabatella has a background in Aerospace Engineering with specialization in Space Systems. Prior to join NATO, she worked for the European Space Agency and NASA JPL on space missions design and remote sensing analysis. Here at NATO HQ, she is the Coherence Manager and Subject Matter Expert of the NAC approved Strategic Space Situational Awareness System (3SAS) project.

The 3SAS project will offer capability to gain strategic awareness and better understanding of the space environment and its objects, systems, events and effects across all domains through the visualization of complex data feeds and analytics.

Catarina Arnaut is a Senior Manager at PwC with over 15 years of professional experience. She holds an MSc in Services Management and a five-year university degree in Psychology. Catarina leads and contributes to consultancy assignments which support EU policy-making in various domains, including digital policy, as well as gender equality. For the last six years, she has been working in the technology sector driving digital projects and closely following up legal and policy developments related to innovative and emerging technologies, and the data economy. Prior to this experience, she carried out many studies in the field of gender mainstreaming, gender-based violence and gender stereotypes. Throughout the last years, Catarina has also acted as an external expert to evaluate proposals in these areas. She has therefore developed a personal and professional interest in exploring the intersection between gender and technology, and she engaged in initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the role and representation of women in the tech sector. Catarina is deeply invested in advancing gender equality in technology by actively participating in inclusion & diversity committees at her workplace.

Gatis has been serving in dual capacity as a legal advisor and principal contracting officer for NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Management Agency (NAGSMA), which was established to design, develop, produce and deliver NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) core system. As of October 2022, Gatis also supports establishment of NATO DIANA efforts as a legal advisor within its transition legal team.

His expertise lies in international acquisition projects, aviation (Unmanned Systems), automation, litigation and dispute settlements, contracts, multinational and licensing agreements negotiations, export control, ensuring data protection and disclosure, confidentiality compliance, as well as intellectual property. He also has significant experience in employment related matters of NATO, including issues related work place disputes and litigation in front of the NATO Administrative Tribunal.

While he enjoys working issues pertinent to technology and innovation, in particular the legal aspects, he firmly believes in diversity and inclusiveness at workplaces, which are crucial for promoting innovative thinking and exchange of ideas.

Julia Dalman is an international lawyer with two LL.M.s from Lund University. She is currently the Legal Analyst at Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM).

NCGM is an International expert centre on Women Peace and Security and Gender in Military Operations, the NATO Department Head for the Gender in Military Operations discipline and a NATO accredited education and training facility. As a Legal Analyst, she supports NCGM lines of efforts across all three roles with legal analysis and gender analysis. As part of the NCGM’s Strategic Implementation Plan and NATO Requirements, she leads the development of a navigation tool on gender-related guidance of relevance for the military; supports NATO policy and doctrine development; contributes to the development and delivery of NATO training solutions and NCGM concept development. Prior to her position at NCGM she had experience from a law firm and work at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Julia Dalman has also volunteered at a Legal Clinic working with victims of human trafficking.

Julia Dalman graduated from Lund University with a BA in Legal Science and an LL.M from the Swedish Law Program, and an LL.M in International Human Rights Law. She is specialized in International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal, Migration Law and International Procedural Law, spanning across topics such as Women, Peace and Security, protection of civilians, cybersecurity, human trafficking, conflict-related sexual violence, international law and non-state actors, international crimes and use of force. In 2020, she published an essay on cyber operations and the applicability of International Humanitarian Law. Her master thesis is titled ”Mind the Gap: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and the obligations of Armed Non-State Actors under International Law”.

Career

• 2022: Ambassador of Denmark to NATO
• 2019-2022: Ambassador of Denmark to the United States of America
• 2017-2019: State Secretary / Chief Operating Officer (COO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 2015-2017: State Secretary for Foreign Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 2011-2015: Ambassador of Denmark to Spain
• 2009-2011: Under-Secretary for Global Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 2007-2009: Head of Department, Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 2006-2007: Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the Bikuben Foundation
• 2004-2006: Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Danish Embassy, Warsaw
• 2001-2003: Private Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
• 1999-2000: Head of Section, Danish Parliament, International Department
• 1995-1998: First Secretary, Royal Danish Embassy, Tallinn
• 1992-1995: Head of Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Education

• 1991: Master of Laws, Aarhus University

Royal Orders of Chivalry

Order of Dannebrog - Knight of 1. Class

Born on January 31st 1966

David van Weel is NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges. He is the Secretary General’s primary advisor on emerging security challenges and their implications for the security of the Alliance and a member of the Secretary General’s senior management team.

The Emerging Security Challenges Division, which he directs and manages, aims to provide a coordinated approach by the Alliance to all new and emerging challenges. These include cyber and hybrid threats, terrorism, as well as emerging and disruptive technologies (such as AI and quantum computing), energy security challenges, including those posed by environmental changes, and data policy. The division also runs the Science for Peace and Security Programme, which promotes dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and partner nations through scientific research, technological innovation and knowledge exchange.

The Division aims to provide innovative policy solutions for countering and defending the Alliance and Allies against these challenges and to maintain the innovative and technological advantage of the Alliance in conjunction with partners, industry and other multilateral organisations.

Prior to joining NATO, David van Weel was the Foreign Policy and Defense Advisor for the Prime Minister of The Netherlands (2016-2020). This position followed a long career in The Netherlands Ministry of Defence, where he ended as Director for International Affairs and Operations/ Policy Director (2014-2016) after serving as the Chief of Cabinet for the Minister of Defence and the Permanent Secretary (2012-2014) and as the senior policy officer for amongst others operations in Afghanistan and Libya, NATO, nuclear policy and disarmament, special operations and the preparation of the Defence Budget.

David started his career in the Royal Netherlands Navy, where, upon completion of the Naval Academy (1994-1999), he served on different frigates, served in the British Royal Navy as an exchange officer, worked as a Staff Officer for Middle and Eastern European countries in the Defence Staff and ended as a Primary Warfare officer and Navigation Officer.

David is married to Iris and has three daughters, Felice, Alix and Livine.

Since 2018, Dr. Cuccio is the CEO of SNVC, LC, a U.S. based firm providing IT/Cyber/Data Science services to U.S. government customers. Previous to that, she spent 29 years in the U.S. Army, performing Cyber, Network Operations, IT R&D, and as a Congressional Liaison. She has two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2008-09 as the Director of the Southwest Asia Regional Cyber Center, Kuwait and Operation Resolute Support 2015-16, Director for U.S. Congressional Affairs for Headquarters, Resolute Support, Kabul, Afghanistan (NATO).

Colonel (ret) Cuccio also held several executive level cyber and information technology jobs in the Department of Defense which include Chief of Staff and Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 for the 311th Theater Signal Command, Fort Shafter, HI and Deputy Director for Cyber at Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OUSD AT&L).

Claire earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Siena College, several Masters Degrees and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Virginia Tech. She is an Adjunct Professor for the M.S. in Cybersecurity Management and Policy at University of Maryland Global Campus. She has started several Sisters in Arms mentoring groups and serves on the Advisory Boards of the Girls Scouts, Nation’s Capital and the United States Military Academy at West Point, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Fanny Bouton, analyst, journalist and expert in new technologies for more than 20 years is also currently the OVHcloud Quantum Lead & Startup Program Leader. She regularly speaks in the media, co-produces and hosts the podcasts on quantum "Quantum" and "Decode Quantum" with Olivier Ezratty.

Passionate about innovation, she launched in the early 2000s her blog and "Fanny's Party" evenings dedicated to the subject. For 18 years, she brought geeks together and popularized new technologies and innovations to help democratize complex subjects. She has hosted a large number of shows such as "What's new with geeks?", "World of Fanny", "Follow Fanny", "Tech Away" and was a journalist for Direct 8 and GameOne. In recent years, she has devoted them to the digital transformation of large groups, to acculturation to Open Innovation (TF1, Agence Innovation Défense, Dior, etc.) and to supporting startups (Station F, HEC entrepreneurs ...). Promoting and helping the French scientific and technological ecosystem to shine has become its favorite playground.”

Victoria Knight, Strategic Campaigns Director BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, which helps nations, governments and businesses around the world tackle the evolving challenges of the digital age by collecting, connecting and understanding complex data to unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

Victoria has over 25 years of experience in the technology sector across both the commercial and defence & national security sectors. She is a member of the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) - Cyber First Industry Board and Chairs the Greater Manchester Cyber Advisory Group & Digital Innovation and Security Hub.

Victoria is passionate about the technology sector becoming more inclusive, equitable and reflective of societies it serves. Advocating the exciting opportunities that the sector has to offer to women and girls and the positive contribution that they can make to a world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Marko Grobelnik is a researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Marko co-leads Artificial Intelligence Lab at Jozef Stefan Institute. He cofounded UNESCO International Research Center on AI (IRCAI), is the CEO of Quintelligence.com and collaborates with major European academic institutions and major industries such as Bloomberg, British Telecom, European Commission, Microsoft Research, New York Times. Marko is co-author of several books, co-founder of several start-ups and is/was involved into over 80 EU funded research projects in various fields of Artificial Intelligence. Marko represents Slovenia in OECD.AI Network of Experts (AIGO), in Council of Europe Committee on AI (CAI), Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), and NATO (DARB). In 2016 Marko became Digital Champion of Slovenia at European Commission.

Danielle started her career in Law at Marval, O'Farrell & Mairal covering cross border deals in technology and climate from Buenos Aires. From there she moved into Technology Investment Banking at Singer Capital Markets in London, before joining HSBC in 2014. There she acted as Chief of Staff for the European Head of Banking before being mandated to build one central view on the group's $17bn technology spend globally. Upon completion, she represented the bank on technology, working with c-level executives of multinational companies and governments globally.

During this period it became clear that the next wave of disruption was in sustainability, and that cities were to play a major role across industries. With the approval of group management, Danielle built the Future Cities & New Industries team acting between governments, multinationals and deep technology. After identifying that data transparency and capital access was essential for the move to cleaner and safer cities, Danielle founded Clearly to use data technology to help the transformation of mobility.

She is a Cambridge graduate, is VP on Digital Innovation at G20Y, and has held additional positions of governing board member of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), and Lyra Ventures.

Anett Mádi-Nátor has two decades of experience in strategic and administrative aspects of information security and cyber defence both as a private sector subject matter expert and as a government representative. She is the Director of Strategic Business Development at Cyber Services, a niche Cyber Threat Intelligence service provider operating internationally. Besides, Anett is the President of Women4Cyber Initiative and Foundation.

Anett is an SME advocate, takes a strong role in the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) as a member of Board of Directors. Additionally, she is a member of the Hungarian Cyber Forum and chairs the Information and Cyber Security Working Group of ICT Association of Hungary. Her recent appointments include Hungarian MilCIRC Head of Coordination, Administrative Head of Hungarian government cyber security centre – Cyber Defence Management Authority within the National Security Authority, NATO Cyber Coalition Exercises Core Strategic and Administrative Planner, and Lead to NATO Cyber Defence Capability Team. Up to the summer of 2015 Anett was the appointed primary policy and administrative contact point for Hungary in the Memorandum of Understanding in Cyber Defence between NATO and Hungary. She received a ministerial award for excelling public service in 2013.

Irene Fellin was appointed as NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security in November 2021.

Ms. Fellin is a WPS expert and peacebuilder who has worked as a Senior Gender Adviser with Women in International Security (WIIS), the International Affairs Institute (IAI) in Rome, NATO HQ in Brussels, as well as international consultant for UN agencies and other national institutions for more than 15 years. She was instrumental in establishing and coordinating the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN), a project promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy aimed at fulfilling the need to increase the number of women involved in peacemaking efforts and at facilitating the appointment of high-level women mediators at local and international level.

Born in Bolzano (Italy), Ms. Fellin studied Conservation of Cultural heritage in Parma (Italy) and Museology at the Louvre, in Paris, and started her career working at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the field of cultural diplomacy. She later obtained her Master’s Degree in “Gender and Women Studies” from the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, where she lived for almost 5 years.

Ms. Fellin is a strong supporter of female leadership and in 2016 she founded the Italian chapter of Women In International Security, an organisation dedicated to advancing the leadership and professional development of women in the field of international peace, security and defence.

Since 2017 she has been working with women mediators and peacebuilders across the Globe, supporting projects aimed at facilitating peacebuilding and mediation initiatives at the national and international level. She works on education and training programs about the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda and about “Gendered inclusive mediation and peace processes”. Furthermore, since 2019 she is visiting Lecturer on “Gender, Security, and Post-Conflict Reconstruction” at Durham University (UK) and she continues to mentor young women within the framework of WIIS’s mentoring program “Global Women Leaders”

Ms. Fellin is an Eno gastronomy and art lover. In her free time, she loves hiking, reading and travelling. She is married and is mother of twin girls.

Karen De Sousa Pesse is a Portuguese and Brazilian Executive at Salesforce Public Sector based in Brussels, Belgium. At Salesforce, Karen works on key trends shaping the public sector, supporting governments and institutions in their Digital Transformation. Her topics of expertise also involve Corporate Strategy, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Diversity & Inclusion. Preceding Belgium, Karen acquired extensive international work experience and exposure through global roles and assignments, having studied and worked in several countries throughout the Americas, Asia, and EMEA. As a female business leader in Europe, Karen has a strong personal interest in opening up leadership paths to women, as well as shining a light on topics such as gender bias in Artificial Intelligence, and the importance of gender perspectives in technology.

Muriel Domenach was born on 29 April 1973. She has been Permanent Representative of France to the North Atlantic Council since September 2019. She is a former student of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, the College of Europe in Bruges and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA). From September 2016 to August 2019, she was the Secretary General of the Interministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalisation (CIPDR) chaired by the Prime Minister.

She has occupied many other roles in public administration, including as Consul General in Istanbul; Deputy Director of the Sub-Directorate for Strategic Affairs in the Directorate for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament; Deputy Director of the Centre for Analysis and Forecasting; Counsellor for Defence Affairs at the Permanent Representation of France to NATO; Assistant to the Deputy Director of the Strategic Affairs Sub-Directorate at the Directorate for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament; Technical Advisor for International Affairs - Office of the Minister of Defence and Project officer for the European Security and Defence Policy at the Delegation for Strategic Affairs of the Ministry of Defence.

Head of Indra Digital Labs, Indra’s Digital Factory specialized in Aerospace and Defense.

MSc. in Telecommunications Eng. (ETSIT UPM), Executive MBA (IESE), and specialized in Strategy and Innovation (MIT).

Digital Business Executive and CDO, with +20 years in technology driven businesses, and expert knowledge in realizing digital and cyber within mission critical sectors. Strongly oriented to technology-based business strategy and management, having defined sector-specific digital strategies during the recent past years, fostering digital adoption, helping translate technology into business value, and leading its operations delivery.

Day-to-day activities include digital strategy rollout, technology development and acquisition, strategic ecosystem management, heading digital operations, talent acquisition, development and retention, and being part of extensive C-level interaction.

Samantha Paarlberg of the United Kingdom, was selected to serve as the Section Head of Strategic Enterprise Portfolio Management for the NATO Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), effective 1 July 2022.

Samantha Paarlberg joined the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) on 1 April 2016 as Head Project Management Office (HPMO) for the Command and Control Service Centre, and had over 120 initiatives to manage and oversee. A majority of these were NATO Common funded projects focussed on improving the situational awareness of operations and in the field. She was responsible for improving the portfolio of projects execution and strengthening delivery, and resource management, working with a cross section of stakeholders in support of NATO Command, HQ and Allied Partner Nations.

During this time Samantha also became a Programme Lead for the organisational Matrix implementation, accountable for defining, designing and implementation functional roles and responsibilities in the NCI Agency enterprise.

In 2021, Samantha was requested by the NCI Agency GM to become the Agency’s Liaison Officer for the Investment Committee in NATO HQ Brussels. Here, she represented the NCI Agency to the Nations, and supported the position of each of the Common funded initiatives the Agency required funding, resources or change of scope. This included large initiatives such as BMD, ITM and ACCS.

Prior to her position at the NCI Agency, Samantha served as Strategic Programme Manager for FEDEX in the Customer Experience division (2015-2016), leading work streams on improving the logistical flow of business and creating the ‘perfect’ customer transaction. She was also the Global Senior Manager for Strategy and Project Management at the International Baccalaureate (2012 – 2015), implementing transformational enterprise programmes across the globe from Washington to Singapore, with her teams of international project managers and business analysts, such as Oracle R12 and Salesforce, bringing homogeneity and standardisation to isolated operations.

From 2009 – 2012, Samantha worked as an Investment Portfolio Manager for the Wealth and International Change Management Division in Lloyds Bank International, responsible for overseeing change initiatives in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. This included the creation of Lloyds Bank international online which is still very prevalent today. Samantha held the position of Project Manager in the Retail Division of Halifax Bank of Scotland from 2007 – 2009, responsible for implementing an Enterprise Anti-Money Laundering solution for the Bank.

Previously, she worked in Melbourne for UBS and Deutsche Bank from 2007-2009 as Operations Manager, working closely with the COO and HR to implement new IT systems and ensure a smooth running of the Departments. She was a Change Analyst for British Telecom in 2005 – 2006, and as a Marketing Manager for Highbury publishing in 2004-2005 based in London.

Samantha completed the NATO Executive Development Programme in 2019, delivering a study on ‘One NATO for the C&I Enterprise’, which fuelled her motivation to work for the new OCIO.

She has a BA(Hons) in International Business Studies, and a plethora of trainings and qualifications themed around ICT and Change. Including Lean Six sigma, organisational change management and practitioner qualifications in all P3M disciplines of Portfolio, Programme and Project Management.

Samantha currently lives in Belgium and has 3 children and a dog.

Zoe Stanley-Lockman is the Acting Deputy of Innovation at NATO Headquarters, where she works to accelerate responsible adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) for defence and security, as well as supports the establishment of the NATO Innovation Fund, the new €1 billion venture capital fund. Previously, she worked on military innovation leveraging EDTs in her roles at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the European Union Institute of Security Studies in Paris and Brussels. She holds a Master’s degree in international security and defence economics from Sciences Po Paris and a Bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Dan Neculăescu has been appointed Permanent Representative of Romania to NATO in February 2022. Prior to assuming his position as Permanent Representative, he was State Secretary for Strategic Affairs in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between June 2016 and July 2017, he held the position of State Counselor for Foreign Affairs of the Romanian Prime Minister.

He is a career diplomat working in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs since October 2002, holding the diplomatic rank of Ambassador. During his diplomatic career, he fulfilled responsibilities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the diplomatic service abroad.

He held high-ranking positions in the Romanian MFA from which he contributed to the preparation for NATO Summits in the US (Chicago - 2012), UK (New Port - 2014), and Poland (Warsaw - 2016). He also contributed to the development of the strategic partnerships of Romania with the United States of America, Poland and Turkey, especially on the security dimension. In the period January - November 2013, he was responsible for the planning of monitoring activities in the headquarters in Tbilisi of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).

Between December 2006 and May 2009, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Romania to the political-military dialogue in Vienna (Forum for Security Dialogue/FSC, Open Skies Consultative Commission, Common Consultative Group/JCG) and OSCE Security Committee, created in 2006.

From May 2009 to September 2011, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Romania to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, and the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Test Ban Nuclear Treaty (CTBTO). From this position he contributed to the preparation and carrying out Romania’s mandate as Vice-president of the IAEA Board of Governors (2009 - 2011), respectively Chair of the IAEA General Conference (September 2011).

At the same time, he supported the fulfilling of Romania’s mandate as coordinator at the level of the Agency in Vienna for negotiations with IAEA Secretariat and member states on the IAEA budget for 2010 - 2011 and the IAEA Medium Term Strategy for 2012 - 2017.

Previously, between March 2004 and December 2006, he served as Head of office and subsequently Director of the OSCE, Nonproliferation and Arms Control Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Between 2002 and 2004 he held several positions such as advisor to the Minister’s Cabinet and Third Secretary, then Second Secretary, within the Analysis and Policy Planning Directorate and NATO Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He graduated from the Faculty of Political and Administrative Science of the University of Bucharest and the Faculty of Law of the University “Nicolae Titulescu” of Bucharest.

In addition, he graduated courses of the Diplomatic Academy of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002), and the NATO College in Rome (2003).