Yuriko Backes became Minister of Finance on January 5, 2022. After having obtained a Bachelor degree from the London School of Economics, a Master’s Degree from the School of Oriental and African Studies and a second Masters from the College of Europe in Bruges, she started her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Yuriko Backes held various positions, including at the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the UN in New York and to the European Union in Brussels, and at the Luxembourg Embassy in Tokyo. From 2008 to 2010, she served as deputy head of the Directorate of International economic relations in Luxembourg. The career diplomat then took up the position of diplomatic advisor and sherpa to Luxembourg Prime Ministers Jean-Claude Juncker and Xavier Bettel for 6 years, before becoming the representative of the European Commission in Luxembourg from 2016 to 2020. Prior to her appointment as Minister of Finance, she served as marshal of the Grand-Ducal Court.