María José Maldonado is the Programme Manager of the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) for Europe, Middle East and North Africa in Brussels, Belgium. She is highly interested in peace, security, counter-terrorism and socio-economic development.

María José Maldonado supports the IEP’s Europe and MENA Region programme with Positive Peace projects, development of partnerships, event coordination and consulting. Also, she has experience in moderation, public speaking and workshop facilitation.

In the past, she has assisted in the activities of the Global Governance Institute, World Solidarity Forum and the Embassy of Mexico to Belgium and Luxembourg & Permanent Representation to the European Union. Her educational background includes a Cum Laude BA in International Affairs and BA in Global Communication Studies with a Minor in European Peace & Security Studies from Vesalius College in partnership with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels).

Moreover, she has received training in EU Development and Project Management (Vocal Europe) and Peacebuilding, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Conflict Transformation (Youth Peace Week 2021 by the Council of Europe).

As of September 2022, she will study a MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics & Political Sciences in London, United Kingdom.