- EDUCATION
- 2020 Doctoral Studies at the Latvian Academy of Culture
- 1998 – 2001 Master of Social Science with Specialization in Public Administration, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Latvia
- 1994 – 1996 Master of Arts with Specialization in Culture Theory, Administration and History, Latvian Academy of Culture
- 1990 –1994 Bachelor of History, Faculty of History and Philosophy, University of Latvia
- 1978 –1989 Valmiera Secondary School No 1 (Valmiera State Gymnasium)
- 1981–1987 Valmiera Music School
- WORK EXPERIENCE:
- 2024 – 2025 Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
- 2022 – 2024 Head of the Latvian Academy of Culture Council
- 2019 – 2024 Member of the European Parliament
- Vice- Chair of the Culture and Education Committee
- Vice-Chair of the Special Committee on Foreign Interference in All Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation
- Temporary member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
- 2019 Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia in the government headed by Krišjānis Kariņš
- 2017 Vice-President of the 39th session of the UNESCO General Conference
- 2016 – 2019 Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia in the government headed by Māris Kučinskis
- 2014 – 2016 Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia in the government headed by Laimdota Straujuma
- 2013 – 2014 Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia in the government headed by Valdis Dombrovskis
- 2013 Chairperson of the Culture Commission for the 37th Session of UNESCO's General Conference
- 2014 – 2019 Chairperson of the Song and Dance Festival Council
- 2013 – 2019 Member of the Council of the Society Integration Foundation
- 2013 – 2019 Member of the Council of the State Culture Capital Foundation
- 2011 – 2013 Director of the Latvian National Centre for Culture
- 2009 – 2011 Head of the British Council representation in Latvia
- 2007 – 2009 Expert on culture in the expert group "Rising Human Well-being" of the Latvian National Development Plan 2007-2013
- 2006 – 2009 Member of the Artistic Committee of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival
- 2005 – 2009 Guest lecturer at the Latvian Culture College. Lecture course: "Culture Policy"
- 2004 – 2009 Deputy State Secretary for Culture Policy Affairs of the Ministry of Culture
- 2004 – 2009 Guest lecturer at the School of Economics and Culture; lecture themes: "Latvian Culture Policy", "Culture Management", "International Culture Systems"
- 2004 – 2006 Member of the Council "Education for All" of the Cabinet of Ministers
- 2003 – 2005 Chairperson of the Council for Preservation and Development of Riga Historical Centre
- 2003 – 2005 Member of the Artistic Board of the Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival
- 1999 – 2004 Secretary General of the Latvian National Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- 1999 – 2004 Consultant for Youth Affairs in Rīga Northern District
- 1999 – 2001 Advisor to the Director of the State Youth Initiative Centre, Ministry of Education and Science
- 1996 – 1999 Deputy Director of the State Youth Initiative Centre, Ministry of Education and Science
- 1994 – 1996 Head of the Culture Centre at the Police Academy of Latvia
- 1992 –1995 Senior Expert for Education and Information Work at the Latvian War Museum
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- 2019 – 2024 Author and leader of the Future Leaders' Academy "With Strong Roots in Latvia and Europe"
- 2017 -2019 Latvia’s Centenary Programme
- 2010 Project Manager of the Creativity Week in Latvia
- 2004 – 2006 Head of the working group of the National Cultural Policy Guidelines "National State"
- 2004 -2005 International Forum "Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: Youth, Education and Development"
- 2002 – 2003 UNESCO pilot project "Cultural Tourism Document of the Baltic States"
- 2001 – 2003 Project of the Baltic States "Tradition and Symbolism of the Song Festivals in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania" (Song Festival application for the Proclamation of Masterpieces of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity), Head of the Baltic Working Group
- 2001–2003 Head of the Baltic Sea Region Working Group of the UNESCO Global Initiative "Education for All"
- 2000 Head of the Youth Program of the 21st International Hanseatic Days
- 1999 – 2000 Project Manager of the 1st Latvian Youth Congress
- 1998 – 1999 Co-author of the TV competition "Erudīts", author of the program "My Way to Latvia" dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia
- 1997 – 1998 Author and director of the project "School and Museum", implemented with the support of the Soros Foundation Latvia
- FURTHER EDUCATION
- 2022 Online educational program "Intercultural Dialogue", University of Oxford
- 2021 Online educational program "Leadership for Women", University of Oxford
- 2017 Vitae Institute for Lifelong Learning and Culture and Franklin Covey Education Continuing Educator Course "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People"
- 2017-2018 French language course at the French Cultural Centre
- 2010 British Council training workshop on Cooperation Skills for Effective Partnerships
- 2009 British Council online course on Performance Management
- 2009 British Council course on "Using GPS (Global Planning System) for Financial and Operational Planning and Monitoring"
- 2003 Continuing education courses in pedagogy for education staff at the Riga City Teacher Training Centre
- 2002 Refresher courses for the Secretaries-General of the UNESCO National Commissions (Paris)
- 2002 Continuing education course "Public Relations" at the Folk Art Centre
- 1997 – 1998 Author and director of the project "School and Museum", implemented with the support of the Soros Foundation of Latvia
- 1999 English language course for youth workers at the University of Plymouth
- 1999 Soros Foundation - Latvia and National Language Program courses for intercultural camp organisers
- 1998 UNDP educational program "Women and Entrepreneurship"
- 1997 – 1998 Training programme for organisers of international youth exchange projects under the EU Youth for Europe Programme
- 1996 – 1997 EP training course "New Approaches to Information and Counselling for Youth"
- 1997 EP training course for educational staff "The Museum as an Enhancer of the Educational Process"
- AWARDS
- Honorary Award of the Cultural Foundation of the World Federation of Free Latvians
- Order of the Three Stars, 3rd Class
- Certificate of Recognition of the Cabinet of Ministers
- Spīdola Award by the Latvian Culture Foundation for outstanding achievements in culture management
- Winner of the world competition "The Outstanding Young Persons" organized by Junior Chamber International and finalist of the Latvian competition in the category "Achievements in Culture"
- Award of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for merits in strengthening the State of Latvia
- Certificate of Recognition from the Ministry of Education and Science
- National awards presented by Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands
- LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:
- Latvian - native; English, Russian – fluent; French, German – conversational