Before joining DG SANTE, Ioana was Deputy Head of Unit in the Secretariat General of the Commission and in DG Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and assistant to the Director General of DG EMPL. She started her career in the European Commission in the cabinet of Commissioner Orban. Before joining the European administration, she was adviser and spokesperson to the Romanian Minister Delegate, Chief Negotiator with the EU. Ioana graduated from the College of Europe and has a PhD in international relations and EU affairs.