Irene Piki was born in Nicosia in 1973. She studied Economics in the UK, (BSc Regional Science – Economics and Human Geography) at the University of Reading, followed by postgraduate studies in Environmental Economics at University College London (UCL), where she was awarded an MSc Environmental and Natural Resources Economics degree.

 

She has been employed in the public service of the Republic of Cyprus as a career technocrat since 1997, at various posts with a wide range portfolio, which includes issues relating to the economy, environment, peripheral policy, reforms and investments as well as European issues. Her professional career started from the private sector focusing on issues of environment economics. In 1997 her career in the public service begun with her appointment at the Planning Bureau (now Directorate General Growth, Ministry of Finance), where she worked on issues related to the environment, and natural resources.

 

In September 2019 she took over as Head of the Strategy, Coordination and Communication Directorate at the Ministry of Finance. In March 2021 she was promoted to the position of Financial Director and in October 2022 she became Director of the Directorate of Economic Policy and European Affairs.

 

She was a member of the Board of Directors of Invest Cyprus (CIPA), the Research and Innovation Foundation, the Cyprus Organization for Standardization as well as the Cyprus Economy and Competitiveness Council. She has represented Cyprus in various EU Committees relating to economic and political cohesion issues.