Chief of Mission

Marian Benbow Pfisterer
Chief of Mission 

Marian Benbow Pfisterer has been leading the IOM Country Office for Austria and representing IOM in Austria since 2017, first as Head of Office and since 2024 as Chief of Mission. She oversees all office activities and is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the mission. In 2023, Marian Benbow Pfisterer also served as IOM’s Head of Office Ad Interim for IOM Estonia, and previously also worked for IOM in Germany. Marian Benbow Pfisterer has many years of experience in the field of migration and asylum and has been with IOM in various functions for almost 20 years. She studied law in Heidelberg (Germany) and Bergen (Norway).

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 13
Email: mbenbow@iom.int

Elke Kienesberger
Assistant to the Chief of Mission
Website & Social Media Focal Point, Focal Point for Security

Elke Kienesberger has been with the IOM Country Office for Austria since 2013. She supports the Chief of Mission in administrative and liaison-related activities as well as in the day-to-day office management. Elke Kienesberger also coordinates various of our office’s communication agendas and exchanges with other Vienna-based UN organizations. She studied English and Spanish at the Centre for Translation Studies of the University of Vienna. Before her assignment with IOM, Elke Kienesberger worked as a translator and language trainer in adult education.

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 13
Email: ekienesberger@iom.int

Banner picture copyright: Nick Mangafas