Irina Sandu commences her role as Deputy Director-General and Director of Science and Innovation
Starting on 1 July, Dr Irina Sandu takes up the role of Deputy Director-General and Director of Science and Innovation.
Irina Sandu will lead the Research Department, provide strategic leadership and coordinate science and innovation across ECMWF activities and programmes.
This includes advancing Earth system modelling, use of Earth system observations, data assimilation, AI and integrated prediction systems, with a strong focus on translating scientific advances into improved operational weather, climate and environmental services and on co-developing these capabilities with Member and Co-operating States.
Irina Sandu brings more than 20 years of experience across the European meteorological community, including the past 16 years at ECMWF. From her studies in Romania, through her PhD at Météo-France and an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, to scientific and leadership roles at ECMWF in Reading and Bonn, her career has been shaped by scientific excellence, bridging research and operations and European collaboration.
With a strong scientific background in atmospheric processes, Earth system modelling and operational weather prediction, Irina Sandu has contributed to the development of forecasting systems, led major scientific initiatives and built lasting partnerships across Europe.
More recently, Irina Sandu served as Science Lead and Director for ECMWF’s contribution to the European Commission’s Destination Earth (DestinE) initiative. In this role, she led the development and operationalisation of the Digital Twins and the Digital Twin Engine, as well as a broad portfolio of AI activities, working closely with more than 100 organisations across Europe, including ESA and EUMETSAT.
ECMWF Director-General Florian Pappenberger congratulates Irina on her appointment and highlights her extensive scientific expertise, leadership experience and strong track record of building successful European partnerships: “Irina combines outstanding scientific expertise with a deep understanding of how research is translated into operational weather and climate prediction.
"She has a proven ability to bring together science, innovation, operations and people across teams and institutions to deliver cross-cutting initiatives. In this role, Irina will help shape ECMWF’s scientific direction at a time of rapid technological change while ensuring that our advances continue to support the evolving needs of our Member and Co-operating States.”
Reflecting the appointment, Irina Sandu says: “Working across ECMWF, our Member and Co-operating States and the wider European meteorological community over many years has convinced me that our greatest strengths lie in our expertise, diverse perspectives and culture of collaboration. I’m delighted by the opportunity to lead the Research Department and coordinate science and innovation across ECMWF at a time when our field is evolving so rapidly.”
Looking ahead, Irina Sandu adds: “We have a real opportunity to build on these strengths to continue pushing the boundaries of science and innovation, develop the next generation of prediction systems, and work even more closely together across ECMWF and with our Member and Co-operating States to keep Europe at the forefront of weather, climate and environmental prediction.”