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Bénédicte Frankinet

Senior Training Expert

Multilateral Diplomacy

Biography

After starting her diplomatic career with postings to Brazil, the United Nations, and the Permanent representation of Belgium to the European Community, Bénédicte Frankinet worked as adviser to the Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993.

She was Minister-Counsellor at the Belgian Embassy in Paris, and then Ambassador in Zimbabwe (1999-2003), also accredited in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. From 2003 to 2008 she was Director of the United Nations Service at the MFA, after which she served as Ambassador to Israel (2008-2013). Finally, she was Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations in New York from 2013 and 2016, before acting as Special Envoy charged with heading Belgium’s successful campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

During her distinguished career Ms. Frankinet served Belgium in numerous capacities across several continents, giving her an unparalleled insight into the workings at the highest level of government and international institutions.

She contributes to the work of the Egmont Education & Training Programme since 2017 with a module simulating the UN Security Council, and more recently has also delivered modules on diplomatic networking, reporting techniques and communication.