Director of WDN at the International Republican Institute, United States
Erika Veberyte is Director of WDN at the International Republican Institute (IRI). She joined IRI in 2010, following a successful career as Lithuania’s diplomat to the United States.
From 2007-2010, Veberyte served as Political Council at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Washington, DC. As a diplomat, Veberyte was responsible for reaching out to the U.S. Congress and assisting in developing relations with the members of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.
Prior to her posting in Washington, DC, Veberyte served in the office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania as Diplomatic Advisor to the Acting President. Veberyte provided council on international relations, formulated, and implemented Acting President’s foreign policy strategy during Lithuania’s first months in the European Union and NATO, and participated in the drafting of Lithuania’s revised foreign policy guidelines and goals.
While serving as Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania from 2001-2006, Veberyte directed all aspects of the Speaker’s foreign policy. In this role she formulated and implemented parliament foreign policy strategy, managed business and logistical issues of the Speaker’s in-country meetings with numerous foreign leaders, Heads of State and parliamentary delegations and oversaw foreign visits to more than 32 countries around the world. Additionally, she coordinated foreign policy work among the parliament, government, Foreign Ministry, and President’s office and administered the passage of EU-related legislation and referendum.
Veberyte also worked at the World Bank Washington, DC office, the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, and the IRI office in Vilnius, Lithuania. Born and raised in Kaunas, Lithuania, Veberyte has two Master’s degrees from Georgetown University, where she received a Master of Science in Foreign Service in 2000, and Vilnius University Philology faculty. She has done additional studies at Aalborg University in Denmark and the University of Colorado.
Veberyte is recipient of The Cross of Officer of the Order “For Services to Lithuania” (2004); Seimas’ Recognition Award for Meritorious Contributions to Lithuania’s Entry into NATO (2004); “Ordem do Merito Comendador” by the Government of Portugal (2003); “De L’Ordre De Leopold II” by the Kingdom of Belgium (2006); Badge of Honor of the President of the Republic of Lithuania for “Personal Input into Expansion of Trans-Atlantic Relations and Invitation of Lithuania to NATO” (2002); Selected by the European Commission to attend EU Visitors’ Program (2001); Awarded Muskie Fellowship full scholarship to Georgetown University (1998); Awarded Aalborg-Vilnius University Scholarship (1993).
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
a global affairs media network
Erika Veberyte
March 25, 2014
Director of WDN at the International Republican Institute, United States
Erika Veberyte is Director of WDN at the International Republican Institute (IRI). She joined IRI in 2010, following a successful career as Lithuania’s diplomat to the United States.
From 2007-2010, Veberyte served as Political Council at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Washington, DC. As a diplomat, Veberyte was responsible for reaching out to the U.S. Congress and assisting in developing relations with the members of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.
Prior to her posting in Washington, DC, Veberyte served in the office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania as Diplomatic Advisor to the Acting President. Veberyte provided council on international relations, formulated, and implemented Acting President’s foreign policy strategy during Lithuania’s first months in the European Union and NATO, and participated in the drafting of Lithuania’s revised foreign policy guidelines and goals.
While serving as Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania from 2001-2006, Veberyte directed all aspects of the Speaker’s foreign policy. In this role she formulated and implemented parliament foreign policy strategy, managed business and logistical issues of the Speaker’s in-country meetings with numerous foreign leaders, Heads of State and parliamentary delegations and oversaw foreign visits to more than 32 countries around the world. Additionally, she coordinated foreign policy work among the parliament, government, Foreign Ministry, and President’s office and administered the passage of EU-related legislation and referendum.
Veberyte also worked at the World Bank Washington, DC office, the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, and the IRI office in Vilnius, Lithuania. Born and raised in Kaunas, Lithuania, Veberyte has two Master’s degrees from Georgetown University, where she received a Master of Science in Foreign Service in 2000, and Vilnius University Philology faculty. She has done additional studies at Aalborg University in Denmark and the University of Colorado.
Veberyte is recipient of The Cross of Officer of the Order “For Services to Lithuania” (2004); Seimas’ Recognition Award for Meritorious Contributions to Lithuania’s Entry into NATO (2004); “Ordem do Merito Comendador” by the Government of Portugal (2003); “De L’Ordre De Leopold II” by the Kingdom of Belgium (2006); Badge of Honor of the President of the Republic of Lithuania for “Personal Input into Expansion of Trans-Atlantic Relations and Invitation of Lithuania to NATO” (2002); Selected by the European Commission to attend EU Visitors’ Program (2001); Awarded Muskie Fellowship full scholarship to Georgetown University (1998); Awarded Aalborg-Vilnius University Scholarship (1993).
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
