About Helen Spence-Jackson headshot

Helen Spence-Jackson

Executive Director, Europe

Contact

Europe Office

Work

Areas of expertise:

EU policy, EU political affairs, hydrogen, energy transition (energy demand/energy efficiency), circular economy, fisheries and oceans, innovation, Eastern Europe

Helen (she/her) leads Environmental Defense Fund’s work in Europe. With teams in Brussels, London, Berlin and other EU countries, Helen defines and implements EDF Europe’s strategy, develops relationships with EU institutions and builds partnerships with key stakeholders.  Drawing on EDF’s strong foundations in science and corporate engagement, Helen engages with decision makers to help bridge the science to policy gap. An expert in EU policy and public affairs with over 25 years of experience, Helen has previously worked for the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT - Climate-KIC), the EU Corporate Leaders Group, and the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Helen holds dual Belgian and British nationality and speaks English and French.

Background

Helen is an expert in EU policy and public affairs and began her career working on EU affairs in Brussels in 1999.   She holds dual Belgian and British nationality. Prior to joining EDF Europe in December 2021, Helen was Head of EU Affairs at the European Institute for Innovation and Technology, Climate-KIC. Before that she worked for the Brussels office of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) where she managed the EU activity of the EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change (CLG) and the EU Green Growth Platform, which brought together Environment, Climate and Energy Ministers from 16 European countries, in addition to a cross-party group of MEPs and a group of 40 leading businesses.  Earlier in her career she worked for the Brussels offices of a variety of organizations representing UK regional and local governments' interests to the EU.

Education

Helen gained her Masters with Distinction in European Politics from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in European Studies and French from the University of Kent, Canterbury.

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