Funes-Noppen began her career as attaché in Rome when she joined the Kingdom of Belgium's Foreign Service in February 1973.[9][1] A year later, she was appointed vice-consul in Amsterdam.[6]
From 1975 to 1978, she served as Belgium's Deputy Representative at UNESCO.[6]
Between 1978 and 1982, Funes-Noppen was appointed as the First Secretary in New Delhi.[6]
In 1982, Funes-Noppen moved to Geneva, where she served as the First Secretary for the Permanent Representation to the United Nations in Geneva until 1985.[8][6] In 1982, she delivered an address to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, condemning female genital mutilation in Africa.[2]
In 1985, she was appointed Ambassador of Belgium to Zambia, a position she held until 1987.[8][6][1]
In 1988, Funes-Noppen took on the role of Ambassador of Belgium in Nairobi, Kenya, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Nairobi, serving until 1991.[8][10][6] At the very end of 1990, she negotiated the release of two hostage MSF doctors of Belgian and Dutch nationality held by the South Sudan Liberation Army.[7]
In 1991, she returned to New Delhi, assuming the role of Ambassador of Belgium to India, which she held until 1995.[8][6]
In 1995, Funes-Noppen returned to Brussels, where she worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the United Nations, Human Rights, and Disarmament desks for two years.[8][6]
From 1997 to 2000, she served as the ambassador of Belgium to Thailand.[11][6]
Between 2000 and 2002, Funes-Noppen worked as a Special Commissioner for Development Cooperation.[6] From 2002 to 2005, she was the Ambassador of Belgium to Morocco.[8][6]
From 2005 to 2007, she served as both the Belgian Ambassador to Nairobi and the Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi. During this period, she also became a member of the International Advisory Committee on Somalia.[8]
From September 2007 to January 2009, Funes-Noppen served as the Ambassador of Belgium to Austria.[9][12] During the same period, she also served as Belgium's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna.[8]
In 2009, Funes-Noppen was appointed as the Ambassador of Belgium to Argentina, serving until 2011.[4][13]
After her retirement in 2011, Funes-Noppen now works as an artist and writer and has exhibited her artwork in multiple galleries.[14][15][16]