CV and DOI
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Eurofound
Maria Jepsen
Maria Jepsen is Eurofound’s Deputy Director, appointed on 1 November 2019. She coordinates the Agency’s programme development. Prior to this, she was Director of the research department at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), and assistant professor and research fellow at the Free University of Brussels (ULB). She is currently also associate professor in labour economics at ULB and external lecturer at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. Her main research interests include gender studies, the impact of welfare states on labour supply, wages and working conditions, and the development of the European social dimension. Ms Jepsen has been a member of various committees, councils and advisory boards at national and international level on employment, social, gender and research issues. She has also served as a coordinator on the European Commission tripartite advisory committee on health and safety at work. She holds a PhD in Economics and a Master’s degree in Econometrics from the Free University of Brussels (ULB).
X: @MariaJepsenEF
Research outputs
Maria is the author of the following publications.
Events, commentary and analysis
Maria has contributed the following events, blog posts and podcast episodes.
4 July 2025
In-person event
Competitiveness and inclusion in a new geopolitical era: Prosperity for all?
To mark its 50th anniversary, Eurofound hosted a high-level event with EU institutions, social partners and stakeholders in Brussels to debate Europe’s future. Speakers discussed social dialogue, competitiveness and fairness amid profound uncertainty.
7 March 2025
Podcast episode
What is the future for gender equality in Europe?
This special episode of Eurofound Talks, recorded for International Women’s Day 2025, looks at women’s progress in the labour market and society over the past five decades, as well as sticking points on the path to gender equality in Europe, particularly related to the gender employment and pay gaps. Eurofound Head of Unit for Information and Communication Mary McCaughey speaks with Maria Jepsen, Eurofound Deputy Director, and Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE).
30 January 2025
Podcast episode
50 years of social change in Ireland and Europe
In this episode of the Eurofound Talks podcast Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Deputy Director Maria Jepsen, and Barry Colfer, Director of Research at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), about European social change over the past 50 years, Eurofound’s role in these changes, how Ireland itself has developed and changed, and the challenges currently on the horizon.
14 January 2025
Hybrid event
Foundation Forum 2025: Europe’s social model – the key to competitive growth
On 19–20 November 2025, Eurofound is organising its 8th Foundation Forum at IMMA Venues. It is the agency’s quadrennial high-level flagship event which has been running for the past 20 years and is organised in cooperation with the Irish Government.
2 May 2024
Blog post
Just transition? It’s not that simple
Part of the blog series: '10 reasons to Use Your Vote'
9 May 2022
Podcast episode
Living and working in Europe: Past, present and future
This podcast focuses on our annual update on the state of ‘Living and working in Europe’. It highlights trends and changes – both positive and negative – in the way citizens across the EU work today, and serves as a guide to policymakers at EU and Member State level. Our experts detail these with useful examples and insights which might also help face into the challenges raised by the most recent results from Eurofound’s unique pan-European Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey.
7 March 2022
Podcast episode
Gender equality
Women were just beginning to see the fruits of progress in gender equality over many years when the Great Recession hit, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the most recent results from Eurofound’s unique pan-European Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey reveal women again among the top losers as a result. This podcast, launched on International Women’s Day this year in conjunction with the European Institute for Gender Equality, debates issues related to closing the gender gaps across pay, employment and caring, and explores innovative options to promote change.
4 May 2021
Blog post
COVID-19 could be a catalyst for fundamental change that will define the Future of Europe
On 9 May, the Conference on the Future of Europe will get underway. Floated well before the COVID-19 outbreak, its timing in the wake of the seismic shifts precipitated by the pandemic, and its implementation alongside the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, means that the outcomes could be far-reaching.
28 April 2021
Blog post
Good news for gender equality as we exit the COVID-19 crisis?
The pandemic has had differential impacts on women. Raised consciousness about them must be applied to advance gender equality in recovery measures. All crises have a strongly gendered impact and none more so than the current pandemic, across a range of indicators. While the virus itself seems to take a greater toll on men than women when it comes to fatalities, women appear to have been worse affected in terms of labour market impact.
Other members of the Eurofound unit
Find more staff members of the Eurofound unit below.
Ivailo Kalfin
Executive DirectorEurofound
Ivailo Kalfin joined Eurofound as Executive Director on 1 June 2021. Mr Kalfin’s expertise covers a range of areas, from the dynamics of the labour market and social policy to global political trends, the EU and budget, as well as digital transformation. He has outlined five main priorities for his role at Eurofound: supporting the mainstreaming of Europe's green and digital transitions; complementing the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan with evidence-based research; increased cooperation with international organisations and external partners and greater outreach to European Neighbourhood Policy countries; support for enhancing and expanding the capacity of social partners within the remit of the Agency; raising Eurofound's profile among key stakeholders.
Anna Ludwinek
Liaison Manager - Brussels Liaison OfficeEurofound
Anna Ludwinek is the Liaison Manager at Eurofound’s Brussels Liaison Office, which she joined in 2019. Her responsibilities focus primarily on coordinating the work of the Brussels office, including the relationship with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and thinks-tanks. Prior to this, Anna was a research manager in the Social Policies unit with responsibility for work on intergenerational social mobility and equal opportunities, youth inequalities and access to social benefits. Her earlier work at Eurofound involved managing a European network of cities for local integration policies (CLIP), working on issues around diversity, housing, intercultural policies and ethnic entrepreneurship. Other areas of research included reintegration of long-term excluded groups into the labour market and the impact of digitalisation on social services. Anna holds an MA in Political Science from Warsaw University and a BA in International Relations and MA in Social Applied Research from Trinity College Dublin.
Robbie Stakelum
Brussels Liaison OfficerEurofound
Robbie Stakelum is the Brussels Liaison Officer, responsible for the European Economic and Social Committee, Social Partners and the European Commission. He has been working in Brussels since 2014 with a focus on social and employment policies.
Documents
The following documents are available for download.
