H.E. Mrs Yavel Mireya Francis Lanuza has been the Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the Kingdom of Belgium since 2019. From 2005, she served as Ambassador and Adviser to the First Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs for multilateral affairs related to the General Assemblies of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. She worked in the private sector from 1997 to 2004, as an associate in prestigious law firms in Panama, and as Executive Vice President in charge of Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Cable & Wireless Panama, S.A. In 1996, Ms Francis was appointed Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.  In the same year, she was appointed Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Council.