15.01.2025

Raffaela Kihrer becomes EAEA’s new Secretary General

From January 2025, Raffaela Kihrer, former Deputy-Secretary General for EAEA, has taken on the role of Secretary General, signalling a new era for the leadership in EAEA.

From January 1, 2025, Raffaela Kihrer is instated as the new EAEA Secretary General, and Gina Ebner will remain in the organisation as the Deputy Secretary-General.

The changes were approved by the Executive Board, with great thanks being shared for Ebner’s long-term as the head of EAEA.

“The Board and I as the president of EAEA are confident that with this step, we assure a maximum smooth transition in this key position to a colleague, who has proved her excellence and passion already for many years in various capacities,” said Uwe Gartenschlaeger. “At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to Gina for her incredible contribution to the development of ALE in Europe.”

Ebner served 17 years as Secretary General, and is now looking forward to reducing her workload, as an opportunity to spend more time with her dog, Lexie.

“The Board and I as the president of EAEA are confident that with this step, we assure a maximum smooth transition in this key position”

Uwe Gartenschlaeger

In an email message to EAEA members sent at the end of 2024, Raffaela Kihrer reflects on the upcoming change:

“I’m excited to embrace my new role from the beginning of next year. I’m very much looking forward to working closely with all of you. Our team has grown in recent years and adult learning and education is also receiving increasing attention at the European level: this means new challenges, but also great opportunities for a strong voice of adult learning and education. I’m particularly happy that I can do this together with Gina, and I’m confident that we’ll make a great team in managing EAEA. Together, Gina and I will work on keeping EAEA strong, dynamic, and maybe even occasionally well-rested!”

EAEA’s secretariat congratulates the pair for their decision, and thanks our members for the ongoing support.

Text: EAEA

08.07.2026 activism

Resilience means giving genuine decision-making power to local actors - EAEA's annual event's panel discussion

On June 10th, EAEA’s members reunited for the Annual Event, this time in Poland, hosted by the NGO organization sTOP. The Panel discussion titled ‘‘Resilient Communities in Times of Crises’’ saw the participation of Benedetta Perego (lawyer admitted before the Italian Supreme Court and founder of Strali), Musa Kirkar (President of CEIPES and EAEA’s Board Member), Oleg Smirnov (Director of DVV International Ukraine and EAEA’s Vice President), and Irena Lipowicz (lawyer, professor, and ex diplomat for the United Nations).

06.07.2026 advocacy

Democracy and coalition-building

At the Feminist Futures Festival in Brussels, participants explored how feminist perspectives, coalition-building and transnational solidarity can strengthen democracy and social inclusion.

30.06.2026 EAEA Annual Conference

EAEA Annual Conference 2026: Supportive communities grow the roots of resilience

The EAEA Annual Conference 2026 explored resilience as a collective process, highlighting the role of adult learning in strengthening communities in times of uncertainty.