Marriët Schuurman

Ambassador Schuurman is a career diplomat who has served in many different countries and regions and in a variety of priority policy areas of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to her nomination as Special Representative, Ambassador Schuurman was the representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹.

Ambassador Schuurman was born in Creil, in the North-East polder. She holds a Masters degree in Translation Studies from the University of Amsterdam with a minor in Law.

Mrs. Schuurman also served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of Cooperation to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sudan and she held the position of Head of the Great Lakes Unit in the Sub-Sahara Africa Department. Previous duties include country economist and Deputy Head of Cooperation in the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Lusaka, humanitarian assistance officer in the Ministry’s Western Balkans Taskforce and political officer in the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moscow.

Ambassador Schuurman has held several board positions including the Presidency of the Works Council of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency of the Dutch language school in Lusaka as well as the Presidency of the Council of the University of Amsterdam.

The Ambassador speaks English, French, German and Russian.

Ambassador Schuurman has a large sphere of interest. She is interested in travelling and getting to know other cultures and traditions. She has a particular interest in modern design and creative industries. She is a fond hiker and biker. Her heroes are her husband, three children and their educators.

Ambassador Schuurman's predecessor as NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security was Mari Skåre