Foto: in einem Ausstellungsraum sind von Wand zu Wand Seile mit grell farbigen Stoff-Rechtecken gespannt. Darunter lehnt eine junge Frau an der Wand.

Academic advisory board

The academic advisory board advises the management and the shareholders’ meetings on specialist and strategical matters. It includes representatives from academia, practice, various German ministries and the State of Berlin.

» As a partner of Difu, we reflect on the perspectives of sustainable urban development in the Advisory Board. This is a complex and exciting task, especially in times of change. «
- Prof. Dr. Guido Spars, Chairperson of the academic advisory board

Chairperson

Prof. Dr. Guido Spars

 

Deputy Chairwoman

Prof. Dr. Angela Million

Practice

Thomas Dienberg

Mayor and Alderman for Urban Development and Construction, City of Leipzig

Christian A. Geiger

First City Councillor of the City of Brunswick, Finance and Sports Department

Prof. Dr. Martin Haag

Mayor and Head of the Department for Urban Development and Construction, Civil Engineering with Transport Planning, Urban Greenery and Building Management, City of Freiburg im Breisgau

Hilmar von Lojewski

Deputy at the Association of German Cities, Head of the Department of Urban Development, Construction, Housing and Traffic

Christian Specht

First Mayor of the City of Mannheim, Department 1

Dr. Christine Wilcken

Permanent Deputy of the Managing Director of the Association of German Cities

Research

Dr. Philine Gaffron

Agora Verkehrswende, Senior Associate, Mobility and Health

Prof. Dr. Sabine Kuhlmann

University of Potsdam, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Political Science, Public Administration and Organisation

Prof. Dr. Thomas Lenk

Leipzig University, Institute of Public Finance and Public Management, Chair for Finance

Prof. Dr. Angela Million

Technische Universität Berlin, Faculty VI Planning, Building, Environment

Prof. Dr. Guido Spars

University of Wuppertal, Chair for Economy of Planning Construction, Faculty of Architecture, Art and Design

Prof. Dr. Annegret Thieken

University of Potsdam, Institute of Environmental Science and Geography, Working Group leader of Geography and Disaster Risk Research

Federal Government and the State of Berlin

Ministry Head Dietmar Horn

Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building, Director-General S - Urban and Spatial Development

Ministry Head Dr. Susanne Lottermoser

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection

Ministry Counsellor Dr. Jürgen Schneider

Federal Ministry of Finance, Head of the Department for Municipal Financial Affairs

Harald Fuchs

State Administration for Finances, Berlin, Department I - Assets and Shares I D

Thorsten Tonndorf

State Administration for Urban Development and Housing, Berlin, Head of the Department for Urban Development Planning

Research Associates at Difu

Dr. Elke Bojarra-Becker

Department Environment

Dr. Christian Raffer

Department Infrastructure, Economy and Finance

Maic Verbücheln

Department Environment

Permanent representation

Christian Schuchardt

Managing Director of the Association of German Cities

Birgit Geßner

Head of administration of the Association of German Cities

 

 

Members of the steering group of Difu

 

As on: August 2025