Régine de Clercq

Born on 23 June 1944 in Tielt, Belgium
Married to Syed Zafar ALI

Education and training:

• Modern arts and letters, specialising in economics
• Ecole Normale Supérieure, specialising in mathematics and economics (1964)
• University of London, diploma in International Affairs (1980)
• International Politics and Foreign Policy certificate, Open University (1980)

Professional experience:

• Secondary school teacher of economics and mathematics, Deinze (1964-1973)
• Passed entrance examination, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consular Section, Brussels (1973)
• Attaché, Permanent Mission of Belgium to UNESCO, Paris (1974-1976)
• Deputy Chancellor, Belgian Embassy, London (1976-1980)
• Passed entrance examination, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Section, Brussels (1980)
• Assignments at the Belgian Embassy, Bonn and Permanent Missions of Belgium to:
  • UNESCO, Paris
  • Council of Europe, Strasbourg
  • United Nations, Geneva and New York (1980-1983)
• Third Secretary, Belgium Embassy, Washington (1983-1987)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Directorate for International Economic Relations, GATT Division, Brussels (1987-1990)
• Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Belgium to the European Communities, Brussels (1990-1994)
• Deputy Permanent Representative of Belgium to the FAO, WFP and IFAD, Rome
• Member of the FAO Council (1994-1996)
• Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belgium to the FAO, WFP and IFAD -
• Member of the FAO Finance Committee and WFP Executive Board (1996-1997)
• Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Financial Affairs, Belgian Embassy, Paris (1997-1999)
• Minister Plenipotentiary, Belgian Embassy, Paris (1999-April 2000)
• Appointed Ambassador of Belgium to the OECD (May 2000).