Speaker Bio

Anna van Zoest is Director of the Atlantische Commissie, a leading platform in the Netherlands for debate, research and education on international security and relation between Europe and the United States. Previously, she served as a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, specializing in defense, security and conflict-prevention. Foreign postings included Berlin, Bogotá and Brussels, where she worked in both bilateral and multilateral settings — including at the Dutch Permanent Representation to NATO and the European External Action Service (EEAS). Anna is a member of the Peace and Security Committee of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV), which advises the Dutch government and parliament on issues of international peace and security. In addition, she teaches at Leiden University’s Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs. Anna studied History and Politics at Royal Holloway, University of London, and holds an MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) from the University of Oxford.