Backes served as head of the European Commission’s representative office in Luxembourg since 1 September 2016, prior to which she was diplomatic advisor to Jean-Claude Juncker when he was Luxembourg prime minister, starting in 2010.
She studied in London and Brugges before serving in several diplomatic roles, including as deputy director of the international economic relations directorate for the foreign affairs ministry, deputy head of mission at the Luxembourg embassy in Japan and permanent representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels and to the UN in New York.
The 49-year-old succeeds Lucien Weiler, who will have served for five-and-a-half years. According to RTL and 100,7 public radio, she will be the first woman to take the role.
She takes up the role a year after allegations of staff mishandling by Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa. A subsequent government investigation, the findings of which were published in the Waringo report, found a pressing need for reform at the court.