prof. mr. dr. J. Wiers, PhD

Professional career

2002-present: Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Head of Strategy Advisory Unit (2013-present, Twitter: NL_MFA_Strategy)

• Strategic analysis and policy advice on trends relevant to foreign policy
• Strengthening strategic function of NL MFA to signal trends and translate them into policies
• Knowledge brokering and outreach: policy planners, think tanks, advisory bodies, academia incl professorship
• Directing and managing of staff and internal and external networks

Head of Coordination Unit of the Climate, Energy, Environment and Water Department, (2009-2012)

• Member of Management Team, strategy, cultural differences, external orientation
• Coordinating Dutch position in EU and international negotiations on climate, energy, environment, resources
• Chairing CIM (interministerial environmental policy coordination), IPO (interministerial Polar consultation)

Deputy Head of Economic Department at the Netherlands Embassy Paris (2006-2009)

• Reporting on French positions on EU issues and developments in France
• Propagating Dutch views and opinions; encourage contacts between Dutch and French governments
• Networking within French government, political parties, parliament, think tanks, NGOs and academics

Senior Policy Adviser at the European Integration Department, (2002-2006)

• EU trade policy, esp. WTO. Supporting ministers at WTO Ministerial Conferences, MFA input in Dutch position
• EU enlargement, esp. Turkey. Advising ministers and PM, writing of Cabinet Notes and Letters to Parliament
• EU regional working groups Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America: coordinating Dutch positions

1998-2001: University of Amsterdam
Ph.D. researcher and Assistant Professor: PhD research Trade and Environment in the EC and the WTO (Groningen, Europa Law Publishing, 2002), teaching European and International law, secretary group on Law of International Economic Relations

1996-1998: European University Institute, Florence
Ph.D. researcher: PhD studies, lectures

Internships and education

• Internship Legal Service World Trade Organisation (WTO), Geneva,2001
• Internship Norsk Hydro, Porsgrunn, Norway, 1998
• Doctorate (Honours) in European and International Law, University of Amsterdam, 2002
• Passed EU examination (concours) and placed on reserve list, 2002
• Masters (LLM) in European Law (French and English), College of Europe, Bruges, 1996
• Masters in International and Dutch law, University of Amsterdam, 1995
• Exchange Student Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, 1995
• Part of Masters Spanish Language and Culture, University of Amsterdam, 1994

Courses

International Futures, Leadership, Negotiation, Strengths of a Team, Mind Mapping, Management, Effective Personal Performance, Communications in Policy, Public lecturing, Teaching

Language skills

         language           oral                  written

• English             high                  high
• French              high                  high
• Spanish            high                  high
• German            high                  high
• Italian              average            average

 Other

• special professor in Dutch foreign policy, Groningen (as of August 2015)
• Speaker and guest lecturer on WTO and EU law and international relations, international publications
• Living together with partner Eveline and three children in Amsterdam
• Sports: tennis, football, cycling, skating, skiing
• Culture: film, (contemporary) art and literature; cabaret, theatre, photography
• World Tour of 10 months (1988-'89)