Wolfgang Ischinger
Former German Ambassador & Chairman of the Munich Security Conference
A former German Ambassador to both the U.S. and U.K., Wolfgang Ischinger is the Chairman of the Munich Security
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Full Bio
A former German Ambassador to both the U.S. and U.K., Wolfgang Ischinger is the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, the world’s leading forum for debating international security policy. He is the author of the European best-seller, World in Danger: Germany and Europe in an Uncertain Time, which has been praised by global thought leaders including Henry Kissinger and Madeline Albright. As a speaker, Ambassador Ischinger combines an extraordinary wealth of knowledge in diplomacy with experience as a corporate leader and board member. His talks share invaluable insights on the most important geopolitical and economic issues of today, including U.S.-European business and political relations, the future of the EU, cybersecurity policy, and the global economy.
Supported by Chancellor Angela Merkel to head the Munich Security Conference in 2008, Ambassador Ischinger transformed what was once primarily a Cold War-era German-American meeting into a high profile, global platform drawing hundreds of leaders from the U.S., Europe, China, India, Russia and the Middle East. Speakers have included U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Under Ambassador Ischinger’s leadership, the event grew to 600 participants, 400 observers and a thousand accredited journalists. Ambassador Ischinger also serves as Senior Professor for Security Policy and Diplomatic Practice at the Hertie School in Berlin and is Founding Director of the school’s Centre for International Security. From 2008-2014, he worked in the corporate sector as Global Head of Government Relations at Allianz SE, the largest European insurance and asset management company.
Ambassador Ischinger’s long diplomatic career began in the Secretariat of the United Nations in 1973. In 1975, he joined the Federal Republic of Germany’s Foreign Service. Many roles followed, including Head of the Political Department in the German embassy in Paris and Director of the Policy Planning Staff of the Foreign Office in Bonn. As Political Director, he led the German delegations during the Bosnian Peace negotiations, negotiations on the NATO-Russian Founding Act, and during the Kosovo Crisis. In 1998, he was named State Secretary (Deputy Foreign Minister) of the German Federal Foreign Office. On September 11, 2001, Ischinger began his first day as German Ambassador to the U.S. as the news broke of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Ambassador Ischinger served in that role for five years, before being named Ambassador to the United Kingdom (2006-2008).
An active board member, he currently serves on the Supervisory Board of Hensoldt AG and on the International Advisory Board of Investcorp, London. He is also a member of the Trilateral Commission and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). Ambassador Ischinger is also a member of several non-profit boards, including the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the American Academy Berlin, and the Atlantik-Brücke.
Ambassador Ischinger studied law at the universities of Bonn and Geneva. He did post-graduate work in the U.S., studying International Law, International Economic Relations and Contemporary History at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and at Harvard Law School.
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Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!
LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!
MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!
SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
World in Danger: A Geopolitical Overview
The Business Relationship Between the U.S. & Europe
How Europe Views the U.S.
Videos
Wolfgang Ischinger: European army is necessary amid Russia threat | Talk to Al Jazeera
Is European security under threat from German-French frictions? Interview with Wolfgang Ischinger
Books
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