For people looking for a career that combines specialist expertise with real-world impact, while offering opportunities to learn, innovate and work with colleagues from different backgrounds, CEPOL and the wider EU job market can offer an exciting next professional chapter.
Can you tell us a little about your professional journey and what brought you to the EU?
My career began as a teacher before I transitioned into law enforcement, where I worked as an immigration and border officer and criminal investigator. Alongside my professional career, I pursued a long academic journey, earning a PhD in Law and Sociology and four master’s degrees in law, sociology, translation and strategic border management. Over the past eighteen years, I have also published numerous international collective books and dozens of peer-reviewed articles and remained active in transnational research networks focused on European security.
A defining moment came when my national director entrusted me with a place on the Strategic Border Management Master’s programme delivered by Frontex. Studying alongside border management professionals from different countries introduced me not only to the technical rigour of European border policy, but also to the collaborative spirit that underpins EU agencies. That experience sparked my ambition to pursue a European career.
How did your experience at Frontex shape your career?
Following the Master’s programme, I joined Frontex as a seconded national expert for three rewarding years. I contributed to initiatives including fundamental rights monitoring, the standing corps and human trafficking training.
Working with colleagues from across the Member States gave me first-hand experience of the agency’s commitment to innovation and staff development. I am especially grateful to my former management team, whose mentorship and openness to creative ideas reinforced my belief that a career within the EU can combine scholarly rigour with tangible impact.
What does your role at the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) involve?
I joined CEPOL in 2023 as Research and Knowledge Management Officer. The role brings together many of the areas that have shaped my career: research, academia, innovation and law enforcement.
My work focuses on connecting research with law enforcement practice and creating opportunities for researchers, practitioners and policymakers to exchange knowledge and develop new ideas. It allows me to combine my academic background with practical work that contributes to European law enforcement cooperation.
What initiatives have you been able to develop at CEPOL?
Within my first months at CEPOL, I launched several new initiatives, including Research Week, the Pitch-Match Innovation Forum and the Young Researchers Network. These initiatives bring together university researchers, field practitioners and EU policymakers and have since become a regular part of our calendar. They attract participants from across the Member States, associate countries and law enforcement communities beyond the EU. Seeing these ideas develop into established initiatives has been particularly rewarding.
What do you value most about CEPOL as a workplace?
CEPOL has a workplace culture that values openness, interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based approaches. What I particularly appreciate is the opportunity employees have to propose and develop new ideas. The management’s responsiveness to my proposals has reinforced my conviction that CEPOL values staff-driven innovation. The willingness to test, refine and implement ideas creates an environment where employees feel empowered to contribute to the agency’s mission.
What has your experience of living and working in Budapest been like?
Relocating to Budapest added another dimension to my professional journey. The city’s beauty, combined with CEPOL’s supportive working environment, has helped me maintain a healthy work-life balance. At the same time, I have been able to continue engaging in academic activities alongside my core professional responsibilities, which is something I value greatly.
What would you say to someone considering a career at an EU institution, body or agency?
My journey from national law enforcement and academia to working for an EU agency has shown me how much scope there is within the European Union for professional development, interdisciplinary collaboration and meaningful work.
For people looking for a career that combines specialist expertise with real-world impact, while offering opportunities to learn, innovate and work with colleagues from different backgrounds, CEPOL and the wider EU job market can offer an exciting next professional chapter.