Simone Dudt studied cultural sciences in Hildesheim, Germany, and Marseille, France, with a focus on Fine Arts and Music. She has been working for the European Music Council since 2004. Today, she serves as the Secretary General of the European Music Council, holding the position in dual leadership alongside Ruth Jakobi. Ruth and Simone are responsible for EMC’s strategic development, as well as for advocacy work in cultural policy, and for planning and implementing international cooperation projects. Simone has always been interested in the social impact and power of the arts. In her diploma thesis, she examined the record labels Motown and Stax, exploring their connections to black empowerment and the US civil rights movement. Simone is the author of diverse articles on music and cultural policy as well as a speaker on these topics at European conferences.