Dr. h.c. Katharina von Schnurbein was appointed the first European Commission Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life in 2015. Together with her team, she has drafted and is now implementing the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life adopted in 2021. For her work in the fight against antisemitism she has received multiple awards, including an Honorary Doctorate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev in 2024. Prior, she served as advisor to the European Commission President for five years, responsible for civil society and the Dialogue religions and non-confessional organisations. And as Commission spokesperson for employment, social affairs and equality. She started working for the European Commission in 2002 as press and communication officer at the EU Delegation to the Czech Republic, after having served on the team of the Chair of European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag. Katharina studied Political Science and Slavonic Studies in Prague, Bonn and Oxford.
