Julia Pagel trained in Art History and Latin American Studies at the Free University of Berlin (FU Berlin), was the director of the German Museums Association and vice-president of the Executive Committee of Culture Action Europe.

Since 2019, she has been a member of the European Commission’s Cultural Heritage group of experts and, since 2021, part of the European Advisory Council, a digital platform on European cultural heritage.

She is currently the secretary-general of the European Network of Museum Organisations (NEMO).