Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica
Personal details
Born	(1978-06-30) 30 June 1978 (age 43) Riga, Latvia
Political party	Reform Party (2011–2014) Unity (since 2014)

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica (born June 30, 1978) is a Latvian politician.^[1]

In November 2014 Dr. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.

As Parliamentary Secretary Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica ensures communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Latvian Parliament (Saeima) and European Parliament. She represents the government of Latvia at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings of Development Ministers and at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings of Trade Ministers. Since 2017 she chairs the Consultative Board for Development Cooperation Policy of Latvia. During the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU (2015) Kalnina-Lukasevica as Parliamentary State Secretary for EU Affairs represented the Council at the European Parliament's plenary sessions.

Professional Experience[]

In 2011, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica was elected to the Parliament (Saeima) of Latvia and served as Chairperson of the European Affairs Committee (2011-2014) and a chairperson of the Innovation and Research Subcommittee, while serving also as a member of the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of the parliament of Latvia. She played an active role during Latvia's accession process to the OECD. In 2016 Zanda Kalniņa-Lukasevica received an award of the Cabinet of Ministers for a significant contribution to ensuring Latvia’s successful accession to the OECD.

Between 2008 and 2011, Dr Kalnina-Lukasevica was appointed to the Strategic Analysis Commission of the President of Latvia and served as Adviser on Strategic Planning and Analysis to the President of Latvia.

Between 2003 and 2008 she worked for the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, first, as Deputy Director of Local Government Development and Reform Department and then as Deputy State Secretary.

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukasevica started her professional career in 1998 at the City Council of Jūrmala.

Education[]

Dr. Kalnina-Lukasevica holds a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Management Science with a focus on public administration from the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Latvia (2013).

After having obtained her first academic degree in social work, in 2004 she obtained her master's degree at the Faculty of Economics and Management of the University of Latvia.

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica speaks Latvian, English, German and Russian languages.

Civic Activities[]

Dr. Zanda Kalnina-Lukasevica is also known for her civic activities. She is a member of the boards of a non-profit organization “European Movement–Latvia”.

Zanda Kalniņa-Lukasevica is a member of the board of trusties of the Brussels based think tank “Friends of Europe”.

She is also 2017 European Young Leader in the Friends of Europe (EYL40) programme, and 2014 Munich Young Leader in the Munich Security Conference and Koerber Stiftung joint programme.

References[]

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