Vienna has been over the past centuries and continues to be a reflection of international trends. Few cities in the world can offer a cultural landscape that provides artistic opportunities ranging from street theatre to Vienna Philharmonic. Vienna´s role as a centre of international politics and diplomacy has left an indelible mark on Austrian society and has provided an incentive for multinational corporations to locate their headquarters in this city.

I was grateful to the Agency for taking the risk employing a young girl fresh from the university bench. Naturally, when I joined the IAEA I had no practical knowledge of the inner workings of the VIC-based UN organizations, but with time and the support of my colleagues I have managed to feel at home in this unique corporate culture.

I am happy to be a member of the multinational community of civil servants in Vienna representing all parts of the globe. I consider this an invaluable opportunity to learn about the different cultures and working styles of the diverse group of people that make up the staff of the IAEA. I believe that this VIC multicultural environment contributes immensely to the cultural richness of the Austrian society, and of Vienna in particular. The Vienna International Centre also provides a multitude of opportunities to develop ones talents outside of office hours, be it sports, music, arts or anything else. There is a wide choice of clubs and I, for example, serve on the committee of the newly established sailing club, I also enjoy snowboarding with the two UN skiing clubs.

Presently I am working in the Department of Safeguards, Division of Operations A, which is that part of the department which carries out independent inspections of all nuclear material and facilities subject to safeguards in the Far East/Asia region. The Division has contributed to the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons in such countries as, for example, Iraq, after the revelation of their clandestine nuclear weapons programme following the Gulf War. Another case is the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea (DPRK), where the possibility of their possessing undeclared plutonium has been intensively occupying a small group of highly qualified experts.

The position I occupy in this system is a modest one, but I am still young and continue to develop my professional qualifications. I hope to make the best of all available career opportunities.

A few years ago I decided to continue my education and enrolled in the International Relations Program at the Vienna campus of Webster University, and am planning to graduate within a few months. The program concentrates upon a wide variety of issues that reflect the complexity of contemporary international relations and the dynamics of the world community. Knowledge is the key word to success in the information age in which we are living.