Kersti Kaljulaid

Kersti Kaljulaid served as the president of Estonia from 2016-2021. She was the first female, and youngest, head of state in Estonia since the country declared independence in 1918.

Kaljulaid graduated from the University of Tartu in 1992 with a degree in genetics. She completed her master’s studies in economics and business administration in 2001.

From 1996 to 1999, Kaljulaid worked in several corporate positions in Estonia. From 1999 to 2002, she was the economic advisor of Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar, and from 2002 to 2004, she was the director of Iru Power Plant, a subsidiary of a state-owned energy company, the first woman to lead a power plant in Estonia. From 2004 to 2016, Kaljulaid served as Estonia's representative in the European Court of Auditors.