Elita Gavele began her career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991. From 1991 to 2006, she worked at the Latvian Embassies in Lithuania and Russia, as well as holding various posts at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters. She has served as Head of the Foreign Minister’s Office. From 2009 to 2011 – Head of the Information and Public Relations Department. From 2011 to 2016 – Ambassador of Latvia to Georgia; from 2013 to 2016 – non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. Before assuming the current post, she served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel (2016 – 2020).
The post of Ambassador-at-Large for the Diaspora exists to foster closer ties with Latvia's large and far-flung diaspora population.
"In view of the massive emigration flow over the past two decades, cooperation with the Latvian diaspora has become one of the priorities of the Foreign Ministry work aimed at promoting political and civic participation of the diaspora, preserving Latvian identity and bonds with Latvia, and strengthening cooperation with compatriots abroad," says a statement on the direction of diaspora policy.
Gavele replaces Aivars Groza, who assumed the role on 11 January 2019.
