Kathrin Obst to Become New EFIP Director
19 September 2013
Kathrin Obst has been appointed as the new Director of the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP). She succeeds Isabelle Ryckbost, who took on the position of Secretary General at ESPO this summer.
Kathrin Obst comes with a solid background in EU policy making and transport. She worked for three years as a Senior Policy Adviser for the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), where she became familiar with EU structures and decision making procedures. By working for CER, she also developed an in depth knowledge of Europe’s transport policy and a good network of contacts in the transport and railway sector. Before joining CER, Kathrin worked in both the Commission and the Council of the EU. Her working experience combined with her education (an M.A. and B.A. course in European Studies at the University of Osnabrück (Germany) makes her an ideal candidate for the job.
"I very much welcome Kathrin on board", said EFIP President Jean-Louis Jérôme, "Kathrin Obst comes with a solid experience in EU public affairs, transport policy and brings an in depth knowledge of railways and railway policy. Even if inland ports are mainly characterised by their link to inland waterway transport, they are more and more developing into multimodal nodes in the hinterland. The rail experience of Ms Obst will be a real asset for our organisation. I am sure that EFIP will be again in good hands”.
“I am very happy to be joining EFIP” says Kathrin Obst. “Waterborne transport, much like rail, is sustainable and will need to grow and develop in the coming years if the environmental challenges of the transport sector are to be met. I am looking forward to working with EFIP and our interlocutors in the European institutions on this exciting challenge.”
Besides her mother tongues German and English, Kathrin is also fluent in French and has basic knowledge in Italian and Turkish.
Kathrin Obst will be working at the EFIP Secretariat, which is based in Brussels and has a joint office with ESPO. She will take up her new position on 1 November.
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