Our team
Every endeavour needs a dedicated team. Get to know the people behind the Allianz Foundation.
Management
Chief Executive Officer
Esra Kücük
Esra Kücük is Chief Executive Officer of the Allianz Foundation. Her work focuses on future-oriented issues in a changing society and is committed to issues such as cultural participation and social justice in times of transformation. Before the Allianz Foundation was established, she was CEO of the Allianz Umweltstiftung and Managing Director of the Allianz Kulturstiftung. Interested in a detailed CV and information on Esra Kücüks mandates? Have a look.
Chief Operating Officer
Katharina E. Thomas
As COO, Katharina promotes strategy processes and oversees the Foundation's grants program. She heads the finance and administration departments.
katharina.thomas@allianzfoundation.org
Trainee
Aminata Bouaré
Aminata Bouaré is the first trainee to join the Allianz Foundation as part of the European Traineeship Program „Talents for Tomorrow: Diversifying Foundations for Europe“ created in collaboration with the European Cultural Foundation (ECF). Together with Katrin Winkler and the ECF's Trainee Dana Adawi, she is currently developing the traineeship further. Additionally, she works closely with the various teams of the foundation.
Program & Project Managers
Project Manager
Florinda Brands
Florinda Brands works on research and knowledge-sharing activities at Allianz Foundation. Together with the AF study team, she develops new participatory formats for knowledge transfer and works on the placement of the foundation's own research findings.
Project Manager
Hannah Brennhäußer
Hannah Brennhäußer is responsible for the areas of literature and music at the foundation and is in charge of the associated partner projects. She works at the interface between art and civil society.
Project Manager
İpek Çınar
İpek Çınar is a project manager in the arts & culture team, focusing on fine and participatory arts as well as visual ethics. She is currently advancing the Foundation's activities in the field of migration and displacement, drawing from her profound experience in anti-discrimination and social justice.
Project Manager
Björn Ecklundt
Together with Gesa Schöneberg, Björn Ecklundt continues to develop the foundations activities within the field of climate and sustainability transformation. He is primarily responsible for partner projects that strengthen natural climate protection and biodiversity.
Program Manager
Feray Halil (currently out of office)
Feray Halil heads the Allianz Foundation Fellows Program and, together with Alban Genty, develops formats that give risktakers space to promote their ideas. She works at the intersection between art, climate action, and social justice and is responsible for projects in the areas of performing arts, as well as displacement and migration.
feray.halil@allianzfoundation.org
Project Manager
Joanna Itzek
Joanna Itzek heads and develops the Allianz Foundation’s profile in the fields of journalism and media. She is responsible for projects and initiatives that strengthen public discourse. Joanna also oversees European civil society partner projects.
Program Manager
Nino Klingler
Nino Klingler works with the Allianz Foundation Hubs to build a future-oriented and diverse European solidarity network across the fields of art, civil engagement, and climate activism. He is also responsible for funding projects in the fields of fine arts and visual media.
nino.klingler@allianzfoundation.org
Head of Research
Dr. Simon Morris-Lange
Dr. Simon Morris-Lange develops and leads the research and knowledge-sharing activities at Allianz Foundation. He oversees the Allianz Foundation Study series which investigates how young Europeans envision a future society and what they are willing to do – including the risks they are willing to take – to shape this future.
simon.morris-lange@allianzfoundation.org
Project Manager
Gesa Schöneberg
Gesa Schöneberg heads the Climate and Sustainable Transformation unit within the Allianz Foundation (alternativ “Planet team). As a project manager, she supports the development and implementation of corresponding partner projects, initiatives and campaigns.
Project Manager
Katrin Winkler
Katrin Winkler develops and organizes the Allianz Foundation Summit, the Foundation's biennial international gathering and networking event. She also works with funding projects in the area of European civil society, especially where it intersects with the cultural field.
Program Manager
Alban Genty
Together with Feray Halil, Alban Genty develops formats for the Allianz Foundation Fellows Program and is also responsible for the Risktakers Fellowship. He also works with funding projects in the field of European civil society dealing among others with issues of rule of law, independent journalism, and tech.
Communications
Head of communications
Stefan Denig
Stefan Denig is responsible for the Allianz Foundation’s communications on all channels, whether online or offline, internally or externally.
stefan.denig@allianzfoundation.org
Communications manager
Prokop Bowtromiuk
Prokop Bowtromiuk is in charge of the Allianz Foundation’s press work, online presence, and social media channels. He is also responsible for PR for the Allianz Foundation Fellowships as well as making sure that events and calls for proposals reach the public.
prokop.bowtromiuk@allianzfoundation.org
Administration & Finance
Assistant to the CEO
Heidrun Paape
Heidrun Paape is the point of contact between Allianz Foundation employees and the Board of Directors. As assistant to the Board, she is the contact person for inquiries addressed to the Board and coordinates all of the Board’s appointments.
heidrun.paape@allianzfoundation.org
Administrative Assistant
Dennis Vogel
As part of the administration team, Dennis Vogel is responsible for the preparatory bookkeeping and assists the Foundation with office organization and all administrative processes.
dennis.vogel@allianzfoundation.org
Finance and Controlling Manager
Silke Zakarneh
Silke Zakarneh supports the Foundation team in the areas of finance, controlling and grant management. She is the first point of contact for accounting and bookkeeping as well as for financial reporting on projects that are funded by the Foundation.
silke.zakarneh@allianzfoundation.org
Associated Programs
European Climate Hub
The European Climate Hub (ECH) is a Matching Fund initiative by the Allianz Foundation and the CIimate Imperative Foundation.
Senior Fellow of ECH Initiative
Dr. Anna Müller-Debus
Dr. Anna Müller-Debus heads the European Climate Hub, a joint initiative of the Allianz Foundation and the Climate Imperative Foundation. She promotes projects and initiatives in the context of the European Green Deal that show the way to a climate-neutral future.
anna.mueller-debus@allianzfoundation.org
Program Manager, European Climate Hub
Alexander Reitzenstein
Alexander Reitzenstein manages the European Climate Hub, a joint initiative by Allianz Foundation and Climate Imperative Foundation. He facilitates the design and implementation of projects, initiatives, and campaigns which strengthen ambitious European climate policy.
alexander.reitzenstein@allianzfoundation.org
Project Assistant
Johanna Kriegel
Johanna Kriegel is part of Allianz Foundation’s European Climate Hub, a joint initiative of the Allianz Foundation and the Climate Imperative Foundation. She supports the Hub’s projects and campaigns that promote ambitious European climate policy.