Since February 1st, 2020 Daphne Büllesbach is leading the HUMBOLDT-VIADRINA Governance Platform as Managing Director.

Previously, she was the Executive Director of European Alternatives, a Europe-wide civil society organization devoted to exploring and developing the potential for transnational politics and culture. She founded the Berlin office back in 2013 and curated the organisations’ flagship event, Transeuropa Festival (Palermo 2019, Madrid 2017, Belgrade 2015).

Prior to that she worked in social science research and the evaluation of government programs in the field right-wing extremism. She also worked in international and development organizations, such as UNCHR and GIZ in Argentina, Morocco, Kenia and Belgium.

Prof. Gesine Schwan, President of the HVGP, considers the political and social scientist Daphne Büllesbach to be an intelligent, creative and successful networker in Europe: „I am delighted that we have been able to win over Daphne Büllesbach, an energetic and solution-oriented managing director for the HVGP, who has also proven her competence in moderating complex issues on international panels.”

Ms Büllesbach is taking over from Mr Sven Biermann who has led the HVGP since its founding in 2014. Amongst others, he has contributed to developing the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) which was founded by Prof. Peter Eigen. The FiTI has recently been established as an independent organisation on the Seychelles. Mr Biermann now leads the international FiTI secretariat and stays attached to the HVGP as one of its shareholders.