Hans Joachim Giessmann is Director Emeritus at the Berghof Foundation and Associate Professor at the University of Hamburg. He was Executive Director of the Berghof Foundation from 2008 to 2019. Before, he was Deputy Scientific Director of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy in Hamburg. From 2009 until 2014, he was a member of the Global Advisory Council for Terrorism of the World Economic Forum and Head of the Council from 2011 to 2012.

Since 2014, he has provided hands-on support to the Afghan peace process, currently with focus on the negotiations in Doha between the delegations of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban movement. He is also involved in supporting efforts by national stakeholders to restore peace and prepare a National Dialogue process in Ethiopia.

As Author, Editor or Joint Editor he has published 35 books and more than 300 scientific articles with translations in more than 10 languages. Hans J. Giessmann is member of the Advisory Board to the German Federal Government for Civilian Crisis Prevention.

Photo © Peter Wingert