Veronika is Head of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Brussels Office since April 2019. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of international environmental affairs. At the Czech Ministry of Environment (2000-2012), she held different positions - director, director general and deputy minister, responsible for several areas including international relations, EU legislation, strategic and policy work in the field of environment and sustainable development.
Veronika was involved in the preparations for the Czech accession to the EU in the field of environment. Years later she co-ordinated the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2009 in environment.
She has served as a member of various national decision-making bodies and was the Czech representative at the Management Board of the European Environment Agency for several years. Before joining UNEP she worked in the academic sector (Charles University in Prague) as director of international relations and partnerships, and as of 2017 as policy advisor, leading preparations for the establishment of a European university alliance of four research-focused universities.