Nicola Brennan is Ireland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Djibouti. She is also Ireland’s representative to the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). Prior to her appointment as Ireland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Nicola was the Director of International Development Policy in the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Nicola held that position since March 2016 during which she led the development of the Government of Ireland’s International Development Policy, A Better World. Prior to that Nicola held various roles in the Department including working on both bilateral country and multilateral UN issues. From 2003-2008 she led the Department’s international response to the AIDS pandemic. She has also served as Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development for the Department in South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Prior to joining the Department Nicola spent 7 years working for the UK NGO Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) in Indonesia.