Heidi Beshir

Heidi is an Egyptian career diplomat who grew up along the Mediterranean coast and has spent more than 15 years in Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before coming to SPIA, she served as Head of Cabinet to the Assistant Minister for Cultural Relations, working on cultural diplomacy, heritage protection, and the repatriation of Egyptian antiquities. Her diplomatic career has taken her across Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, with postings in Germany, Ghana, Cuba, Mexico, and Ecuador, as well as senior roles in Cairo. Her work has ranged from assisting Egyptians during the Arab Spring and managing humanitarian and consular cases, to coordinating presidential and ministerial visits, strengthening diaspora engagement, and representing Egypt in multilateral security settings. In 2022, she attended the NATO Defense College’s Regional Cooperation Course in Rome, where she was the youngest participant, the only civilian woman in a predominantly senior military environment, and graduated with honors. During the summer, she wrapped up her diplomatic responsibilities, prepared for the move to Princeton, and tried to remember what homework felt like. After graduation, Heidi plans to continue in public service, focusing on migration governance, human security, environmental diplomacy, and inclusive institutions. In the long term, she hopes to serve in senior diplomatic or international policy roles shaping practical, humane policies for vulnerable communities.