23rd Karlsruhe Dialogues - Speakers

Brigitte Russ-Scherer, born in Göppingen in 1956, underwent training as a newspaper editor at Südwestpresse Ulm parallel to her Law Studies in Tübingen and Bonn. Subsequently in 1984 she began her professional career as a judge in Heilbronn. Following various posts in the justice system and after attending the Leadership Academy of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg (1987–1988), she took over management of the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele (1989–1993) and then in 1995 switched from the public to the private sector as head of the Press and Public Relations Department of Allianz Leben. During her period of office as mayor of the university city of Tübingen (1999–2007) she held various posts such as president of the German Library Association and president of the Association of Towns Awarded the Europe Prize. Since 2017 Russ-Scherer has lived in Berlin, working as a freelance lawyer/consultant; since 2013 she has also been the chair of the board of the PODIUM Musikstiftung Esslingen which she helped to found. Furthermore she is active for the charitable foundation Zukunft Berlin, working in the Europe section (initiative ‘Cities for Europe’).