On September 1, 2022, Dr. Monika Lüke becomes chief operation officer (COO) of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). She brings her qualifications as a lawyer with a doctorate, proven expertise in foreign policy, and broad experience as a managing director to the position.
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Dr. Monika Lüke is responsible for the administration of DGAP, which includes the area of finance as well as process, personnel, and building management. She also oversees the further development of fundraising strategies, sponsor care, and services for DGAP members. The 53-year-old is a member of DGAP’s management team and, consequently, an ex officio member of its Executive Board. She succeeds Dr. Thorsten Klaßen.
Before joining DGAP, Lüke was the sole managing director of Diakonisches Werk Berlin Stadtmitte e.V. from 2018 to 2022. She has longstanding professional ties with the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), including management of the program “Labor and Social Standards in the Textile and Clothing Sector in Asia.” From 2012 to 2015, Lüke was the Integration Commissioner of the State of Berlin. From 2009 to 2012, she was secretary general of the German section of Amnesty International. Lüke started her career at the British Institute of International & Comparative Law as a research fellow with teaching responsibilities at University College London. She also worked as a European Law Officer at the Representation of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) to the Federal Government and EU.
Lüke studied law and received her doctorate from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 1999 with a thesis on the immunity of state officials in cases of serious human rights violations.
Commenting on her move to DGAP, Lüke said: “I welcome the opportunity to join Martin Bialecki and Guntram Wolff in DGAP’s management team. Together, we can strengthen DGAP’s resilience in times when foreign and security policy are affecting everyone more than ever.”
