Education
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Tufts University (USA), 1995
M.A. international law and diplomacy (Fullbright scholarship)
Estonian School of Diplomacy (professional diploma, international relations), 1992
Tartu University (M.A. in law, cum laude), 1986
Tallinn English College (former Tallinn 7. School), 1981
Professional training:
University of Durham (Delimitation of Land and Maritime Boundaries) UK, 2000
Civil Service College (Government, Law and the EU) UK, 1995
University of Pittsburgh (Training Program in Foreign Affairs) UK, 1991
University of Lapland (Research Grant: International Treaties Law) Finland, 1991
Employment
Member of the European Parliament for Estonia, since 02.07.2019
Member of the Estonian Parliament Riigikogu, 2019
Commissioner of The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC), since 2019
Member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation, since 2018
Chair of The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC), 2017-2019
Estonian Cyber Security Expert at the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber Security, 2014-2015 and 2016-2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2015-2016
Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2014-2015
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, 2011-2014
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States (Mexico) (non-resident), 2011-2014
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada (non-resident), 2011-2013
Undersecretary for Foreign Economic Relations and Development Aid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2008-2011
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kazakhstan (non-resident), 2007-2011
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russian Federation, 2007-2008
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel (non-resident), 2004-2006
Undersecretary for Legal and Consular Affairs, Legal Adviser at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2002-2005
Director General of Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1999-2001
Counselor at the Republic of Estonia Embassy in Helsinki, Head of Consular Department, 1996-1999
Director of International Treaties Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1991-1996
III secretary of Press and Information Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1991
Tallinn Economic Technical School, lecturer at the law department, 1986-1991
Professional activities
Member of the ICRC Global Advisory Board, 2021 – present
Veteran of the IGF and the EuroDIG Conferences
– As Foreign Minister Invited the EuroDIG 2017 to Tallinn
– Chaired the MEP delegation to the IFG 2021
Member of the UN SG Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, 2020 – present
Member of the Steering Committee of the European Internet Forum, 2019 – present
Member of the Advisory Board of CYBERSEC conference, 2018 – present
Member of UN SG High Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, 2018-2019
Chair of the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyber Space (GCSC) 2017-2019. Stepped down after being elected to Estonian Parliament. Acted as Commissioner of the GCSC since 2019.
Member of the Aspen Ministers Forum (former Foreign Ministers), chaired by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, 2017 – present
Estonian National Expert at the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (GGE), in 2014-2015; 2016-2017.
Chief Negotiator on Accession of Estonia to the OECD, 2008-2011
Member of the Governmental Delegation in accession negotiations to the European Union, Head of the Legal Working Group of the Accession Treaty, 2002-2004
Member of the Governmental Delegation- negotiations on Land and Maritime Boundaries Agreements between Estonia and Russian Federation, 1995-2005
Legal expert of the Governmental Delegation- Agreement on Troops Withdrawal between Estonia and Russian Federation, 1992-1994
Political views
Board member of the Estonian Social Democratic Party, since 06.2019
Member of the Estonian Social Democratic Party, since 2018
Academic activity, philanthropy
Frequent Speaker at high level events on digital and cyber affairs
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina Center for Cyber, Intelligence and Security Studies, fellow, USA, since 2017
Member of the Advisory Council of Global and International Studies at University of Salamanca, Spain, since 2017
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Cyber Security Research Center, member, Israel, since 2017
CSIS Center for Strategic and International Studies High-Level Advisory Council to the Lillan and Robert D. Stuart Jr Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies, member, USA, since 2017
Member of the European Cybersecurity Forum CYBERSEC Programme Committee, Poland, since 2017
Member of The Madeleine Albright Aspen Ministers Forum, USA, since 2016
Honorary chair for children’s charity Päikeselaager, since 2016
Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, member of European Advisory Group, USA, since 2015
Member of the Board of Trustees of Tallinn University, since 2010
Founding member of WIIS-EST- Estonian Branch of Women in International Security, 2000
Founding member of the Estonian Branch of the International Law Association, 1996
Lecturer of international law and diplomacy at Estonian School of Diplomacy, since 1995
Decorations
Decorated by the President of Estonia:
Order of the National Coat of Armas, III class, 2008
Order of White Star, III class, 2004
Other:
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland, 2016
Estonian Association of Business and Professional Women Woman of the Year, 2015
Eesti Naiste Koostööketi Teenäitaja, 2007
“Postimees” Person of the Year, 2007
Organizations
Member of Estonian Society for the Protection of Animals, since 2018
Active member of Naiskodukaitse (Women`s voluntary defense organization), since 2017
Most notable publications
Global cooperation of ‘utmost importance’ for a stable cyberspace (The Washington Times, 28.01.2018)
Neighbors and Principles: Estonia and Russia (The Moscow Times, 20.10.2017)
E-lifestyle and Cyber Security: some views from Estonia (Emerging Europe, 18.08.2017)
Smart countries take advantage of the cyber revolution (Estonian World, 01.06.2017)
Estonia needs NATO’s help against Russia (The Washington Post, 07.07.2016)
Countermeasures of US against Russia cyber attacks are notable (The Baltic Times, 31.12.2016)
Other
Languages:
Fluent – Estonian, English and Russian (mother tongue)
Family:
married to Kalle Kaljurand, two children: daughter Kaisa (1987) and son Kristjan (1992)
Hobbies:
Nordic walk, reading, dogs, badminton
Fun facts:
Multiple Estonian national Champion in badminton (1980-1991)
Owner of a Scottish Terrier Marland Lady Lennox (Lennu, 2015) and a mixed breed Rocky (2008)