A policy-driven researcher and strategist working at the crossroads of post-mining transition, land-use innovation, and European energy policy
As Head of Land Use & Transition at the Research Centre of Post-Mining (THGA, Bochum), I connect scientific insight with policy relevance, helping shape Europe’s approach to just, climate-neutral regional transformation. My work is deeply rooted in the European transition ecosystem, where I contribute to the EURACOAL Executive Committee for Environmental and Energy Policy and lead its Working Group on Post-Mining. Through these roles and as part of the UNECE Task Force on Mine Closure, I engage directly with EU institutions, translating research into actionable strategies for structural change in coal regions. With a background in International Political Economy, I focus on how industrial legacies can become catalysts for innovation and sustainable development. Having led and co-developed Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) projects like POTENTIALS and GreenJOBS, I bring a systems-thinking approach that bridges the technical, social, and economic dimensions of the energy transition. Recognised as a #InnovativeWoman expert (The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, a cabinet-level ministry of Germany) and active member of networks such as Women in Tech and the Society of Mining Professors, I advocate for a new generation of leadership in Europe’s transition, one that unites policy, technology, and people.
UNU-FLORES Focus Areas:
Transformed Landscapes
Research Interests:
- Land use planning,
- Scenario development in post-mining regions,
- Business models,
- Land restoration,
- Sustainability,
- Climate-resilient transformation of post-mining regions