Katleen earned degrees in Law and Philosophy from the University of Leuven (KUL -Belgium) following which she graduated from the College of Europe (Bruges -Belgium) with a diploma of Advanced Legal European studies (LLM). After her studies, she practicedlaw at the Bar of Lawyers in Brussels, she conducted research activities on European and international trade issues at the Tel-Aviv University and she worked for several years as a Director for European Affairs in a multinational. Katleen works in the European Commission since 1996; she started as a legal officer/contract negotiator in DG RTD (DG for Research and Innovation) in 1996 where she stayed for 13 years after which she moved to DG CONNECT (DG for Communications Networks, Content and Technology) mainly dealing with compliance issues for another 12 years. In April 2021, with the set-up of HaDEA (European Health and Digital Executive Agency), she was seconded by DG CONNECT to HaDEA where she occupies the function of Head of Department responsible for the implementation of Programmes (CEF, DEP and HE) in the areas of Digital, Industry and Space.