Region: Belgium
Verena Knaus
Verena Knaus is the Global Lead on Migration and Displacement at UNICEF in Switzerland. She previously held a position of senior policy advisor at UNICEF in Brussels. Before this, Verena co-founded the European Stability Initiative (ESI), a policy-oriented think tank active in the Balkans, Turkey, and the Caucasus. There, she spearheaded empirical research and policy campaigns on issues ranging from women’s rights to visa liberalization, political Islam and post-war recovery. She helped develop ESI's unique methodology, combining labor-intensive data collection with real-time, policy-oriented advocacy. From 2008-2009 Verena advised the former prime minister and mayor of the divided city of Mitrovica, and in summer 2010 she joined Kosovo's Ministry for European…
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Nicola Harrington-Buhay
Nicola Harrington-Buhay works as an advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, notably to increase their possibilities for decent jobs in the workplace. She also represents the International Paralympic Committee at UNESCO. Prior to this, Nicola was Deputy Executive Coordinator for the United Nations Volunteers, promoting volunteerism in peace and development. She was instrumental in introducing the United Nations’ first volunteer program for people with disabilities. She was previously Deputy Director of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development which fosters peer exchange between emerging and developing economies on effective approaches to development. Earlier, Nicola spent several years working for the United Nations. She was the United Nations Resident…
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Stefaan De Rynck
Stefaan De Rynck is the Representative of the European Commission in Belgium, creating a bridge between the work of the EU’s executive and Belgian politics and society. Previously, he worked as Senior Adviser to Michel Barnier, who was the European Union’s Chief Negotiator for Brexit (2016-2021). De Rynck published a book in 2023 on those historic negotiations (“Inside the Deal. How the EU got Brexit done”). His experience in EU affairs covers sustainable urban development, financial service and banking regulation, economic integration in the single market, and transport policy. He worked on various reforms of the EU Treaties and served as spokesperson and political advisor for Members of the European…
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Annemie Turtelboom
Annemie Turtelboom is currently a Member of the European Court of Auditors, the external auditor of the EU, based in Luxembourg. Her portfolio includes audit work related to EU budget, EU public finance, policies related to EU governance, financial instruments and technical assistance in the EU. She is enthusiastic about digital agenda and innovation in auditing. After having served as Deputy First Minister, Minister of Budget, Finance and Energy in the Flemish Regional Government (2014-2016), she returned to the Belgian Federal Parliament, where she was an active member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs until April 2018. Prior to these positions, Annemie served as Minister of Justice (2012-14) in the…
More InformationEpisode 13: 2017 World Fellow Annemie Turtelboom
Annemie Turtelboom was a teacher before she was elected a Member of the Belgian Parliament. She also served as minister of Justice, Minister of Migration and Minister of the Interior. Breaking many glass ceilings, she provides advice for young women contemplating careers in politics and public service.
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