In December 2003 I graduated at Groningen University, the Netherlands, with an MA in Communication and Information Studies, specialising in Organisational Communication. Furthermore, I have obtained a propaedeutical degree in German Language and Literature, specialising in translation.

During the final three months of my education, I did a work placement at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Athens, Greece. I was responsible for the optimisation of the internal and external communication policy of the Embassy. I was also engaged in revising the Embassy website. I enjoyed carrying out both activities and I successfully completed them: I gained a ‘9’ for my project.

As a result of this work placement I was employed by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Vienna, Austria until May 2005 in the Department for Press and Cultural Affairs. I was jointly responsible for the logistical organisation and co-ordination of Dutch cultural events in Austria, as well as openings and receptions. Furthermore, I carried out the marketing related to those events and I produced a bi-monthly cultural newsletter. I also liaised with the Austrian press and reported to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs how the Netherlands was portrayed in the Austrian media. This was a major task, particularly during the Dutch EU-presidency.

Until February 2006 I took part in the European Commission’s trainee programme. This programme offers 600 young university graduates from all EU Member States the opportunity to gain an insight as to how the European Union and the Commission work. Following a general introductory programme, I worked in the Directorate-General for Translation for a five-month period, during which I had the chance to develop my writing skills and to improve my knowledge of German, English and French.

Since April 2006 I live in Vienna again and have been working with a press agency, an Austrian-Mexican-American art institution and the City of Vienna. Apart from that I take on translation jobs on a regular base, and since last February, I work with Philips Speech Recognition Systems and the City of Innsbruck as a translating officer.