Fiona Knab-Lunny

Fiona assumed the role of Head of Cabinet to Commissioner McGrath at the start of his mandate on 1 December 2024.

From 2019-2024, she served as a senior member in the Cabinet of the then HRVP, Josep Borrell, in the European Commission where she was responsible for a range of issues including multilateralism, relations with the UN, sanctions, accountability, human rights and relations with civil society.

Prior to joining the Cabinet of the HRVP, Fiona was Head of the Political and Security Division and Deputy to the PSC Chair in the European External Action Service (EEAS). Fiona joined the EEAS on its establishment as the first permanent Chair of the Council Working Party on Africa (2011-2014) followed by two years as Head of Africa Sector in the Operations Division of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability in the EEAS working on EU civilian capacity building missions in Africa.

During her time as a career diplomat with the Irish Foreign Service, Fiona served in a number of roles in the Department of Foreign Affairs at Headquarters (Political Directorate, EU Directorate and Corporate Services), at the Embassy of Ireland to Belgium and at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels. Fiona was seconded to the Austrian Foreign Ministry in Vienna for one year (2005-6).

Fiona completed her undergraduate degree in Applied Languages at the University of Ulster and did her postgraduate studies in Edinburgh, Scotland.