[3][4] Prior to joining the European Commission, she worked at the law firms of Nordemann, Vinck & Hertin in Berlin, and De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek in The Hague.

She played a key role in shaping the European Patent Convention and introduced significant policy advancements in copyright, e-commerce and data protection for the digital age.

During this period, she was instrumental in the establishment of the EU's first civilian crisis management missions, including police, monitoring, training, and protection operations.

[15][16][17] In 2010, Fink-Hooijer became Head of Cabinet for Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva during her tenure as the first Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

She also played a significant role in strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanisms, enhancing their coordination with humanitarian aid in crisis situations.

[23] She also established a multifaceted early warning system, created the EU's first Disaster Knowledge Centre, and helped set up the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps to build local capacity and resilience in disaster-affected communities.

Additionally, as a Policy Director for Humanitarian Aid, she pioneered civil-military cooperation with the European External Action Service (EEAS) to enhance the protection of civilians in emergencies.

Recognizing the link between climate change and biodiversity loss, Fink-Hooijer prioritized initiatives to halt biodiversity decline, leading to the introduction of the first-ever Nature Restoration (entered into force on 18 August 2024) and Soil Health (proposed on 5 July 2023) Laws and the EU's pioneering anti-Deforestation Regulation (entered into force on 29 June 2023).