Ms. Isabelle Durant (Belgium) took office as Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD on 3 July 2017. Ms. Durant had a distinguished career in Belgian and European politics. She held the offices of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Energy and Senator in the Belgian Government. She also served as Vice-President of the European Parliament and Presidency of the European Union Council of Ministers of Transport. Ms. Durant also has a wealth of experience collaborating with civil society and the private sector, notably as the Vice-President responsible for relations between the European Parliament and civil society. Ms. Durant has also held posts as a senior consultant on the empowerment of women in local government for the UNDP and as a member of the Brussels-Capital Region in the Parliament of Belgium.