Stephen Quest joined the European Commission's Joint Research Council as Director-General in May 2020, having previously served as Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union and Director-General for Informatics.

Stephen's previous experience at the European Commission includes positions in the Office for the Administration & Payment of Individual Entitlements, the Commissioners' Cabinets for Financial Programming & Budget, the Environment and Employment & Social Affairs. and in the Directorate-General for Education & Training. He served as Assistant to the Secretary General of the Commission from 2000 to 2004.

Prior to joining the Commission, Stephen was a UK civil servant in the Department of Employment.