Othmar Karas is the new president of the European Forum Alpbach
Herlitschka, Hornstein-Tomić, Kern, Kneip, Mei-Pochtler, Oberlechner, Ringler, Welle - EFA elects a strong team to lead
The former First Vice President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas, was elected as the new President of the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) yesterday, Monday. He succeeds Andreas Treichl, who hands over the reins after four years of intensive and successful development of the Forum. The leadership structure has been broadened: alongside Karas, who will bring his extensive EU Parliament experience to EFA, the Forum will also benefit from the expertise of former Austrian Chancellor and current ELL CEO Christian Kern, Infineon Austria CEO Sabine Herlitschka, and Peter Oberlechner, partner at WOLF THEISS. Antonella Mei-Pochtler and Marie Ringler will continue to contribute to the EFA in their roles as vice presidents together with the FAN representatives Jenni Zeller and Klaudie Mrkusova.
In the EFA Foundation, former European Parliament Secretary-General Klaus Welle will join Winfried Kneip and Caroline Hornstein-Tomić on the board. The Strategic Advisory Council will also become more European, with MdB Armin Laschet, former Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia, taking on the leadership role.
“It is an honor for me to take on responsibility for the EFA alongside a very strong team. We can build on a solid foundation, but we also want to introduce new impulses. The goal of engaging deeply with the complex questions of our time motivates me to further develop the EFA together with everyone involved,” said the new EFA President, Karas.
Together with the board team, Karas will continue the reorientation set in 2020 for the European Forum Alpbach 2025, which will take place from August 16 to 29. Their aim is to maintain Alpbach as a place for intergenerational exchange and as a meeting point for the brightest minds from science, business, politics, civil society, and the arts and culture. The new board will continue to focus on the four established EFA tracks – Climate, Economy, Democracy, and Security – with a commitment to greater thematic specificity as well as sustainable output and impact from the discussions.
Andreas Treichl’s goal of establishing the European Forum Alpbach as a year-round institution dedicated to Europe’s future through “EFA365” will also be pursued by Othmar Karas. “With Othmar Karas, one of the most dedicated Europeans is now at the helm of the EFA. I wish him all the best and am convinced that the European Forum Alpbach faces an excellent future,” said outgoing EFA President Andreas Treichl in congratulating his successor.
Foto-Download:
Foto Treichl/Karas (Credit: Max Slovencik/EFA)
