State Secretary Dr Bärbel Kofler

I was born on May 24, 1967, in Freilassing . From 1973 to 1977, I attended elementary school in Feldkirchen, and from 1977 to 1979, I went to secondary school in Mitterfelden, part of the municipality of Ainring. Political issues were important in my home, which sparked my early interest in politics. In 1979, I transferred to St. Zeno Realschule in Bad Reichenhall, where I graduated in 1983.

Following this, I completed an apprenticeship as a bank clerk at the Berchtesgadener Land Savings Bank. During my apprenticeship, I realized that further education was the only way to advance my career. Therefore, after completing my apprenticeship in February 1986, I began pursuing my university entrance qualification through a distance learning course. I continued working as a bank clerk until autumn 1987 and was able to take the university entrance examination in Traunstein as an external candidate in summer 1987.

In the winter semester of 1987, I began studying computer science at the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim, graduating in December 1991. From the summer semester of 1992 until 1996, I studied Russian and Spanish at the University of Salzburg, where I continued my doctoral studies from 1996 to 1998. Alongside my doctoral studies, I worked part-time for a tourism company in Salzburg from 1996 to 1999. In 1999, I went to Moscow for two years as a lecturer at the Technical University and subsequently worked freelance as a language teacher. From 2002 to 2004, I was employed as a lecturer at the civilian service school in Geretsried.

In the fall of 2004, I joined the Bundestag. I had already been a member of the Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the Finance Committee, the Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, and the Committee of Inquiry on Visa Policy. During the 18th legislative period, I was a member of the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development (EEZ) until March 2016.

In March 2016, I was appointed the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid. I was also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Since December 2021, I have been Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development . You can find more information about my current responsibilities under "Politics".

I have a great interest in languages, literature, cultures and other countries..