Presidential Council

Dr. Clemens Martin Auer, born in Lower Austria, is one of the most distinguished Austrian health experts. In his function as head of division at the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, he was responsible for the healthcare system and its central co-ordination from 2005 to 2018. Being Austria's highest-ranking health official, he played a leading role in the healthcare reforms of recent years, for example in the introduction of the electronic health records ELGA. He sees himself as a change manager and considers standards to be "the key to interoperable ECO systems in which there are no proprietary 'silos' anymore."

Owing to his enormous experience in dealing with diverse players and structures as well as his openness and reliability, Auer is a renowned expert both at the national and international level. At present, the graduate philosopher and political scientist serves as the president of the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) and as a member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 2019 – 2022 term. In autumn 2018, Clemens Martin Auer was appointed special representative for health at the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. He has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since the beginning of 2018.

The physicist Hon.Prof. Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Mag. Brigitte Bach has been the Managing Director of the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) since July 2023. From January 2021 to June 2023, Ms. Bach helped shape the future of Salzburg AG as a member of the Board of Directors and has been working as an expert for the #forward growth program at Salzburg AG since September 2020. She previously managed the Center for Energy at the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) for ten years, which conducts research on key issues of energy infrastructure, and has internationally recognized know-how on smart grids and smart cities. Other milestones in her career were arsenal research, the predecessor of AIT where Brigitte Bach built the required research competency as a business segment head and previously, the management of the Austrian Institute for Ecology. Key strengths of the top manager are excellent communication skills, strategic thinking and assertiveness.

For her research activities and her efforts for the efficient use of energy, the native Viennese was named Austrian of the Year 2009 by the daily Die Presse. Bach serves on the Expert Advisory Board and as the chair of the System Integration Advisory Board of the German Copernicus projects preparing the energy transition, is a member of the Smart City Wien steering group, juror in the international Mission Innovation programme and teaches at the TU Wien. She is active in numerous other national and international expert bodies and networks and also has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018. For Brigitte Bach, standards are a key process for successfully bringing to market new technologies and services.

Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Peter Bauer is professor of structural design at the TU Wien and vice-president of the Division of Consulting Engineers in the Chamber of Architects and Consulting Engineers for Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. He specializes in structural design and has headed the Department of Structural Design and Timber Engineering at the Institute of Architectural Sciences of TU Wien since 2018. The graduated civil engineer has worked as a self-employed consulting engineer for almost 25 years and has been managing partner of the structural engineering firm Werkraum-Ingenieure since 1998.

For Peter Bauer, standards fulfil an important social function: They specify sound methods for achieving defined or agreed objectives and, as generally accepted state-of-the-art practices, guarantee risk-free access to the market also for SMEs. What is important for the problem solver who is fond of unconventional solutions in this context is that access is as broad as possible. Peter Bauer is a member of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), has served on the Board of the Austrian Steel Construction Association since 2015 and has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International since 2019. Professor Bauer contributes his extensive expertise in structural design to various committees – mainly in the field of construction standardization.

Upper Austrian Othmar Berner is the member of the Federal Trade Organization of Roofers, Glaziers and Tinsmiths. Being the founder and managing director of a roofing and tinsmith company, he stands out by his extensive cross-discipline expertise. His strengths also include the targeted search for new solutions. Innovative products and processes that he discovers and develops are also made available to other companies through SBZ Dachtechnik GmbH, which he co-founded. Othmar Berner considers standards to be the foundation for innovations and a vital basis for co-ordinating processes and for working more cost-efficiently.

Berner uses his comprehensive experiences also as a court-certified expert and a long-standing member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. It was by chance that the father of two sons and one daughter became active in the sale of water after purchasing a building dating from the times of the monarchy several years ago. While it was not possible to use the well originally located there anymore, brine emerged from the ground elsewhere. Berner had the spring tapped and has supplied the salt-containing water to bakers, restaurateurs, pharmacies and non-medical practitioners ever since.

Innovation by diversity – this is the thematic guiding principle characterizing the career of Mag. Eva Czernohorszky. The political scientist heads the Technology Services department of the Vienna Business Agency (VBA). Here, she and her team offer an information and networking platform where experts from diverse disciplines and industries come together to work on new products and business ideas. In this context, Czernohorszky can rely on a cross-industry and interdisciplinary network of around 2,000 enterprises, research institutions and start-ups. She acts as an interface between this innovation community and the City of Vienna in the Smart City Wien steering group and in the core team which developed the economic and innovation strategy VIENNA 2030 and drives its implementation. In her function as the VBA's gender mainstreaming expert, Czernohorszky is also in charge of an initiative of the Vienna Business Agency addressing the diversity of its target groups. The knowledge manager has been involved in numerous research projects on issues related to technology and innovation policy and stands out by systematic and analytic thinking.

Milestones of her professional career were the Ministry of Science, University of Vienna, Vienna's Centre for Innovation and Technology and the life science platform LISAvienna. For Eva Czernohorszky, standards guarantee high safety levels. "Moreover, standards can facilitate the market entry of innovative companies," states the manager who has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

Since his retirement in 2009, Ing. Peter Diatel has chaired the Technical Committee of the Austrian Industrial Gases Association (ÖIGV) as a part-time activity. For almost 30 years, he has worked as a safety engineer and department head (health, safety and environment) in the field of technical and medical gases in international enterprises. In the course of his Europe-wide activities, Diatel also took part in different technical bodies of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). For the engineer specializing in occupational safety, health and environment, standards are "of fundamental importance for the safe design of technical facilities and the definition of controlled work processes."

Against the backdrop of globalization, Peter Diatel advocates that the technical know-how available in Austria is input even more intensively into international standardization in order to positively influence the substance of European and international standards. Diatel contributes his long-standing experience and expertise to the discussions of the Presidential Council as well as national and international standardization committees. Peter Diatel is married,has two sons and five grandchildren.

Mag. Arno Ebner heads Division III – Consumer Policy of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection. During his career, the law graduate and registered mediator held positions in businesses – for example with Austrian railways ÖBB and as the managing director of a printing company – and Parliament before his present function in the Federal Ministry. The communicative native of Carinthia sees himself as an all-rounder and facilitator. The father of one daughter visited the Ukraine and China on study trips.

For Arno Ebner, standards are an important complement to legislation as they lay down details and close gaps apart from general legal requirements. Since they reflect the state of the art, their application enhances legal certainty for enterprises. Moreover, standards are an important help for consumers in making decisions with a view to safety and quality. “Given increasing technical complexity, rapid innovation and globalization, standards will continue to play a significant role in defining specific requirements for products and services,” explains Ebner. Since 2019, Mag. Arno Ebner has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International.

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Eva M. Eichinger-Vill is a partner at Vill Ziviltechniker GmbH where she is in charge of projects raising the safety of road infrastructure and guaranteeing the reliability of bridges and similar structures throughout their life. Moreover, she teaches at the FH Campus Wien and the Graz University of Technology and serves on the supervisory boards of Großglockner-Hochalpenstraßen AG and Schieneninfrastruktur-Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbH. For the World Bank and the United Nations, she is active as a senior consultant in various regions of the world, which suits her very well, given her great passion for foreign countries, cultures and languages. Apart from German, she also speaks English, Italian and French fluently. The full-blooded engineer also loves to travel with her family and dog. Italy – in particular Sardinia, Umbria and Piedmont – is one of her preferred destinations.

Before setting up her own business, she headed the Department of Road Safety and Safety Management Infrastructure at the Transport Ministry and managing director of the Austrian Road Safety Fund. In those functions, she was responsible for the safety of Austrian roads, briodges and tunnels and the entire road safety work of the Republic of Austria. In addition to graduating from the Institute of Structural Concrete of the TU Wien, Eichinger-Vill also studied in the USA (Austin, Berkeley) and Denmark (Copenhagen) and is a qualified mediator and conflict manager in the field of construction.

"Standards are essential factors for fair framework conditions for business, society and the environment. They stand for quality and ensure security and trust," the structural engineer firmly believes. She has long-standing experiences in national and international standardization. Eichinger-Vill was in charge of the Eurocode introduction in Austria, has successfully chaired the committee "Construction of bridges in general" at ASI for several years and has been a member of the Presidential Council since 2011.

For Urs Fischer, standards are "indispensable conventions that exert a sustainably positive influence on interactions between the economy and society." Positive leadership forms part of the self-perception of the CEO of the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV). He is used to taking a fact-based, constructive and solution-oriented approach in management. The graduated aviation and mechanical engineer worked as a manager in the aerospace and packaging industry for 15 years before he joined the SNV as deputy director and head of standardization and international relations in 2001.

Swiss-born Fischer has ample experience in the fields of strategic, operational and project management, excellent social skills and access to a wide network. Urs Fischer served on the administrative and technical boards of ISO and CEN for several years and is a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Ing. Werner Fischer is Head of Standardization & Regulation Management at Siemens AG Austria. The electrotechnical engineer has been active in national and international standardization for many years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Austrian Electrotechnical Association (OVE) and was a long-standing president and head of delegation of the Austrian National Committee of CENELEC and IEC. Fischer who also serves on the Council Board of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) has ample experience in the implementation of standards in industry.

Since he joined the enterprise in 1980, the enthusiastic archer and musician has worked in managerial positions in sales, engineering and services during his career at Siemens. "If we do not standardize, we will be standardized by others," believes Ing. Werner Fischer who takes part in various Austrian standardization committees on behalf of his company and is a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

The graduate engineer for forest and wood management is the managing director of GrünstattGrau Forschungs- und Innovations GmbH, the first "innovation lab for green urban technologies". In the course of her career, Susanne Formanek worked, for example, for the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the Lower Austrian business agency ecoplus and the Austrian Energy Agency. The main priorities of her activities include sustainable, energy-efficient building and housing, building biology, material ecology and the digital transformation of the construction sector. Formanek initiated and implemented numerous research, development and co-operation projects.

The innovative Viennese integrates not only strategic inputs but also gender aspects into her work and is frequently seen as a role model in the construction sector. For her, standards are "like a common language, build trust and are of great importance for all of us. They make it possible to ensure consistent quality over time and to define processes in a traceable and reproducible way. They also provide a benchmark for handling, safety and fitness for purpose." Susanne Formanek also is the president of the Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building (IBO) and has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

Ludovit Garzik studied geodesy at TU Wien and graduated in business administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Furthermore, the native of Grieskirchen (Upper Austria) received an MBA in post-graduate studies from the Danube University Krems and holds the DWT degree in business engineering. Since 2005, Garzik has served as managing director of the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development (RFTE). Previously, he worked at the staff unit for the managing board of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and headed the GALILEO Contact Point Austria at the Austrian Space Agency. He is particularly interested in innovation eco-systems and long-term economic policy strategies. Visiting professorships, company foundations and projects took him to China, the USA and Africa. In 2015, he set up the enterprise InnovationOrbit – the objective of this programme is to promote a better understanding of the organization of innovation processes.

From his perspective, the most important qualification is intercultural competence together with the capability to develop simple process steps for implementation in complex areas. He sees standards as the basis for the functioning of innovation eco-systems: "Global value chains are influenced by the definition of standards with a view to a level playing field." Since spring 2021, Ludovit Garzik has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

DI (FH) Michael Franz Grübl, MBA, MSC is Head of Research & Delivery Business at Hutchison Drei Austria GmbH. For more than 15 years, he has worked in various fields (technology, project and product management) in the telecommunications industry. He previously held posts with enterprises such as Alcatel-Lucent and Orange, which was integrated into Hutchison-Drei.

Since he wrote his diploma thesis at FH Salzburg, he has always dealt with standards and focused on their significance for secure telephony. Standards form the basis of state-of-the-art telecommunications networked world-wide and are always present and relevant in the day-to-day business of a telecommunications provider. In particular, he focuses on the continuous development of standards related to 5G and new application cases resulting from them for Austrian enterprises. The goal is to fill the infrastructure enabled by standards with life through useful applications.

The graduate mechanical engineer Stefan Haas has been the CEO of TÜV AUSTRIA since 2013 and, furthermore, the president of the International Confederation of Inspection and Certification Organisations (CEOC) since 2017.

Haas has vigorously advanced not only the internationalization of the company group – TÜV AUSTRIA is already active in more than 20 countries –, but also its successful positioning in the fields of collaborative robotics, automated driving, industrial IT and Internet of Things. Stefan Haas considers it important to stay on the cutting edge of technology, promote innovation and think ahead: for example, in the fields of e-mobility and energy efficiency where TÜV AUSTRIA itself also embraces the sustainability principle, for example, by gradually switching to electric vehicles in its own car pool and to green energy in power supply. The most recent initiative of Stefan Haas is "Next Horizon", the establishment of a digital acceleration incubator in the TÜV AUSTRIA Group.

According to Haas, safety changes from being a static state to being a highly dynamic, continuous process that becomes a competitive advantage in a more and more digital world: "Standards significantly contribute to this safety, help achieve more efficiency, consistent quality and sustainability and, moreover, have a strong integrative and coordinating function," believes the CEO of TÜV AUSTRIA.

Law graduate Mag. Martin Haidvogl is an expert on administrative organization and local authority law. Being the head of public administration of the City of Graz, he is particularly interested in the interfaces between law and organization and hence, in how standards and liability issues that may result from them influence organizations. Haidvogl, who took office as Austria's youngest head of municipal administration at the age of 32 years in 2000, describes standards as "important pillars of a well-functioning economy," but also warns against using them to shirk personal responsibility.

The father of three who was born in Graz gives lectures, teaches at the University of Graz and authored the companion "Gemeinderecht für Praktiker verständlich erklärt" providing comprehensible explanations of local authority law. Martin Haidvogl is a member of the board of the Law Society of Graz, the Styrian branch of the Austrian managers association WdF and the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards and also plays a leading role in the "Austrian Dialogue Forum on Construction – working together for clear and simple rules for building".

DI Dr. Stefan Harasek has a diploma degree from technical chemistry and a doctorate degree in the field of electrical engineering. He has been Vice President of the Austrian Patent Office since 2022 and its interim President since July 2023. Before that, he already helped shape the direction of the Austrian Patent Office as head of the Strategy & Data Analysis staff unit. From 2004 to 2016, he was a patent examiner at the Austrian Patent Office in the field of semiconductor technology. His professional career started in 2000 as a university assistant at the Institute for Solid State Electronics at the Vienna University of Technology. In addition to his work for the Patent Office, he acts as a lay judge in patent cases at the Austrian Supreme Court and in labor and social court cases at the Vienna Higher Regional Court.

Salzburg-born Hon.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. habil. Michael Heiss is Principal Consultant for Digital Enterprise at Siemens AG Österreich. In his work, the graduate electrotechnical engineer and alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston focuses on knowledge, innovation and technology management as well as digitization in industrial automation. The open innovation expert has a broad technological knowledge and extensive international experiences. He used his ability to identify and advance strategically significant technologies and innovations, for example, in developing a technology management tool for Siemens. "TechnoWeb" allows for networking expertise throughout the entire Siemens group with its 360,000 employees across departments and countries.

Michael Heiss is honorary professor for innovation and technology management at the TU Wien and vice-chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Austria. He describes himself as enthusiastic, innovative and analytical. For him, standards are "valuable if they facilitate day-to-day work". Michael Heiss has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

The business administration graduate Mag. Gregor Herzog is the CEO of GS1 Austria. The world-wide system of GS1 standards providing unique identifiers forms the basis of electronic business data interchange and is used not only in the consumer goods industry but also in numerous other sectors. Previously, Herzog who is characterized by his focus on objectives and consistency headed the Strategy department of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and was managing director of the Association of the Hotel Industry and the Recreational Trade Association.

Herzog is experienced in stakeholder management and inter-company co-operation – for example, in the development of industry-wide standards that he considers an existential basis. Since 2018, Gregor Herzog has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. In his free time, the father of three likes to run, mountain-bike and ski.

Economist and mechanical engineer KommR Dipl.-Ing. Dr.Gerhard Hrebicek, MBA, who studied at the TU Wien as well as the University of Graz and the University of Toronto (specializing in marketing and finance), is the founder and president of the European Brand Institute. Having worked as an independent brand expert and management consultant for more than 20 years, Hrebicek is the scientific director and publisher of the annual Austrian Brand Value Study as well as the GLOBAL TOP 100 Brand Corporations, an international brand ranking. Hrebicek played a leading role in the development of the world's first standard on brand and patent valuation published in Austria.

Building on these experiences, he has led international work on this subject as an Austrian delegate and convenor of the competent working group of ISO/TC 289 "Brand evaluation". Gerhard Hrebicek is recognized as an independent expert in brand and patent valuation, brand- and IP-oriented corporate structuring as well as brand and IP reporting and brand certification world-wide. The Vienna-born expert has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

Dipl.-Ing. Günter Idinger is the managing director of Eaton Industries Austria GmbH, a developer, manufacturer and distributor of electrotechnical components and systems for power distribution in Austria and part of the EATON group, a global leader in power management solutions. In his capacity as Vice President Standards and Alliances, the responsibilities of the graduated electrotechnical engineer also include group-wide co-ordination of European and international standardization in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). Previously, he held responsible positions in the fields of operations as well as sales and marketing at enterprises such as F&G, Moeller and Frequentis.

The top manager views research & development, production and sales of solutions for diverse segments as his core subject fields. In this context, he considers standards to be "enablers of new technologies and of world-wide, barrier-free marketing“. In addition to his technical background, he stands out by his economic understanding and by an open thematic approach. Günter Idinger contributes these assets to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards and the Board of the Austrian Electrotechnical Association (OVE). He is a member of OVE's steering group as well as president and head of delegation of the Austrian national committee for CENELEC and IEC.

Being a real estate fiduciary, Brigitte Jank has extensive knowledge in the fields of the economy, finances, construction and accessibility. For the honorary senator of the University of Applied Arts Vienna, standards are a common language in a networked world. As an entrepreneur, Jank specializes in the management and valuation of properties and is also active as a developer. Since 1988, she has been a sworn and court-certified expert for real estate. Individual responsibility and reliability characterize the committed Viennese. She has evidenced her willingness to take responsibility, for example, as the president and vice president of the Viennese Chamber of Commerce, board member of Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich-Wien as well as Member of Parliament and spokesperson for education of the Austrian People’s Party. Currently, Jank also serves as the president of the Austrian Sports Federation for the Disabled (ÖBSV).

ObersenR Dipl.-Ing. Bernhard Jarolim has been in charge of the entire Executive Group for Construction and Technology of the City of Vienna after having been appointed Director General of Urban Planning, Development and Construction in August 2021. Previously, he headed the competence centre for construction research, building regulations, engineering services within that Executive Group. The graduate of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences has worked in leading positions in the Vienna city administration for 20 years. He served as head of Municipal Department 25 — Urban Renewal & Inspecting Authority for Residential Buildings – where he managed the support and communication unit, and headed the unit for rental value and value-in-use calculations in Municipal Department 40 – Real Estate Evaluation and Assessment.

As an executive, Bernhard Jarolim has always made efforts to ensure that managers have the standards they need so that they can optimally orientate processes to quality management. He sees far-reaching standardization as a vital requirement with great benefits and value for civilized and organized society. For the speed-seeking downhill mountain biker and skier, the focus is on people as well as on fair and clear communication. An unbiased approach to people and challenges are essential to him. His motto is “Those who can laugh together can also work together.” Jarolim is responsible for the centralized management of standards in the Chief Executive Office and decides in which standardization committees the City of Vienna participates. ObersenR Bernhard Jarolim has contributed his expertise in housing and building law and his long-standing experience as a top manager in the administration of a metropolis to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International since 2019.

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Kainz is the director of the Trade and Crafts Section of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and thus represents the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Austria and the European Union. Training offers and standards that meet the needs of SMEs are particularly important to the Vienna-born expert. For Kainz, standards are "the foundation of positive economic and social development and, thus, for growth, jobs and quality."

The legal expert has been active in decision-making and control functions in the organization of agricultural markets for more than 20 years and authored numerous specialist publications on this topic. Reinhard Kainz teaches European food law at the University of Vienna and the University of Veterinary Medicine, sits on the supervisory body of AMA Marketing and is a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Dr. Ing. Konstantinos Karachalios is managing director of the IEEE Standards Association, an organization of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers developing global standards in the fields of energy supply, medicine, information technology, telecommunications and others. As a member of the IEEE Management Council, Greece-born Karachalios pays particular attention to strategically important industries, such as robotics, blockchain and big data. The IEEE, the biggest organization of electrical and electronics engineers world-wide, plays a leading role in taking account of ethical and social aspects in standardization.

Karachalios combines his extensive expertise in technology and science with a keen interest in humanist, social and philosophical aspects. This forms the basis for his continuous commitment to ensuring that technical progress is to serve broad sections of society and population groups. In addition to texts on science and technology, Karachalios also continuously publishes on culture, policy and knowledge management. For him, standardization is a method of collective collaboration to solve technical problems at a global level. Since 2018, Konstantinos Karachalios has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards where the IEEE's European Technology Centre has been based since 2017.

Mag.a Karoline Meschnigg heads Directorate I/B (VET Schools and Colleges and Adult Education) as well as the Department of Part-time Vocational Schools and Pre-Vocational Schools of the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research. Owing to her academic and professional background, she has in-depth knowledge in fields such as the organization and pedagogical aspects of vocational schools, administrative processes, legal bases of the education system, adult education and dual apprenticeship training. In addition to pedagogical know-how and expertise in school regulations, she has competency and sound knowledge of the interface between the economy, schools and labour market as well as developments and strategies in the vocational training sector at the European level. She is a member of various steering bodies in education and in the adult education sector and diverse advisory committees. With her great communicative skills and co-operativeness, she contributes her perspectives and system knowledge to the Presidential Council. She considers standards  to be essential elements of safety, quality assurance and transparency as well as a reservoir for innovation.

Rainer Mikulits studied Civil Engineering and Water Management and graduated from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. After serving as the deputy head of the Institute for Industrial Research (IWI), he became managing director of the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) in 1995. Being an expert in construction law, construction engineering law and construction products law at the national and international level, he represents the interests of the OIB and the Austrian provinces in the Standing Committee on Construction of the European Commission as well as in all other relevant European and international building code bodies, such as the Consortium of European Building Control (CEBC) and the Inter-jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee (IRCC).

Rainer Mikulits is the author of numerous technical articles, lecturer on construction engineering and construction products law, editor of the journal OIB aktuell and member of the advisory board of baurechtliche blätter. In his activities he combines his profound construction engineering know-how with legal and economic insights and always focuses on solving problems. He enjoys music, literature and traveling to regenerate and relax. Since spring 2021, he has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. After decades of professional experience, he can confirm: "Standards are agreements on how things work properly and ensuring that everything fits together well."

Christoph Mondl has been Managing Director of Quality Austria Ltd. since November 2021.

He started his career as team lead of sales teams in direct sales organisation. After this he has been manager with Accenture, CFO in the construction building industry. Afterwards je joint the Austrian Automobile Association (OEAMTC) as Group CFO. In addition he held the position as CFO in commercial enterprises

The legal expert Mag. Andreas Mörk is director of the Industrial Section of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and specializes in labour and social law. A key area of his work relates to the collective bargaining policy of industry and related aspects of employer interests and Austria's social partnership. In addition to his extensive legal expertise, Andreas Mörk has long-standing experiences as well as social and communicative skills and stands out by his decision-making and negotiating capabilities.

Andreas Mörk is co-editor of the study Industriebuch published by the Institute for Industrial Research (IWI) and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG). Mörk who is also a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards views standards as key factors of industrial production.

The graduate legal expert and economist DDr. Alexander Petsche, MAES (Brügge) is lawyer and partner in the law firm Baker & McKenzie. He specializes in the introduction and further development of compliance management systems, internal investigations and commercial disputes as well as commercial criminal law. For the native of Vienna, standards are "opportunities for further development and the basis of free competition."

Petsche chairs Committee 265 "Compliance Systems" of Austrian Standards, is one of the main authors of the practitioners' guide "Compliance Management Systems (CMS) – ONR 192050“, chief instructor of a course for certified compliance officers and head of the Austrian delegation for ISO 19600. The multiple national karate champion of Austria names consistency and sustainability as his key personality traits. Alexander Petsche represents the committee chairpersons on the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

As Head of Intellectual Property Rights, Standards & Journals, Corporate Research (SF) of Voestalpine Stahl GmbH, Mag. Dipl.-Ing. Alexander Poledna is responsible for the commercial and legal protection of research and development results. Poledna studied electrical engineering and business informatics at the TU Wien and started his career in industrial plant engineering. Subsequently, he worked in executive positions at subsidiaries of voestalpine in Austria, Germany, South Africa and China. Poledna has been in charge of intellectual property rights and standards at voestalpine since 2013. For his task of providing support to the innovation process throughout the group, he views standards as "an important opportunity for making know-how accessible."

The top manager knows how the interaction of standards and intellectual property rights can positively influence research and development and indicates as one of his key personality traits that he always tries to find the simplest solution. According to Poledna this requires "to look at everything from all perspectives and to put myself in the position of all the parties involved." Alexander Poledna, who also speaks English and Spanish, chairs Committee 021 "Iron and steel" at Austrian Standards and is a member of the Presidential Council.

Heinz Polsterer is the Head of Standardization, IPR Management and Open Source Compliance in the technology sector of Deutsche Telekom. After graduating in informatics with a specialization in teleinformatics from TU Wien, he began his professional career at Siemens. As one of the first employees of Magenta – still operating under the name of max.mobil at that time –, he significantly contributed to the establishment of the first private mobile communications organization in Austria. The internationally renowned speaker passes on his expertise at conferences and as a lecturer at the University for Continuing Education Krems and at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences.

The Krems-born expert describes himself as an enthusiastic idealist seeking to be a force for good in the world. In the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards, the active mover contributes his technical knowledge of mobile communications, patent strategy and patent policy as well as the experiences he gained in chairing diverse international standardization groups. He is an ETSI Board member and founding member of the ETSI IPR Special Committee. Building on his tenacity and networked thinking, Heinz Polsterer launched numerous initiatives to improve the patent environment with the aim of promoting innovation. In the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), he set up the IPR working group in 2011 and has chaired it ever since. For the passionate chess player, standards form the basis of the success of mobile communications worldwide. According to Heinz Polsterer, this evidences that standards promote the innovative capabilities of new technologies.

Andreas Reichhardt wurde in Wien 1968 geboren. Er ist ein österreichischer Beamter. Von Juni 2019 bis Jänner war er Bundesminister für Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie.

Nach der Matura und dem Studium der Rechtswissenschaften in Wien startete Andreas Reichhardt seine Berufslaufbahn im Organisationsmanagement bei Biodroga Cosmetics GesmbH. Danach war er parlamentarischer Wirtschaftsreferent im Büro des Zweiten bzw. Dritten Nationalratspräsidenten Thomas Prinzhorn (FPÖ).

Beim ehemaligen Verkehrsminister Hubert Gorbach (FPÖ) war Andreas Reichhardt stellvertretender Kabinettschef und für die Bereiche Innovation und gewerblicher Rechtsschutz zuständig. Danach leitete er seit dem Jahr 2005 die Sektion III Innovation und Telekommunikation.

Von Jänner 2018 bis Mai 2019 war Andreas Reichhardt im BMVIT als Generalsekretär tätig. Am 3. Juni 2019 wurde er zum Verkehrsminister ernannt und angelobt. Er übte das Amt bis zum 7. Jänner 2020. Nach Angelobung der neuen Bundesregierung übernahm er die Leitung der Sektion IV „Telekommunikation, Post und Bergbau“ im Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Regionen und Tourismus. Im Juli 2022 auf Grund der Umbildung im Landwirtschaftsministerium, wurde die Sektion für Telekommunikation, Post und Bergbau in das Finanzministerium transferiert.

Mag. Jean-Marie Reiff is director of the Luxembourg Institute of Standardization, Accreditation, Security and Product and Service Quality called ILNAS for short. After graduating from the University of Innsbruck, the microbiologist has been active in the civil service of Luxembourg for around 25 years. Being responsible for copyright and patent law at the economic ministry, he developed the national accreditation agency that he has headed for seven years and then, from 2007 on, the agency for accreditation, standardization, market surveillance, metrology  and digital trust. As director of that institution – ILNAS – Jean-Marie Reiff has represented Luxembourg's interests in the European and international standardization and accreditation organizations ever since.

During many years of participation in working groups of the European Council and the European Commission as well as active contributions to European regulations and directives, he has gained extensive expertise and recognition in these fields. For Reiff, standards are a key element for reducing barriers to trade, improving the safety and quality of products, promoting their interoperability and ensuring fair and equal conditions for competition. Jean-Marie Reiff has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

Biochemist AR Ing. Helmut Richter works in the field of plastics technology and environmental engineering at the Testing Centre of Technologisches Gewerbemuseum (TGM), one of the biggest technical secondary schools of Austria. He specializes in packaging of hazardous goods and the suitability of materials for drinking water and heads quality control at the accredited Testing Centre. For more than 30 years, he has contributed to the development of standards and has been responsible for TGM-wide standards management for which Technologisches Gewerbemuseum received the Living Standards Award in 2016.

Moreover, Helmut Richter serves on various working groups of ministries and associations (e.g. Austrian Association for Gas and Water, German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water, Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering – oib). Richter who is also a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards as the elected representative of committee chairpersons defines standards as a generally accepted description of solutions for a product, operation or process. In his spare time, Richter supports the Volunteer Fire Brigade, among others, as an expert.

The law graduate Mag. Maria Mercedes Ritschl who specializes in public commercial law works as legal policy expert at the Federation of Austrian Industry. For her, standards provide certainty and orientation in a fast growing, technological environment and an opportunity for facilitating day-to-day work in enterprises. In her work, Maria Mercedes Ritschl focuses on the fields of data protection, competition and administrative criminal law. Ritschl co-authored the publication "Neuerungen im europäischen Datenschutzrecht für Unternehmen" on new developments in European data protection law for enterprises.

The Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs has appointed her a member of the Competition Commission for a four-year term on which she also serves as a deputy chairperson. She stands out by her curiosity, competency and reliability and contributes these characteristics also to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Schmidt is president of Austrolab, a non-profit association safeguarding the interests of accredited conformity assessment bodies. He teaches at and heads the Testing Centre of Technologisches Gewerbemuseum (TGM) in Vienna. The polymer and environmental technology expert graduated from the Montanuniversität Leoben. Andreas Schmidt is a member of the European umbrella organization Eurolab and serves on the Board of EuroHeat & Power, a European network of district heating and power suppliers.

“Standards increasingly determine collaboration in all economic, social and legal fields,” highlights Schmidt who is also active as a chairman and member of national and European standardization committees on plastics and district heating. In these activities, Vienna-born Schmidt always puts the focus on people. Since 2019, Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Schmidt has contributed his expertise to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International.

Univ.-Lektor RA Dr. Walter Schwartz is attorney-at-law and senior partner of the law firm SHMP Schwartz Huber-Medek Pallitsch Rechtsanwälte GmbH that he co-founded. In his work, he focuses on constitutional and administrative law and, in particular, procurement law and contract award procedures, public private partnerships, gambling and sports betting law as well as state-aid law and European Union law. On these topics, he teaches at the Faculty of Law of Vienna University, gives presentations and publishes papers in specialized media. Walter Schwartz serves on the board of the Vienna Juridical Society and is a member of the Austrian Jurists’ Association (ÖJT), the Austrian Society for Legislative Science (ÖGGL) and the Austrian Society for Administrative Sciences (ÖVG). Dr. Schwartz chaired the supervisory boards of various enterprises – e.g. Wiener Stadthalle Betriebs- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft.

For the legal expert, standards contribute to the non-discriminatory implementation of the internal market and thus promote the European idea. His personal approach is characterized by precise analyses and focused problem-solving expertise. Since Dr. Walter Schwartz has joined the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International 2019, he has advocated that standardization should consistently move from defining merely minimum standards to developing high-quality standards so that “the population is protected and European enterprises stay competitive,” says Walter Schwartz.

Ass.Prof. Dr. Christian R. Schweiger is a specialist for medical and chemical laboratory diagnostics working at the Vienna General Hospital/Medical University Campus. During his career, the native of Lower Austria played a decisive part in the start of operations of the current central laboratory of the Vienna General Hospital, headed the unit for administrative and information management of the Medical University of Vienna and the unit for controlling and performance accounting at the Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics. Dr. Schweiger is an auditor for the standards ÖNORM 9001, 13485 and 15224, serves as a technical expert appointed by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs in the accreditation procedure for medical laboratories according to EN ISO 15189 and was active in the vigilance procedure on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health. He has extensive experience in the commercial development and production of quality management software. The father of two stands out by the fact that he is active in many different fields and knows how to integrate them with a view to quality management.

For many years, Christian R. Schweiger has been active in national and international standardization bodies, e.g. as the chairman of the committee “Quality management in health care institutions” and as a member in numerous other committees of ASI, CEN and ISO. For him, standardization is “a key tool for ensuring the functioning of processes and organizations and to allow for a rational approach to controlling organizations.” Schweiger gives lectures and seminars on topics such as leadership and organization at hospitals, accreditation and assessment techniques for test laboratories and quality management in healthcare. He is president of the Austrian Association for the Promotion of Quality and Management Systems (ÖQS), member of the general assembly of Quality Austria Zertifizierungs- Trainings- und Begutachtungs GmbH as well as member of the board of the Society for Good Analytical and Laboratory Practice. Furthermore, Dr. Christian R. Schweiger is a member of the Austrian Society for Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Chemistry and of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International.

The graduate material scientist o.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Dr.-Ing. h.c. Sabine Seidler is professor and former rector of TU Wien. She became the first female professor of TU Wien in 1996 and its first female rector in 2011, re-elected two times since then. Being responsible for 5,000 employees and around 30,000 students, she continuously demonstrates her management expertise, leadership and diplomatic skills. Her team attests to Seidler's high level of discipline and strong focus on objectives. Being a scientist, she is able to examine issues in an open, precise and efficient way. Her research priorities relate to polymer diagnostics, fracture mechanics and structure-property correlations in polymers. Sabine Seidler publishes continuously, takes part in conferences and takes great pleasure in passing on her knowledge in her teaching activities.

The strategic thinker serves on the supervisory boards of major companies such as Austria Metall AG, chairs the Board of Trustees of the Natural History Museum, works on various advisory boards and juries and is a member of numerous scientific bodies, associations and networks. The native of Germany is characterized by her straightforwardness and good humour as well as her interest in the arts and culture. For Sabine Seidler, standards are clearly defined principles of work that need to be elevated and, at the same time, feasible. "This assures quality in the long term," states the knowledge manager who has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2018.

Sonja Sheikh, a German national with Pakistani roots, studied economics at Justus Liebig University Giessen (D) and obtained her degree of Dr. rer. soc. oec. in theoretical and political economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in 1999. In addition to serving as the managing director of Austrian Cooperative Research (ACR), she also teaches at FH Campus Wien and is chairwoman of the Austrian Platform for Research and Technology Policy Evaluation (fteval). Since March 2020, she has been the official representative of Austria in the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), headquartered in Brussels.

Having worked as an evaluator of projects, programmes and institutions for 20 years, she is familiar with the Austrian research, technology and innovation system and has supported numerous national and European RTI activities. Owing to her research at the Austrian Institute for SME Research, she is also fully conversant with the challenges and obstacles to innovation faced by small and medium-sized enterprises in Austria. She volunteers as a tutor for Wiener Lerntafel to support children from a migrant background, and serves on the jury of numerous funding programmes and awards. Since September 2021, Sonja Sheikh has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. For her, standards do "not only provide rules and orientation" but above all, are important to drive innovation.

In his function as policy secretary, Gottfried Wolfgang Sommer co-ordinates collaboration between Österreichische Beteiligungs AG (ÖBAG) and employee representatives in the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB). Previously, the toolmaker by training made a name for himself as the regional leader of the group of social democratic trade unionists FSG in Vienna and as the head of ARGE-ÖIAG (works councils of ÖIAG enterprises). In the 1990s, Gottfried W. Sommer was active in the Trade Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees and accompanied structural change towards partial privatization. Before that, he worked in the Trade Union of Chemical Employees. The networker stands out by his professional experience of 40 years in the social-partnership environment as well as his expertise in regulations and rules related to working life as well as employee participation in enterprises.

Furthermore, Gottfried W. Sommer is a member of the supervisory boards of APK Vorsorgekasse and APK Versicherung and serves as a lay judge at the Higher Regional Court of Vienna and at the Labour and Social Court. In addition, he holds political office as a district councillor in the 6^th district of Vienna. He has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards since 2021 and, in particular, contributes his organizational and political knowledge about employee representation and social-partnership organizations. The proud grandfather sees standards as guidance and rules ensuring proper practices in all spheres of work and life.

Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Regina Sommer is a professor habilitated in water and food hygiene at the Medical University of Vienna and heads the Water Hygiene Unit at the Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology. In her work, she focuses on water quality and health. Her field of activities ranges from hygiene requirements for drinking water and technical and medical water applications (e.g. haemodialysis) to therapy pools and cooling towers as well as bathing waters and wastewater. In addition to her teaching and research activities, the graduate food scientist and biotechnologist established an accredited testing laboratory for hygiene at the Medical University of Vienna and, in co-operation with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, AIT and Vienna Water, set up the Water Test Centre Wiental. Moreover, Sommer is an expert pursuant to the Food Safety Act and the Consumer Protection Act, chairs the Codex Commission on Drinking Water and is a member of the expert panel on bathing water hygiene (the latter two within the framework of the health division of the Federal Ministry for Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection).

Regina Sommer represents Austria on the European Microbiological Expert Group (EMEG) of the European Commission and is a member or convenor of working groups of Austrian Standards and ISO. She takes pleasure in joint technical work and is committed to and enthusiastic about her field of specialization and the dissemination of knowledge. For Regina Sommer who is also a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards, standards are an essential national as international tool for achieving and verifying quality.

Dipl.-Ing. Roland Sommer, MBA is managing director of the association "Industry 4.0 Austria - The Platform for Smart Production". The native of Vienna studied at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna and has an MBA in international management of the University of London. During his career, he worked, for example, at the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the Federation of Austrian Industry and AVL List, a developer of powertrain systems in Graz. In his work, he focuses on research and innovation policy as well as all aspects of the digital transformation.

For Sommer, standards are a basic prerequisite for enterprises to operate successfully in a more and more digital world. Roland Sommer is a member of the International Council of the Organization for International Economic Relations (OiER), vice chair of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) and a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

VHR Dipl.-Ing. Walter Steinacker is Provincial Construction Director at the Office of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria. He studied technical physics at TU Wien and, after having worked in positions of responsibility at the Lower Austrian Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Agency Austria, he joined the Office of the Provincial Government in 1988. There, the father of two grown-up children is in charge of a team of 354 employees, the authorized expert system, building construction and the legal implementation of technical standards.

Being the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Austrian Institute of Construction Engineering (OIB) and the representative of the provinces on the Advisory Board on Standardization of Austrian Standards, Walter Steinacker is extremely familiar with formulating and applying legal and technical requirements. “Standards ensure transparent and objective competition. Standardized procedures and products create trust and ensure safety,” explains Provincial Construction Director Steinacker. The goal-oriented manager likes to take on strategic and economic policy challenges and focuses on implementation in his activities. Walter Steinacker has given lectures on subjects such as technical environmental protection and the real estate industry at various universities of applied sciences. Since 2019, he has also contributed his expertise to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International.

Martin Ewald Steinhäufl, MSc is managing director of the metal working company he founded more than 20 years ago. Furthermore, the master metalworker and welding specialist chairs the working group on standards and certification in the Federal Metalworking Trade Association of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Steinhäufl is a court-certified expert, NDT expert and certified auditor. He enjoys passing on knowledge and gives lectures on materials technology, steel construction, manufacturing technology and standards in various adult education institutions.

As a member of various committees and working groups at Austrian Standards International, the Lower Austrian also plays an active part in standardization, is lead auditor for certification according to EN 1090 and EN ISO 3834 in the certification body of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and supports steel construction companies in developing and implementing quality management systems. “A good standardization system is to provide clarity for its users without hampering innovative development,” states Steinhäufl who has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International since June 2019. 

Dipl.-Ing. Mark Topal-Gökceli who studied civil engineering with a focus on business administration heads the Rail System Engineering and Operations department of ÖBB Holding AG. The committed rail manager pursues the ambitious goal of further developing the world of railways by using new technologies and making it even more attractive and better. In the past, he lived up to that aspiration in the planning of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the intermodal terminal at the Rail Freight Centre Vienna South and the Vienna Main Station. In his function as research and development co-ordinator, he was also responsible for interoperability and standards during his career with ÖBB.

For Topal-Gökceli, standards are "very important, but have to be drafted in such a way that they never jeopardize innovation and profitability." The manager has played a leading role in numerous harmonization processes and takes pleasure in innovation and responsibility. Mark Topal-Gökceli serves on the supervisory boards of ÖBB Technische Services GmbH and ÖBB Produktion GmbH, teaches at the FH Campus Wien and is a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Dr. Bogdan Topić is president of SIST, the Slovenian Institute for Standardization. The graduated physicist has more than 20 years of experience in standardization. Bogdan Topić conducted research in experimental solid-state physics and phase shifts of ferroelectric crystals. He held managerial responsibility in organizations such as Gorenje, the European Space Agency (ESA) and TÜV Bavaria. The passionate tennis player and pianist has long-standing expertise in developing, restructuring and privatizing enterprises and in implementing quality management systems such as the EFQM model.

After Slovenia declared independence in 1991, Topić, who in addition to Slovenian, speaks Serbian, Russian, German, English, Italian and French, was entrusted with managerial tasks at the Standards and Metrology Institute of Slovenia (SMIS) as well as the Slovenian Development Company (SDC). The father of two served on the board of numerous research and industrial enterprises and represents SIST in the bodies of ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC, ETSI and ITU-T. Dr. Bogdan Topić also contributes his extensive expertise to the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International. 

Dipl.-Ing. Sonja Wiesholzer heads the Design, Operation and Environment Department at the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) where she is the deputy head of the Infrastructure Procedures and Road Safety Group. The tasks of the native of Upper Austria include the design, construction and operation of federal roads as well as the management of Austrian road tunnels. After graduating from university, the civil engineer worked for Austrian consulting engineering firms focusing on railways before she joined the BMVIT in the fields of roads and environmental protection. From 2006 to 2019, Wiesholzer was in charge of the refurbishment of Austrian tunnels. Moreover, the consulting engineer is also senior risk manager and chairs several working groups of the Research Association for Roads, Railways and Transport.

She is a member of the advisory board of the Austrian Geomechanical Society and of the Technical Committee “Road Tunnel Operations” of the World Road Association (PIARC) and the Road Tunnels Safety Committee of the European Commission. In addition to taking care of her two children, the trained tramway driver still finds time to drive a vintage tramway through Vienna. Wiesholzer authored numerous publications on tunnel safety and also gives presentations on this topic. “Standardization has to be the foundation for digitizing the design, operation and maintenance of transport infrastructure,” the goal-oriented manager says with conviction. Dipl.-Ing. Sonja Wiesholzer has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards International since May 2019. 

Mag. Dr. Lothar Wiltschek who graduated in law and business administration practises law specializing in intellectual property rights and fair trading law. He inputs his extensive expertise in patent, trademark, protected design and copyright law into numerous organizations, such as the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), the International League of Competition Law (LIDC), the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW).

Wiltschek was a long-standing partner in the law firm Schönherr Rechtsanwälte, authored numerous books and publications on patent and competition law and gives seminars and lectures. Lothar Wiltschek serves on the board of the Austrian Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright and is a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. He views standards as the foundation for structures that can be used in a sensible way.

Christoph Winterhalter who graduated in computer science is chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) in Berlin. After working in numerous positions in engineering, development and product management in Norway, the USA and Germany, he served as director of the German Corporate Research Centre at ABB and was responsible for a global business division of the energy and automation technology group. Winterhalter is an expert for automation, digitization and robotic products. He wants to draw on his long-standing industrial experience gathered in an international corporation in order to advance the digital transformation of standardization.

For him, standards form the "basis of our quality infrastructure today and are one of the most important prerequisites of successful digital transformation.“ Christoph Winterhalter also promotes the successful development of standardization and its openness to new subjects and methods in his function as Vice President Policy of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), as an ISO Council member and as a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Wittig heads the Safety Testing Centre of the Austrian Workers' Compensation Board (AUVA) that examines and certifies personal protective equipment, such as helmets, protective footwear and fall protection safeguards. Wittig sees work primarily as collaboration. The establishment of personal relations is a key factor for success, satisfaction and pleasure in work for him. The graduate industrial engineer has more than 25 years of experience in the field of workplace safety, prevention and management systems for occupational safety and health.

He sees standards as a common language for all stakeholders seriously dealing with a subject. Wittig is a co-founder of the Austrian Rope Access and Rigging Association (OEHRV) and a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards.

Dr. Markus Wolf works in the Department of International Youth and Family Policy of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth. Further focal areas of his activities are human rights and social cohesion – in particular, in the sphere of the Council of Europe. Born to Austrian parents in South Africa, Wolf attended a school for “normally sighted” persons in spite of his strongly impaired vision and studied philosophy and psychology. Since he moved to Austria, he has been active in the Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BSVÖ), initially as an official and since 2012, as the Federation’s president. From 2012 to 2015, Wolf served as the vice-president of the Austrian Disability Council and since 2015 he has been a member of the Presidential Council of Austrian Standards. In Wolf’s opinion this is an important task as standards significantly contribute to dismantling barriers – also in people’s minds. And in addition to creating an inclusive society, this is one of his most important objectives.