Ann Branch works for the European Commission and is responsible for the coordination of the European Union’s new “Erasmus+” programme for education, training, youth and sport which will help millions of young people, teachers and trainers to benefit from a mobility stint in another EU country in order to improve their skills, employability and intercultural abilities. Until June 2013 she was in charge for over five years of the EU’s Culture Programme, preparation of the Creative Europe programme, the European Capitals of Culture and various other European cultural initiatives. Since she joined the EU institutions in 1999, she also worked in the fields of employment and social affairs. Prior to joining the European Institutions she worked in the private sector for representative business organisations, particularly in the field of employment and social affairs. She has British/Finnish dual nationality and holds a BA degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, a Master of Philosophy from Oxford University, and a diploma from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris.
