Eleonora Russell took up the post of Public Affairs (PA) and Strategic Communications (StratCom) Advisor in June 2021 at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. As such, Ms Russell is the main PA Advisor and principal contact for StratCom for the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, the Deputy Chair, the Director General of the NATO International Military Staff, and the NATO Military Committee. In this role, Ms Russell is also the designated spokesperson for the aforementioned military leaders and entities.
From September 2017 to May 2021, Ms Russell was a senior speechwriter at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. In this capacity she wrote speeches, letters and articles for the Minister of Defence, the State Secretary for Defence and the Chief of Defence. Prior to this, Russell worked as speechwriter and communications advisor to the President of the Dutch Senate.
In 2018, Russell won the national speechwriting award in the Netherlands. Since then, she has won three Cicero Awards and one Grand Cicero Award for speeches that she wrote for Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee.
In 2023, Russell received the NATO Meritorious Service Medal.
Eleonora Russell has a master’s degree in Private Law (Utrecht University). She speaks Dutch, English, French and German. She is married and has a daughter.