New board member welcomed – long-standing members bid farewell

Changes in Advisory Board

At the Advisory Board meeting on September 12, Institute Director Prof. Dr. Manfred Hauswirth and his deputy Prof. Dr. Tom Ritter, together with Chairman Dr. Klaus Zehner, welcomed Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz as a new member on behalf of Fraunhofer FOKUS and the entire board. Prof. Deniz was officially appointed as a member of the Advisory Board on July 1, 2025. She heads the Department of Language and Communication in Biological and Artificial Systems at the Technische Universität Berlin and is also Vice President for Digitalization and Sustainability.

Kuratorium2025_Deniz
© Ivy Kunze / Fraunhofer FOKUS
Institute Director Prof. Dr. Manfred Hauswirth (right) and Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Klaus Zehner (left) welcome new board member Prof. Dr. Fatma Deniz (center).

Prof. Deniz succeeds Prof. Dr. Christine Arendt, who left the board on June 30, 2025, after nine years of service. With her commitment and inspiration, she was a valued advisor and partner in the strategic development of the institute.

A fond farewell was also given to former Senior Senate Advisor Bernd Lietzau, who is leaving the Advisory Board as he enters retirement. He is currently still supporting the work of the board on an interim basis. Bernd Lietzau had been a member of the Advisory Board since 2003 and, as a long-standing employee of the Berlin Senate Administration, contributed in-depth knowledge of Berlin's research policy and a deep understanding of the institute's role. Over many years, he provided strategic advice to the institute and had a lasting influence on it.

The institute is now looking to the future with fresh ideas and proven expertise.

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