CYBERSEC SPEAKERS

Joanneke Balfoort

Joanneke Balfoort

Director, Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service

Joanneke has been with the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more than 25 years. She graduated from the University of Amsterdam with a law degree, specializing in international law, and a degree in political science.

During her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has worked as a project officer for human rights and humanitarian projects in Central and Southern Africa, political affairs at the Netherlands embassy in Moscow, first secretary within the Netherlands NATO delegation in Brussels, coordinator EU affairs within the Ministry and head of the economic section at the embassy in London.

In September 2013, she arrived at the embassy in Washington, D.C. as the head of the political department as well as the deputy head of mission.

From 2017 till mid 2020 she was the Dutch representative to the Political and Security Committee of the European Union in Brussels.

And since June this year she is the Director Security and Defence policy at the European External Action Service. Joanneke is married, has a son and a daughter, and enjoys reading, walking and cycling.