Laura Ballester Nieto
About Laura Ballester Nieto
Laura Ballester Nieto serves as the Head of External Relations at the World Food Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she has worked since 2021. She has extensive experience in donor relations and communications within the United Nations system and has held various positions across multiple organizations.
Work at World Food Programme
Laura Ballester Nieto has been serving as the Head of External Relations at the World Food Programme (WFP) since 2021. In this role, she is based in Kathmandu, Bāgmatī, Nepal. Her responsibilities include managing donor relations and enhancing communication strategies to support WFP's mission. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Partnerships Officer at WFP from 2019 to 2021 in Lilongwe, Malawi, where she focused on building and maintaining partnerships to further the organization's objectives.
Education and Expertise
Laura holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Policy and Human Development from the United Nations University and Maastricht University, where she specialized in Risk and Vulnerability from 2014 to 2015. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and Government from Universidad Pompeu Fabra, completing her studies from 2007 to 2012. Her educational background supports her strong analytical and planning skills, which are essential in her roles within the humanitarian sector.
Background
Laura Ballester Nieto has extensive experience in the humanitarian and development sectors. She began her career as an intern in the International Cooperation Area at Fundació 'la Caixa' in 2011. Over the years, she has held various positions, including Executive Secretary at Caixa Capital Risc and Research Volunteer at United Nations Volunteers. Her roles have taken her to multiple countries, including Timor-Leste, Malawi, and Switzerland, where she has developed a strong foundation in donor relations and information management.
Previous Positions and Experience
Before her current role at WFP, Laura worked in various capacities within the United Nations system. She served as an Information Management and Reporting Officer in Dili, Timor-Leste, and Lilongwe, Malawi, from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, she worked as a Project Development Consultant for the UN Migration Agency (IOM) and as an Early Recovery Intern at UNDP. Her diverse experiences have equipped her with the skills necessary to manage communications and information effectively in challenging environments.