Education:
After completing secondary education in Arnhem, studied philosophy (subsidiary subject: public administration) at the University of Amsterdam.
Work experience:
Member of staff of the Department of Cultural Philosophy and Aesthetics at the University of Amsterdam, member of editorial staff at the Spectrum publishing company.
Employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1984
1984-1986 Member of staff of the Dutch Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon
1986-1990 Press Secretary to the Minister for European Affairs
1990 Member of staff of the Dutch Embassy in Dublin
1990-1994 Press Secretary, Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels
1994-1998 Director of the Institut Néerlandais and Head of the Press and Cultural Affairs Section, Dutch Embassy, Paris
1998-2001 Deputy Director, Movement of Persons, Migration and Consular Affairs Department
2001-2002 Director, Movement of Persons, Migration and Alien Affairs Department
2002-2006 Dutch ambassador to Croatia in Zagreb
2006-2010 Consul-General in Munich
2010-2014 Human Rights Ambassador
2014- Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to Unesco