2026:
The world in transition
Countries are challenging the unipolar order of the turn of the millennium and reshaping the global system.
What does it take to succeed in the world of tomorrow?
Curiosity
Anyone who wants to understand global changes needs the willingness to question familiar ways of thinking, to ask questions, and to engage with new perspectives.
Global Bridges creates open yet private spaces where learning and changes in perspective become possible.
Respect
Reliable relationships develop where encounters take place on an equal footing and differences do not divide, but rather invite conversation.
Global Bridges stands for a culture of mutual listening and understanding.
Bipartisanship
In complex times, independent thinking is required – autonomously and beyond partisan political camps.
Global Bridges stands for ideology-free understanding, well-founded debate, and solution-oriented thinking.
Responsibility
The future is created when experiences, ideas, and the will to act come together across generations.
For Global Bridges, responsibility means taking global challenges seriously and setting concrete impulses for a fair, peaceful, and sustainable future.
Global Bridges
is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Berlin that connects decision-makers across generations from politics, the private sector, science, culture, and the media worldwide.
support our association's purpose of international understanding with an annual membership fee. They are offered a sophisticated annual program as well as access to a high-ranking network at home and abroad.
do not make a financial contribution after their one-time participation in one of the three yearly conferences, but become part of our global Young Leaders Alumni network, continuing to support our mission through various non-material contributions.
serve as voluntary contact persons in our key regions. They represent the interests of our members on the ground, strengthen the visibility of our organization, and enrich our formats with their local expertise as well as networks.
Our Trio
Thinking globally means asking the right questions in the right places—our triad of activities, topics, and regions serves as our compass for this.
We travel to and engage with regions of geostrategic importance, discuss the key issues of our time, and bring together emerging leaders from across the globe.
In all our activities, we address geopolitical, global economic, and social
research questions.
We focus on high-growth countries in the BRICS+ group in Asia (as well as the Near and Middle East), Africa, and Latin America.
Our Members
More than 450 members of Global Bridges contribute their perspectives from the worlds of politics, business, academia, and the media in Germany and Europe. Their diverse areas of expertise enrich our discussions and foster mutual understanding.
Our organization is intentionally kept small, to maintain exclusivity. We pursue targeted growth and carefully manage the number of active members. As such, membership is primarily possibly by recommendation and subsequent election by the Board of Directors.
Areas
4
Regional Groups
6
Average age
51
in Germany
76%
Our Board
The 13-member Board of Directors consists of prominent figures from the German business, political, academic, and media communities. Its composition reflects the diversity and values of Global Bridges.
Our Team
The staff in our office organize our Study Trips, Global Forums, and Young Leaders Conferences. Their work enables our members and Young Leaders Alumni to gain diverse insights into the political, economic, and social life in our target.
Malte Hohlfeld
Executive Chairman
Malte Hohlfeld has been working for Global Bridges since September 2021, initially as a Program Assistant, then as a Program Manager, and since January 2024 as Managing Director. In addition to managing the association's operations, Malte Hohlfeld primarily organizes and accompanies our study trips.
Prior to his time at Global Bridges, he held various positions, for example at the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, a crypto startup, and in the office of Ursula von der Leyen.
Malte Hohlfeld holds a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Amsterdam and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the Universities of Groningen and Hong Kong.
Dr. Beate Lindemann
Honorary Chairwoman
Dr. Beate Lindemann is a founding member of Global Bridges and served as Executive Chair until December 2023. Since January 2024, she has been Honorary Chairwoman of the association as well as a member of the Board of Directors, cultivating contacts in particular with China.
Before 2010, Dr. Lindemann was Executive Deputy Chairperson of the Atlantik-Brücke and previously a research fellow at the Research Institute of the German Council on Foreign Relations.
Dr. Lindemann studied Political Science, International Relations, and International Economics at the Freie Universität Berlin, the University of Aberdeen, and the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, among other institutions.
Tim Blankenburg
Program Coordinator
Tim Blankenburg has been with Global Bridges since January 2023, initially working as a Program Assistant and, since March 2024, as a Program Coordinator. In his role, he organizes our Global Forums.
Before starting his work at Global Bridges, Tim Blankenburg worked as a working student at the
Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History in Potsdam and gained experience as an intern at the Körber Foundation and the US Consulate in Leipzig.
Tim Blankenburg holds a Master's degree in Contemporary History from the University of Potsdam and a Bachelor's degree in History and International Relations from the University of Erfurt and the University of Winnipeg.
Janis Mandić
Program Coordinator
Janis Mandić has been working as Program Coordinator at Global Bridges since January 2026. In this role, he is responsible for organizing the Young Leaders Conferences.
Previously, he worked as Program Manager at the Beijing office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and in business development at a recruitment firm. His time abroad has included volunteer service with Green Care Cameroon in Kumbo, Cameroon, and an internship at the German Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Janis Mandić holds a master’s degree in Chinese Politics and Society, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Political and Social Studies and History, from the University of Würzburg. Additionally, he studied Mandarin at Nanjing University in China.
Fabian Schneider
Executive Assistant
Fabian Schneider has been working at Global Bridges since April 2025. In his role as Executive Assistant, he provides substantive support in preparing activities and administrative support in organizing our office. Before taking up his position, Fabian Schneider gained experience as an intern at the German Consulate General in Los Angeles and as a working student in the energy cluster at Johanssen + Kretschmer Strategic Communication.
In addition to his voluntary military service, Fabian Schneider holds a bachelor's degree in Governance and Public Policy from the University of Passau.
Isabelle Feilchenfeldt
Program Assistant
Isabelle Feilchenfeldt has been working as Program Assistant at Global Bridges since March 2026. In this role, she contributes to the planning and implementation of all formats.
Previously, she held protocol roles at major international events, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Munich Security Conference, the international literature festival berlin, and LIT:potsdam. She also gained experience at the publishing house and foundation of Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, as well as at the British publishing house The Real Press.
Isabelle Feilchenfeldt holds a master’s degree in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as well as a bachelor’s degree in Media and English from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Our Circle of Friends
The circle of friends unites members who feel a special connection to Global Bridges and wish to support us both with ideas and financially through long-term contributions.
Financial support
The circle of friends creates the basis for planning security, the further development of the annual program, and the support of younger members through the provision of long-term funding.
Network expansion
The circle of friends contributes to the qualitative expansion and strengthening of our network, promotes regionalization as well as internationalization, and opens up new avenues of access.
Strategic collaboration
The circle of friends acts as a driving force and supports Global Bridges – in close coordination with the board and management – in establishing a sustainable foundation.
In Focus: Member Portal
Every year, the circle of friends specifically supports projects that further develop our network. In 2026, the circle of friends enabled the financing of the new member portal. The protected portal currently contains a searchable and exportable directory, thereby facilitating direct exchange between our members. Looking ahead, the portal will be expanded to include additional functions, including a booking tool for the conference room in our office as well as a library with internal association documents.
Our sponsors and partners
The work of Global Bridges would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partner institutions around the world. They support our goal with donations, provide input, and facilitate valuable contacts to bring people together and thus build bridges worldwide.
Interested?
We create exciting opportunities for members, young leaders, partners, and employees.