Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar

She started her work in Tallinn in September 2018 as Estonia’s first Cyber Ambassador. Before returning to Tallinn, Ambassador Tiirmaa-Klaar was Head of Cyber Policy Coordination at the European External Action Service (EEAS) between January 2012 and August 2018. In 2013 and 2017 she was responsible for both developing the cybersecurity strategies of the European Union and for the implementation of the EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework. Ambassador Tiirmaa-Klaar joined the Estonian civil service in 1995 and has held various managerial positions in national security fields. Between 2007 and 2010 she worked as the National Cyber Coordinator, developing the world’s first whole-of-government cybersecurity strategy and reorganizing the government structures to adequately address cyber issues. Shortly before joining the EEAS, she worked as a Cyber Security Policy Adviser to NATO where she drafted and negotiated the first comprehensive NATO Cyber Defence Policy in 2011.