Kersti Kaljulaid
| Kersti Kaljulaid | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 5th President of Estonia | |
|
Assumed office 10 October 2016 |
|
| Prime Minister |
Taavi Rõivas Jüri Ratas |
| Preceded by | Toomas Hendrik Ilves |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
30 December 1969 Tartu, Estonia |
| Political party | Pro Patria Union (2001–2004) |
| Spouse(s) | Georgi-Rene Maksimovski |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu |
Kersti Kaljulaid ([ˈkersti ˈkɑljulɑid̥]; born 30 December 1969) is an Estonian politician who is the fifth and current President of Estonia, in office since 10 October 2016. She is the first female head of state of Estonia since the country declared independence in 1918, as well as the youngest ever President, aged 46.
Kaljulaid is a former state official, serving as Estonia's representative in the European Court of Auditors from 2004 until 2016. After several rounds of Estonian presidential elections in 2016 ended without success, she was brought as a "dark horse" and on 30 September 2016 she was nominated by the majority of parliamentary parties as a joint candidate for President of Estonia, she was the only nominated candidate in that round. She was voted President of Estonia on 3 October 2016, by 81 votes with 17 abstainers.
In 1987, Kaljulaid graduated from Tallinn Secondary School no. 44. During her studies there, she was a member of the Students' Scientific Association, specializing in ornithology. In 1992, she graduated from University of Tartu cum laude as a biologist. In 2001, she graduated from the University of Tartu with an MBA in business management. Her thesis was titled as "Riigi poolt asutatud sihtasutuste juhtimissüsteemi täiustamine" or "The improvement of the management system of state-founded foundations" in English.
From 1996 to 1997 Kaljulaid was a sales manager in state-owned telecom Eesti Telefon and from 1997 to 1998 a project manager in Hoiupanga Investeeringute AS. From 1998 to 1999 she was employed in Hansabank's investment banking division Hansabank Markets. From 1999 to 2002, Kaljulaid worked as the economic advisor of Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar. From 2002 to 2004, she was the director of Iru Power Plant, a subsidiary of the state-owned energy company Eesti Energia. She was the first woman to lead a power plant in Estonia.
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