Dr. Verena M. Ehold is Managing Director of the Environment Agency Austria, a leading environmental institution driving sustainable transformation in Austria and across Europe. She previously served as Head of Radiation Protection at the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action and worked as a policy officer on chemical safety. An internationally recognized expert, she specializes in minimizing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) risks within EU development cooperation. Dr. Ehold holds a law degree from the University of Innsbruck and has extensive experience in strategic leadership, including advisory work for the European Commission.