Philine is a lawyer and mediator by training and worked in conflict resolution for the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Côte d'Ivoire and at the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris before joining UWC International.

As Programme Development Manager Philine leads the development of new high-priority areas of work initiating and developing new programmes. Her remit includes managing the approvals process for new schools and colleges joining the UWC movement, the UWC Refugee Initiative as well as the development of integrated programmes for safeguarding and student wellbeing across UWC.

From working for international organisations, NGOs and the German government Philine has diverse project and programme management experience. She has volunteered with NGOs in Egypt, South Africa, France and Germany working on democratic legal reform, election observation and legal advice for refugees. Philine also volunteered with a telephone helpline in Berlin after receiving in-depth communication and basic psychological training.

Philine is from Freiburg, Germany and would have loved to go to a UWC college if she had known about the movement a little earlier. She feels lucky to be contributing to UWC’s mission of bringing life-changing educational opportunities to young people around the world independent of their financial means, celebrating diversity and - after having worked in conflict resolution - actively promoting peace. Philine speaks English, French and her native German, plus little bits of Arabic and Spanish.