General Assembly of the IRS with New Chairwomen

The General Assembly, the central decision-making body of the IRS, has a new chair: Dr Nikola Sander from MWFK Brandenburg is taking over as chair, supported by Anne Keßler from BMWSB as her deputy.

At its meeting on 22 November 2024, the new chairwoman duo led the IRS General Assembly for the first time. Dr Nikola Sander, Head of the ‘Non-academic research’ department at the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, took over as Chair in accordance with the statutes. Her deputy Anne Keßler has been Head of the ‘Urban Development Policy Matters, Building Culture, Research and Coordination’ department at the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building since May 2024.

Both succeed their predecessors in the ministries. Dr Inge Schlotzhauer has led the General Assembly as Chair since 2020. Almuth Draeger has also served as her deputy since 2020. Director Oliver Ibert paid tribute to her commitment to the institute and particularly highlighted her support in modernising the organisational structure and amending the statutes. He emphasised that the cooperation between the Management Board and the General Assembly had always been trusting and constructive. The Management Board is looking forward to continuing the successful work. The General Assembly also made an important decision right away: the Board decided to appoint Jessica Heckel as the new Administrative Director of the IRS. She had already held this position provisionally and with great success since November 2023.

At the same time, Oliver Ibert pointed out the imminent challenges at the meeting. Since August 2024, the windows in the main building have been replaced with better insulated windows. From 2025, extensive renovations to the roof, water pipes, heating system and IT infrastructure will follow. Work will then also begin on a new research programme for the years 2026 to 2029.

The General Assembly is the central decision-making body of the IRS. For example, it appoints the Director, appoints new members of the Scientific Advisory Board and approves decisions with major financial implications. The ministries represented (BMWSB, MWFK, MIL), the Brandenburg State Chancellery and the Berlin Senate Administration jointly represent important facets of the Institute's scientific expertise. The presidencies of co-operating universities, including BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, the European University Viadrina, the University of Potsdam and TU Dortmund University, are also entitled to vote.