PERSONAL DATA
| Name | Ariadne Petridis |
| Position | Secretary-General of the Benelux Union |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Secretariat | secr.coll@benelux.int |
PROFILE
Ms Ariadne Petridis is a Belgian career diplomat with more than 35 years of experience in international relations, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and institutional governance. She was the first woman to represent Belgium to NATO. She has recognized expertise in European affairs, security and defence, transatlantic relations, human rights and public diplomacy. She is also the first woman to hold the position of Secretary-General of the Benelux Union.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Since January 2026: Secretary-General of the Benelux Union
2022 – 2025: Permanent Representative of Belgium to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
2019 – 2022: Minister Plenipotentiary, Director for Bilateral Relations with the Americas and the Caribbean
2015 – 2019: Minister Plenipotentiary, Relations with the European Parliament – Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU in Brussels
2011 – 2015: Embassy Counsellor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels (Directorate for Politico-Military Affairs)
2007 – 2011: Embassy Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels (Director of Public Diplomacy)
2006 – 2007: Teacher of French and Spanish
2000 – 2003: Embassy Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels (Human Rights Directorate; European Affairs Directorate, EU external relations)
1996 – 2000: Embassy Secretary at the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the United Nations in New York: Human rights, gender, social affairs and humanitarian aid
1994 – 1996: Embassy Attaché in Kinshasa: Political affairs and human rights
1992 – 1994: Embassy Attaché in Paris: Political affairs and COCOM
1990 – 1992: Diplomatic trainee in Rome and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brussels
EDUCATION
1988 – 1989: International Politics, University of Antwerp
1984 – 1988: Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Antwerp
LANGUAGES
Dutch, French, English and Spanish
