“Shaping the Future”

Four New Members Join Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung’s Board of Trustees (DSW)

As it marks its 35th anniversary, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) is delighted to welcome four new members* to its Board of Trustees, strengthening the organisation for the years and decades ahead. “I am convinced that we can shape the future. That takes smart ideas and people who want to make a difference – especially when circumstances become more challenging,” says Charlotte Holzum. “DSW’s combination of grassroots work and political impact convinced me to contribute as a member of the Board of Trustees.” Holzum is Managing Partner of a communications consultancy specialising in dialogue. A political science graduate and trained television journalist, she brings 25 years of experience in corporate communications, stakeholder dialogue and crisis communications.

Claas Meineke spent eight years on the executive board of one of Germany’s largest food retailers and now works as an independent Senior Advisor, focusing on strategic growth and transformation for companies, investors and management teams. “As a father of four sons, I see first-hand just how crucial education, guidance and genuine opportunities are for young people – and how unequally these opportunities are distributed around the world,” says Meineke, explaining his motivation for joining the DSW Board of Trustees.

For Sara Nuru, it is particularly important “that young people are not simply seen as recipients of support but are empowered to make their own decisions and play an active role in shaping their future.” The social entrepreneur, who has Ethiopian roots, has been working for many years to advance the economic and social empowerment of women in Ethiopia. Together with her sister, she founded an organisation dedicated to empowering women, as well as a coffee brand committed to fair supply chains and sustainable business practices. Nuru became widely known in 2009 after winning Germany’s Next Topmodel. Since 2018, she has also served as an ambassador for Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, raising awareness of development cooperation issues.

With Eva Schildbach, the voluntary Board of Trustees gains a recognised expert in public health and health promotion in development cooperation. She has extensive international experience across a wide range of countries, has held a leadership role at a consulting firm for more than ten years and is keen to help secure DSW’s financial foundation. “It is crucial to communicate the organisation’s achievements and the value of its work in a variety of ways so that we can reach different people and audiences,” she says.

“Over the past 35 years, we have brought about a great deal of positive change,” says Elmar Bingel, who has served on the Board of Trustees since DSW was founded in 1991. “But we must continue to rise to new challenges, further develop our approaches and ensure that the foundation is well positioned for the future.” At the end of this year, the auditor and healthcare expert will step down from the Board, passing the baton to the next generation. DSW bids farewell with deep gratitude to a tireless and highly dedicated supporter.

*Charlotte Holzum, Sara Nuru and Eva Schildbach will join DSW’s Board of Trustees on 1 October 2026, followed by Claas Meineke on 1 January 2027. The Board will continue to include the Chairman and longtime publisher of the Kölnische Rundschau Helmut Heinen, Tobias Kahler, Director of the Gates Foundation Germany; physician Dr Barbara Kloss-Quiroga; social entrepreneur Baarbara Lenz; and entrepreneur and foundation founder Dirk Roßmann. Prof. Dr Ernst U. v. Weizsäcker is also an honorary member of the Board of Trustees.

More information about the Board of Trustees and its members is available here.