Marilyn Neven

Marilyn Neven's main role is to reinforce International IDEA’s relations with the European Union as a key partner of International IDEA. Through her work on advocacy for democracy and fundraising, she contributes to increasing the EU’s focus on democratic governance and enhancing the Institute’s profile and visibility at European Union level, with International IDEA’s Member States and among democracy actors in Brussels. Her programmatic work includes initiatives on the use of ICTs in democracy and political empowerment of women. Neven was acting Head of Programme of the EU-funded global programme INTER PARES Parliaments in Partnership in 2019, until the project team was hired. Neven has been a special adviser to the Secretary-General of the Institute in 2015. Her previous work experience includes advisory positions to several Belgian Ministers during the period of 2008-2014, including to the Prime Minister (2010-2011). She also worked at the European Parliament and the European Commission for several years. She was a Council Member in the municipality of Lanaken in Belgium (2013-2018). Neven holds an LL.M. in European Legal Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, and a Law degree from KU Leuven. She has extensive knowledge on political life and networks, and was elected national vice-president of the youth wing of the Flemish Christian-Democrat party in 2009. She has accumulated expertise on European affairs throughout her career and has lectured extensively on European affairs and democracy. She was KU LeuvenVRG Alumni in de Kijker in 2016.