Pilar Sánchez-Bella is director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Cabinet of the Presidency of the Government of Spain. She was previously deputy director of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Presidency of the Government, having joined the team as an advisor at the end of 2019.

Her areas of expertise are relations with the United States and North African countries, as well as cross-cutting issues related to the G20, climate change and development cooperation.

Before joining the Government of Spain, she had developed her professional career within international organisations. From 2016 to 2019, she worked at the OECD as an Analyst in the Middle East and Africa Division in the Global Relations Secretariat. She was also part of the World Bank Group as a specialist in private sector development with the Doing Business Subnational team (2010-16). Previously, she worked on conflict resolution and human rights at different NGOs, including The Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax) and Freedom House.

She holds a BA in Law with a Diploma in Business Administration from the Pontificia University of Comillas, a BA in Philosophy from The National University of Distance Education (UNED) and a MSc in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.