Cornelia Quennet-Thielen

Cornelia Quennet-Thielen is a Senior Advisor at FGS Global in Berlin. With four decades of experience and expertise in leading government positions at state and federal level she strengthens the strategic advisory offering with a focus on government, politics and governance as well as stakeholder management in complex public policy environments. Sustainability issues are a particular focus for her.

Cornelia spent ten years as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Initiatives such as the Excellence Strategy contributed significantly to making the German science system a flexible, innovative and competitive player, also succeeding at the international level. She served on the boards of the leading German research organizations such a Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Society, Leibniz Society and the German Science and Humanities Council. Her career includes leadership positions in the Office of the Federal President and the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. In the nineties, she led negotiations on climate protection and sustainability at national, European and international level for the German government.

Pro bono, Cornelia serves and served in boards and advisory positions, i.a. at the European Climate Foundation, the Nicholas Institute at Duke University, U.S., and the Roland Berger Foundation. She is particularly committed to mentoring girls and women.

Cornelia is a World Fellow of Yale University (2003) and a fellow of the German National Academic Foundation. She studied law at the Universities of Freiburg and Trier and began her career as a judge.