OREANDA-NEWS. Ms Backes, who will take up office on 1 September 2016, brings over twenty years of experience in European and international affairs and politics to the post. She has served under different Luxembourgish administrations both in Luxembourg and abroad since the mid-1990s. This includes her latest posting as Diplomatic Advisor and Sherpa to Luxembourg's Prime Ministers Jean-Claude Juncker (2010-2013) and Xavier Bettel (2013-present).

Ms Backes' first posting in 1994 was at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York where she worked for three years. After working for the private sector as a Trade Affairs Advisor, Ms Backes joined the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the Western European Union in Brussels in 1999.

In 2000, Ms Backes joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg as a civil servant and worked in the International Economic Relations Department. She was then posted to the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels from 2002 to 2006.

Ms Backes subsequently became Deputy Head of Mission (Minister Counsellor) at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Japan for two years. In 2008, she was appointed Deputy Director of the International Economic Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg.

Ms Backes obtained a Bachelor in International Relations from the London School of Economics, a Master of Arts in Japanese Studies from the London School of Oriental and African Studies and a Master of Arts in European Political and Administrative Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges.