Birgit is a water resources manager by education bringing along a very elaborated intercultural and international work experience in river basin management. Over more than 20 years, she has worked across Europe, India, South-East Asia, China, Africa, and the South Caucasus, covering many transboundary river basins like the Danube, Mekong, the Ganga, the Okavango and many more. In fact, Ms. Vogel has been a part of the Danube family before, having served for 5 years as Technical Expert for River Basin Management at the ICPDR Secretariat. Additionally, she was a core team member during the first Joint Danube Survey.

Away from the ICPDR, Ms. Vogel previously worked for the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission, where she tackled coordination matters including mainstream hydropower development and possible transboundary impacts. Her last post was in Delhi with GIZ India, within an EU and German BMZ co-financed action. In this position, she successfully supported the EU to strengthen the India-EU Water Partnership and the joint water policy dialogue regarding the challenging management of river basins of India. Along the way, she’s gathered very good skills in leadership, coordination, management, and negotiation, which will support well-informed decision making in the diverse environment of the Danube.

Keynote Title: “Managing the Transboundary Dimension: The Danube as a Connector to the Black Sea”