Dr. Jennifer Pernau

Dr  Jennifer Pernau is Government Affairs Manager at Microsoft. Previously, she was a Partner at the geopolitical strategy consultancy Agora Strategy Group, which emerged from the Munich Security Conference under the founding of Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger. Previously, Jennifer served as Personal Assistant to Dr Arend Oetker, overseeing the holding company’s investment portfolio, as well as assisting Dr. Oetker’s mandates in leading positions in associations and foundations, such as the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Confederation of German Employers (BDA), the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany, and the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). In previous positions, Jennifer worked at Thalia Holding, the Goethe Institute in Rome, and the German UNESCO Commission. Jennifer received her PhD with a cultural studies thesis on liberalism and human rights under Prof. Dr. Peter Sloterdijk in Karlsruhe. In her volunteer work, Jennifer served as co-chair of the Young DGAP. She is active in the Tönissteiner Kreis, a member of the Cultural Circle of German Business in the BDI, an alumna of the Mercator Foundation, and a Responsible Leader of the BMW Foundation. Jennifer lives in Munich and Berlin.

“For me, Europe is not just a continent, but above all an attitude, a way of life, and a political project: I consider promoting democracy, freedom and the rule of law, protecting them and keeping them alive to be an essential characteristic and an ongoing task for all of us Europeans. We can be proud of what convinced Europeans have already achieved before us and do our part to strengthen the European project further. Open borders, a clear commitment to plurality and tolerance, a common Christian occidental culture with the simultaneity of so much cultural diversity, diverse habits, languages and traditions is what I appreciate about Europe. As an ERASMUS student and in my first job in Italy, I experienced very personally what it means to live in the EU. I wish that Europe manages to continue to inspire great minds that will in turn enrich Europe and its values.”