Odile Quintin, graduated in law and philosophy, entered at the European Commission in 1971. From 1971 to 1982, she worked as Administrator and Principal Administrator in the DG "Agriculture" and DG "External relations". From 1982 to 1994, she was Head of unit in the DG "Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities". From 1994 to 2000, she acted as Director "European Social Fund”, "Employment & Labour Market", then "Social Dialogue, Social rights & questions of equality" in the DG "Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities". She was, from 1998 to 2000, Acting Deputy Director general, then ad interim, in the DG "Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities". he was appointed as Director-General in the DG "Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities" from 2000 to 2005. From 2010 to 2014 she was Special advisers to the EC.
Professor at Sciences Po and at ESCP Business School Europe on European issues. Odile Quintin has carried out several missions for the French government (Education, Employment: Social Conferences). She is also a member of several committees/Foundations on Education, Employment and Culture.