I advise and support the Managing Board of ERSTE Foundation on specific issues concerning international connections of ERSTE Foundation as well as on civil society development in Austria and CEE. With special attention to the development of the philanthropic foundation sector in Austria, I represent ERSTE Foundation on the board of the Austrian Association of Philanthropic Foundations (Verband für gemeinnütziges Stiften) as well as on the board of the SinnStifter association and the educational foundation BildungTomorrow, a public private partnership that was co-founded by ERSTE Foundation. I also serve on the Advisory Board of Philea, the Association of European philanthropic foundations.

I joined ERSTE Foundation in 2005 as its first Director of the Social Programme. As a member—and from 2014 to 2016 also Chairman—of the Board of ERSTE Foundation, I helped steer the Foundation through the difficult years after the financial crisis that started in 2008. Since 2016, I have served as Senior Advisor to the Board.

The deeply troubling shift towards an authoritarian, illiberal and repressive political system in our societies motivates me to continue working for a society where the rule of law, separation of powers, free media and a strong civil society assure that human rights are respected, and that all people can live a life in dignity without fear.