Languages: Estonian, English, Finnish
Prior to joining the ICDS as a research fellow in autumn 2024, Kai Kaarelson worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since March 1997. Throughout her career, she has been posted as an Ambassador to Lithuania, Georgia, and Armenia and served as a diplomat in Estonian Representations to the EU and to the United Nations, as well as an exchange diplomat in the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has held several positions in the Ministry’s Political Department, EU Department and Policy Planning Department and worked as the Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Office of the President. Ms Kaarelson holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Tampere, Finland (1998).