Catherine Magnant graduated in international Relations and Slavic Languages.  Until 2017, she led the innovation and cultural policy team of the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture. In 2018 she headed the task force of the European year of Cultural heritage.  At present she is Deputy to the Director and head of Unit for Cultural policies, in the European Commission. 

Previously she worked at the Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs. She held various responsibilities promoting human rights and the fight against discrimination, in the EU and in the EU’s relations with third countries. In 2007, she coordinated the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All.