Teodora Matei joined the Basel Institute in November 2024 as a Programme Officer (Translation) based in Moldova, where she facilitates communication with our Government of Moldova counterparts.

Teodora is a legal professional and linguist with a strong foundation in international contract law and corporate legal advisory. She has extensive experience as a legal counsel for public and private institutions, having advised on risk management, compliance and legal proceedings, and played a pivotal role in shaping organisational strategies and mitigating legal challenges.

Before joining the Institute, Teodora built a solid career in the payments sector, most notably as part of Mastercard’s open banking division. Her work has been instrumental in fostering trust and adoption of cutting-edge payment technologies across various industries and markets.

Teodora holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and an LL.M. in Patrimonial Law from a top-3 University in Moldova, where she developed her expertise in legal frameworks and contract negotiations.

Further enhancing her interdisciplinary skills, she pursued an Academy Profession (AP) degree in Marketing Management in Denmark, equipping her with strategic thinking and market analysis capabilities. Complementing her legal background, she participated in an Erasmus programme in Economics and Accounting in Italy, gaining valuable insights into financial and monetary systems.

Teodora speaks Romanian, English, Russian and Italian fluently and is on her way to mastering Korean and German.