WORK TANK
AFRICA – EUROPE
a platform connecting the two continents.
We contribute to shape a common future – secure, sustainable, transformative, unbiased,
as a win-win situation for all involved.
WORK TANK AFRICA – EUROPE
A platform connecting the two continents
Globalization and digitization have changed the world. The dominance of the West has come to an end. An interlinked global society has emerged, with Africa and Europe as a central axis. As neighbouring continents, they are bound together through expanding networks of people, organizations and ever more sophisticated economic and political value chains. This creates opportunities as well as challenges on an unprecedented basis.
In Africa, globalization and digitization are happening on a greenfield. A digital transformation with different innovations takes place. Fewer old technologies and less vested interests allow new solutions to emerge, closer to human needs. New patterns of African contributions to the globalized world are emerging. The emerging middle class is doubling or tripling within the next 15 years - unleashing further self-enforcing dynamics and new highlights.
At the same time, population dynamics, environmental pressures and political environments on both sides are changing and often posing their own challenges for safety, prosperity or sustainability. This requires working out appropriate solutions and fostering respective co-operation to ensure a long-term balance.
Work Tank - creating values
Our member companies create values for their customers. Our platform connects these values and creates synergies for communities, regions and countries. As an independent partner, Work Tank Africa - Europe works with academia, governments, the private sector and civil society to examine entrenched sustainability challenges, identify new opportunities and initiate innovative solutions.
We facilitate discussions on how Africa and Europe can shape a common future – secure, sustainable, transformative, unbiased and as a win-win situation for all involved.
Work Tank - a networking platform
Our member companies and individual members are “T-shaped”. We come from a variety of backgrounds and have a broad generalist knowledge about African and European countries, their economies and their societies.
Additionally, we are specialists in different fields – engineering, management, communication, PR, sales, marketing, media, IT, ... – and each of us has his or her own special access to the African continent, to different regions. Many of us spent years living in African countries and have been successfully networking between the continents.
Diversity is our strength.
We act as intermediaries between cultures and regions. And between us, the members. We exchange knowledge from our different fields, information about different regions and projects, and contacts to access and act. We contribute to establish a new ecosystem of African-European collaboration, with purpose-driven organizations and agile-minded people ready for real co-creation.
Work Tank - an action platform
In different groupings – small or big - our members join and do business.
Europeans in Africa, Africans in Europe – together. We enhance and reinforce our access to local people, alleviate cultural barriers, and create values for all stakeholders involved.
Interested? Leave us a note here.
THE WORK TANK EXPERTS
The Work Tank Experts with profound skills, as well as the best local knowledge and customs of different countries and cultures, enable you to move with ease. Due to our experts’ individual experiences on the continent, you gain many different insights. On a strategic as well as operational level, it is a pleasure for us to participate in the commissioning of new projects and ventures, to form partnerships and alliances and to actively contribute to solving problems that make it easier for governments, entrepreneurs and individuals
to interact on the two continents - in both ways.
CHRISTOPH
GRETZMACHER
Born in Vienna, raised in Africa -
I have been active in West African countries for over 20 years. During my long stays in Africa, I was able to acquire a broad knowledge and understanding of culture.
As a longtime Africa-Specialist and PR-Consultant, advising national governments, government-related institutions and companies, in how to implement their economic and social goals, I founded my consulting agency in 2016.
GUDRUN
SAGEDER
20 years of living and working in Africa and the Middle East have broadened my horizons considerably.
I have held a number of diverse roles: Training manager for two thousand employees, Founder and CEO of PIERRE PROTECT - a company in the construction industry in Tunis, Business Development Manager for a OPTEX - a Japanese group for Africa and D-A-CH.
After a start as economist
in academia, I spent my professional career in the research-based international pharmaceuticals business, enjoying a broad portfolio of functional, leadership and
on-the-ground experiences.
My own independent service boutique offers a purposefully neo-generalist mix of Research, Strategic Project Management and Organisational Development in the areas of global business, organisation and working life.
HANS
STOISSER
I am the founder of ECOTEC with long lasting experiences
in emerging countries, specifically in Africa.
In my book “Der Schwarze Tiger” I put forward why
Europe has missed to link up with modern Africa and
what could be done instead.
At ECOTEC we organize Learning Journeys to “Digital Africa” and help to build
good working collaborations between African and
European companies.
MARTINO
GHIELMI
Founder of vadoinafrica.com, the italophone community of value creators with Africa:
10.000+ entrepreneurs and professionals sharing last-mile business intelligence.
I have 10+ years of expertise in advising Italian SMEs on how to navigate African markets by building win-win partnerships with local counterparts.
i´m a former Management Consultant with a MA in African Studies, who has worked with private and public higher education institutions in East and West Africa.
JEAN-ALAIN
NGAPOUT
I have more than 20 years’ experience in sales & communication in the real estate & tourism industry in Africa and Russia and I´m very well acquainted with the investment climate in those regions, having worked in Cameroon, my birthplace and various other West African countries. I hold degreees from the Lipetsk University, Russia and the Bordeaux Segalen University, France. My mission is to combine the right stakeholders at the right time in the right project.
MELITA H.
SUNJIC
I have been in communications for 40 years, 25 of which in UNHCR. During that time I worked numerous communication related positions many of which were related to campaigning. Recently I started my communication agency Transcultural Communication, which advises governments and international organizations in the development of campaigns for refugees and migrants. In my academic capacity I regularly teach courses on strategic communication at the Vienna University, Media and Communications Department.
RAOUL
JOCHUM
I am founding partner of AfricaWorks. The recruiting agency for Europe and Africa. We bridge African talent with international companies on both contintents. With our vast experience on the topics of employability and entrepreneurship we offer consulting and workshops for companies, talents and academia.
FRANS-JAN
SOEDE
I have more than 30 years’ experience in the management and development of hotels, resorts and various other hospitality assets, After my career in hotel management, I worked on the reorganization restructuring and development of hotel, hospitality and tourism portfolios. In 2002, I founded HAM and ever since I have been working as CEO and Founder, overseeing challenging and fascinating projects in hotel advisory and development throughout Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Africa.
HEINRICH
LEDEBUR
For more than 30 years I have been passionately practicing agriculture from production to marketing. 12 years ago, an assignment led me to Africa to test entre-preneurship training for farmers. Since then I have worked in Ethiopia, Uganda, Togo, Tanzania and Burkina Faso. I train trainers and accompany employees of agricultural organizations in their development. My special attention is devoted to the establishment of sustainable, entrepreneurially active and profitable forms of cooperation in rural areas.
JOACHIM
SCHWENDENWEIN
I have more than 20 years of experience in consulting Projects and Leadership Development Programs on the main 4 continents - Africa, The Americas, APAC & Europe - in all sectors, from Corporations, Start-Ups, Governmental Organizations, NGOs & Universities. I have a Master’s degree in Sociology & Group Dynamics (Vienna), PhD in Organization Consulting (Kassel), Specific Qualifications in Systemic Consulting, Organizational Constellations, Large Group Interventions, Clear Leadership, Innovation et al.
HILDEGARD
MADER
I am a specialist in Middle
Eastern and oriental studies, having lived and worked in Iraq and Egypt for five years. After my return, I used to work as the Director of International Offices at universities in Dresden, Freiburg and Vienna and travelled frequently to North Africa and different Arab countries, as international project manager. 2013 I took up the position of a University Lecturer at WU, teaching a course about the “Business Environment in the Arab World”, with focus on intercultural and Islamic economy.
TITUS
LEBER
I´m an Award-winning filmmaker, writer and director and a former MIT Research Fellow specialising in conceiving and creating large scale interactive multimedia-projects dealing with cultural heritage. Recently I have launched the initiative “Africa Interactive“ aiming at preserving and disseminating Africa´s cultural heritage via modern smart media and communication technologies. I´m member of the European Cultural Parliament and the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters.
CHRISTOPH
WINTERBACHER
My name is
Christoph Winterbacher,
I studied ecology at the University of Vienna and I have been working as cultural manager on international events for over 20 years. Since 2014 as a product developer for the austrian energy industry. Since beginning of 2019 I´m a member of the Austrian Chapter of the Club of Rome.
Main areas of my actual work: Liberalization of the electricity market, circular economy & preservation of diversity.
MARTIN
LECHNER
Educated as environmental engineer, I work since more than 10years developing and managing projects in the water & wastewater infrastructure sector. Connected with for Governmental Organizations, NGOs and many actors of the water sector, I coordinate sales and project activities, establishing the link between European companies and African partners. My special attention is devoted to the establishment of sustainable entrepreneurship within large multicultural diversity of operative partners, with a strong focus on north African countries.
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ANDREA
STEFFAL
After being in
leadership positions for NGOs
in the Balkans and in Lebanon,
I was working in hospital management in Gabon.
There, I got a deep understanding of the “real African life” with all its hardships but also opportunities and the wide-spread “entrepreneurial spirit” of the people. Back in Vienna, I founded Diboty Consulting, with the aim to show the big potential of Africa and its people, prepare and coach Europeans for and during their assignments on the African Continent, and do management, team and/ or founders training where needed.
CAMILLUS
KONKWO
I´m a global citizen of African origin with deep roots in both Europe & West Africa.
My academic background includes Business Administration and Diplomacy. With over 30 years of professional experience in top rank corporate leadership and diplomatic international organizations. As a business facilitator & CEO of Global Bridge LTD., I enjoy providing Business Development & Consulting Expertise. I have a strong passion for Europe-Africa Interdependence, win-win sharing, CSR and multinational replication of successful solutions.
ROMECK
VAN ZEIJL
I am an integral leadership development consultant, coach and facilitator. My main expertise is designing transformational curricula that address both the systemic challenges of the organisation and to help individual leaders access their full potential. I have developed such curricula for doctors and midwives in a large hospital in Ghana, for educational institutions and corporations in Pakistan and Europe, and for NGO leaders in South East Asia. What I love about my work is getting up close and personal with leaders and the challenges and hardships they face, as well as building a (team) culture of meaningful connections and effective collaboration to bring lasting systemic change.
KARL
AIGINGER
The platform Policy Crossover Center: Vienna – Europe (PCC) is an interdisciplinary discussion platform for developing ideas and solutions for economic, social and ecological problems in Europe. The focus lies on better policy coordination. Egoistic, nationalist movements with xenophobic and racist undertones – even in social networks – have to be deterred by substantive arguments and improved living conditions. The Policy Crossover Center develops solutions that promote cooperation, tolerance and opportunity equality as well as ways to slow down climate change.
KARL - HANS
POLZHOFER
I have gained my experience from more than 25 years as managing director in construction related businesses. Since 2011 I have been the honorary consul of the consulate of the Republic of Mozambique in Austria.
My economic, social and political contacts in both countries, Austria and Mozambique, guarantee the security of investments. For every problem there is a solution, for every idea a way. In 2018, together with the board members and the support of friends & companies, I founded the Austrian-Mozambican Society. Craftsman training, know-how and technology transfers from Europe to Africa are my motivation and my ambitious goals.
CONSTANZE
STEINER - THUMA
Out-of-the-box-solutions and customised concepts for marketing, public relations, branding, customer & press events: For more than 16 years
I have been consulting my clients with communication strategies and their implementation - both private companies and NGOs.
My passion and focal points: design, interior, real-estate, architecture and art. Since 2008 extended trips to and projects in Africa (Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South-Africa, Tanzania and Zanzibar). After my university studies in public relations, journalism and art-history I have been working as an entrepreneur and independent author, writing about African design and architecture.
THOMAS
KUKOVEC
I’m a plant biologist and represent an Austrian agribusiness in Africa and the Mediterranean region, where I have alternately lived and worked during the past years.
I strongly believe in the importance of old-school fieldwork and without the “sectarian blinders” of my NGO past, I got a much better understanding of given realities in Africa. I produced a documentary on “land grabbing” and currently also advice local governments on agricultural production.
I’m a member of the Italian Geographical Society and have a particular research interest in semi-arid and tropical agriculture.
HANNES
ECKMAYR
I have been living
in Kenya since February
of 2017, fulfilling my
long term goal of
co-founding
for-profit start-ups
focusing on social
impact in rural Africa.
I’m a strong believer
that “doing good”
and “making money”
should not be
mutually exclusive.
I am a Co-founder
at Ilara Health, a
start-up which
distributes AI powered diagnostics to
primary care doctors
in peri-urban and
rural Africa.
SABINE
ZHANG
As a sinologist and consultant
I follow Chinese activities
on the African continent
closely and on a personal note
I have been experimenting
with various enterprises in agriculture and housing in Senegal. During my 25 years working experience, I set up representative offices in
China, was a senior
consultant in Efficiency Consulting and served as managing director of a
Human Rights Pressure
Group in Vienna. Since ten years I work as an
independent consultant, focusing on leadership, organisational design and whole scale change in Europe, Africa and China.
JUDITH
STEMERDINK-HERRET
I am a consultant with a strong background in Project and Finance Management. This, coupled with my passion for environmental, social and economic sustainability has driven me to more multi-stakeholder participation processes. I use the power of collective intelligence and shared leadership to co-create opportunities in complex cases. My 27 years professional portfolio extends from leading Finance Departments in companies to serving as Director Humanitarian Aid for an international NGO. I lived and worked seven years in Kenya, Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire.
ANNA
OLADEJO
As a cultural and social anthropologist, I am interested in how people's lives relate towards their respective socioeconomic environment and cultural background.
In the process of furthering
my understanding, I have been connected to people from various African countries for more than 25 years and extensively traveled West Africa.
Experienced copywriter and marketing consultant with key insights into African culture. Owner of a Communication Agency for companies exporting to African Markets.
GÜNTER
GRETZMACHER
I’m an expert for waste management of all kinds, consulting governments, ministries, communes and companies. Former President of ÖBRV & Vice President of EQAR
(Association for Recycling & European Quality Association for Recycling e.V.).
I’m an industry trainer and lecturer for the public and private sector with in-depth experience since 1990. Consulting & developing concepts for waste collection, sorting, treatment, recycling and discharging of municipal waste and construction waste for communes - in Senegal since 2015. Active in African countries since 1983.
MARTIN
HILLER
Start-up Millwater Partners
is a consultancy focused on making the Sustainable Development Goals a central business opportunity.
With 35 years´ professional experience (8 as DG of international organisation REEEP), I have worked with partners in South Africa,
Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana
on investment in clean
energy, water and food.
I combine this with extensive experience in international campaigning, policy development, and donor fundraising, with an excellent and growing network in four continents.
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INEZ
WILLEBOORDSE
After living and working in South Africa and Malawi, I missed a proper platform to look for international jobs in Africa. It was not easy to
find the decision maker for hiring, let alone get in touch.
The other way around, lots
of employers in Africa
seemed to be struggling
finding the right talent.
Since 2011 I have dedicated
my professional life to implementing my vision
on recruitment in Africa.
Helped by a great team of Africa enthusiasts we lead employers in finding their matching candidates and guide them in growing their businesses in Africa.
FREDERIC
CHIHA
From Lebanese and Austrian origins, I have been working for more than 40 years as a business developer in over 70 countries, with some 50 companies, some of which were my own.
In Africa, I was in the following countries several times; Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Benin, Cameroun and South Africa, promoting investment and consumer goods of Austrian and/or international provenience.
My expertise consists in detecting needs and implementing the products
fast, by creating an adapted commercial consent,
avoiding publicly known or unknown risks.
MAMADOU
HAMAT WANE
Along with my studies, I had the chance to work in the
West African sub-region in tourism and civil engineering. This experience allowed me
to understand very early
the challenges of
development in Africa.
For about twenty years I live between Austria, France and Senegal where I accompany and advise decision-makers for their projects in Africa. Likewise, I help the actors of the solidarity and sustainable economy of the South in their search for partnership which has enabled local producers to sell fresh fish and African organic products in Austrian supermarkets.
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