Policy Research and Migration Law Unit

Saskia Heilemann (née Koppenberg)
Head, Policy Research and Migration Law Unit
Saskia Heilemann is the Head of the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit of the IOM Country Office for Austria. Among other things, she is responsible for the overall coordination of the National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration Network (EMN). Before joining IOM Austria, Saskia Heilemann worked as a Programme Support Officer at IOM Egypt. She graduated in International Development from the University of Vienna.

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 17
Email: sheilemann@iom.int

Leila Hadj Abdou
Deputy Head, Policy Research and Migration Law Unit
Leila Hadj Abdou is the Deputy Head of the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit of the IOM Country Office for Austria. In this function she is responsible for the supervision of research within the framework of the National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration Network (EMN). Before joining IOM Austria, Leila Hadj Abdou worked as Lecturer/Assistant Professor, Trainer for Policy Practitioners/Executive Education, and Researcher in Higher Education in Italy (Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute), Austria (University of Vienna), the United Kingdom (University of Sheffield), and the United States (Johns Hopkins University), and held visiting positions in Ireland (University College Dublin) and France (Paris 8). She also worked as a policy officer in the Department of Integration and Diversity of the City of Vienna and with the NGO Caritas - designing and implementing a mentoring scheme for unaccompanied minor refugees. Leila Hadj Abdou holds a Ph.D. in Social and Political Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and a master's degree (Political Science and History) from the University of Vienna, Austria.

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 40
Email: lhadjabdou@iom.int

Anna Ammann
Research Associate
As Research Associate of the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit of the IOM Country Office for Austria, Anna Ammann is responsible for conducting studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum. Prior to this assignment, she supported the Unit in the implementation of projects, research activities and legal questions as Project Assistant and Legal Consultant. Before joining IOM, Anna Ammann worked as policy advisor for human rights and integration and as legal associate in a law firm. Anna Ammann holds a doctoral degree from the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna as well as a master degree in human rights.

Phone: +43 1 585 3322 42
E-Mail: aammann@iom.int

Inara Habibzadeh
Communications Associate 
Inara Habibzadeh oversees all communications activities at the National Contact Point Austria within the European Migration Network (EMN), including event organization and management of the website and the newsletter. Prior to working at IOM, she served as a Communications & Content Officer for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Berlin, Germany. She holds degrees in Multimedia Design and Political Science, the latter from the University of Vienna.

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

Christof Patric Pakfeifer 
Communications and Administrative Assistant 
Within the framework of the National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration Network (EMN), Christof Patric Pakfeifer is responsible for administrative tasks of the team. In addition, he supports EMN Austria public relation activities, the maintenance of the EMN website and the organization of EMN events. He studied Public Administration, International and European Governance at Leiden University (NL) and International Relations at Pázmány Péter Catholic University in Budapest (HU). Before joining IOM, Christof Patric Pakfeifer worked as a Diplomatic and Administrative Officer at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna. Prior to that, he worked as a Project Assistant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. 

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 42
Email: cpakfeifer@iom.int

Martin Stiller
Legal Associate
Focal Point for Migrants' Rights
Within the framework of the National Contact Point Austria in the European Migration Network (EMN), Martin Stiller is responsible for studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum. Moreover, he is IOM Austria’s Focal Point for Migrants' Rights. He supports other units in legal matters and works on the European Migration Network Glossary of terms relating to Asylum and Migration. Martin Stiller studied law at the University of Vienna. Prior to his engagement with IOM, he passed the Austrian bar exam and represented the Republic of Austria in its legal affairs.

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 21
Email: mstiller@iom.int

Our team is supported by two interns in the fields of media and research.

Currently on leave:

Prisca Ebner
Research Associate
Prisca Ebner is a Research Associate in the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit of the IOM Country Office for Austria. She is responsible for conducting studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum and has a thematic focus on labour migration. Prisca Ebner has been supporting the unit in the implementation of projects and research activities since 2019. She studied Governance of Migration and Diversity at Leiden University (the Netherlands) and Transcultural Communication at the University of Vienna. Prior to her assignment with IOM, Prisca Ebner worked as a German and integration trainer as well as in project management and communication.

Phone: +43 1 585 33 22 31
Email: pebner@iom.int