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Yuriko Backes was born on 22 December 1970 in Kobe, Japan.

Education and qualifications

After graduating with an International Baccalaureate from the Canadian Academy International School in Kobe in 1989, Yuriko Backes obtained a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1992. She then attended the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, where she successfully completed a master’s degree in Japanese studies in 1993. Yuriko Backes obtained a second master’s degree in European political and administrative studies from the College of Europe in Bruges in 1994.

Governmental posts

On 5 January 2022, Yuriko Backes joined the coalition government between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and the Green Party (déi gréng) as Minister of Finance. Following the legislative elections of 8 October 2023, Yuriko Backes was appointed Minister of Defence, Minister for Mobility and Public Works and Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity on 17 November 2023 in the coalition government between the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP).

Professional activities

Yuriko Backes began her professional career in 1994 as chargée de mission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has held various positions, including at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York, the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the
Western European Union in Brussels, and the Luxembourg Embassy in Japan. Attached to the Directorate of European Affairs and International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg, she was sworn in as a civil servant in 2001. The career diplomat was then assigned to the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels from 2001 to 2006. She continued her diplomatic career as deputy head of mission at the Luxembourg Embassy in Japan from 2006 to 2008 and as deputy head of the Directorate for International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg from 2008 to 2010.

From 2010 to 2016, Yuriko Backes was the diplomatic adviser and sherpa to Luxembourg Prime Ministers Jean-Claude Juncker and Xavier Bettel. She was the representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg from 2016 to 2020.

From June 2020 until her appointment to the government as Minister of Finance, she served as marshal of the GrandDucal Court.

www.gouvernement.lu

As the Chief Human Resources Officer, Jessie Munger is responsible for the development and implementation of GlobeTax’s Human Capital strategy. She oversees talent acquisition, employee relations, training and development, and benefit management.

Since joining GlobeTax in 2006, Jessie has been instrumental in fostering a corporate culture that places great emphasis on communication, collaboration, and quality of life.

• Master of Science in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development from New York University


• Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis

Based in New York, Marcia Rothschild leads Aztec’s U.S. efforts supporting North American managers with European fundraising and operations, working closely with teams across the U.S. and Europe to strengthen client relationships and support growth initiatives.

She brings extensive experience in client leadership and business development across the Americas and Europe, having held senior roles at FundBank, N.A. and State Street.

Marcia is fluent in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish and holds a BA in Business Administration from Fundação Getulio Vargas and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Head of North America and the Caribbean, TMF Group | Member of the Management Committee

Ellen Stiene leads TMF Group’s operations across North America and the Caribbean and serves on the company’s Management Committee. With over two decades of experience in financial services, she has held executive roles at Citi, JPMorgan, and
Wells Fargo, driving transformation across custody, fund services, and compliance.

Ellen is known for her ability to scale businesses through client-centric innovation, disciplined execution, and the development of high-performing teams. Her leadership style blends strategic vision with operational rigor, consistently delivering results in complex global environments.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Ellen is a passionate advocate for the performing arts. A former ballet dancer, she currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York City.

Isabelle Steichen brings over 13 years of experience in early-stage startups across the food, beverage, and tech sectors. She has a proven track record in business strategy, operations and sales, working closely with founding teams of various VC-backed startups in NYC, including Kitchensurfing, Hungryroot, Masala Mama, Waggin’ Train and Soom Tahini.

In 2019, Isabelle launched Lupii, a brand dedicated to introducing the regenerative and nutrient-packed lupini bean to the US market. Within five years, she successfully launched two product lines, securing distribution across 1,000+ retail doors, including Costco & Whole Foods. Serving as the CEO of the business, Isabelle managed day-to-day operations, overseeing production, innovation, sales, and fundraising. Lupii was featured in the NYT & in Forbes.

Since April 2024, Isabelle has been an Operating Partner at Torana, a PE group focused on investing in and acquiring F&B manufacturers. Torana uses employee ownership structures as a tool to create economic stability for essential workers, reduce operating volatility for companies and generate meaningful returns for investors.

Isabelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Sciences and Economics and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Sciences Po Paris. She also has a certification in Food Product Development and a certification in Plant Based Nutrition from Cornell University. In 2023, she was recognized as a Tory Burch Fellow.