Dr Sonja Hammerschmid appointed new Managing Director of Bundestheater-Holding GmbH

“In Dr Sonja Hammerschmid, we have a woman taking on this role who has consistently made her mark in male-dominated sectors. She has achieved this through her expertise, her solution-oriented approach and her personal commitment. And it was precisely these qualities that led the independent selection committee to unanimously recommend Dr Hammerschmid as the most suitable candidate,” explains Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Culture Andreas Babler.

“I am extremely excited about this role, though it certainly commands my respect. After all, we are talking about the flagship institutions of Austria’s artistic and cultural life, which enjoy the highest international standing. I will bring all my management experience – particularly that gained during my time as rector and president of the University of Vienna – to bear in this role, in order to support the Federal Theatres as effectively as possible in fulfilling their cultural policy mandate. We are all united by the goal of continuing to experience countless artistic highlights at the State Opera, the Burgtheater and the Volksoper,” said Dr Sonja Hammerschmid.

Biography of Dr Sonja Hammerschmid

Dr Sonja Hammerschmid (born 24 June 1968 in Steyr, Upper Austria) studied biology (genetics with a minor in tumour biology) at the University of Vienna from 1986 to 1995 and was awarded a PhD in Natural Sciences in 1995. In 1998, she moved into the business sector and initially worked as a product manager at Margaritella-Biotrade GmbH. In 1999, she took over the management of Life Science Austria, a biotech initiative commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs at the Innovationsagentur GmbH (now aws). There, her responsibilities included the strategic development of funding programmes and the commercial exploitation of university research. From 2003 to 2010, she headed the Technology & Innovation division at Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH and served as a general authorised signatory. From 2010 to 2016, Dr Sonja Hammerschmid was Rector of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. In 2015, she was elected President of the Austrian University Conference (Uniko), becoming the first woman and the first non-professor to hold the post. In May 2016, she became Federal Minister for Education. Following the 2017 National Council election, she left the Federal Government but remained a Member of the National Council. Since 2021, Dr Sonja Hammerschmid has been Director of Research and Development at Gropyus AG and a member of the Board of Directors of the Leopold Museum Private Foundation. She also chairs various supervisory boards.