Lena Ruthner

Lena Ruthner joined adelphi as Head of Programme Green & Circular Economy in September 2023. In Mai 2024 she became part of adelphi’s Management Board. With close to 20 years of experience in climate, energy, and circular economy policy as well as diplomacy, she brings not only comprehensive expertise but also new perspectives from her work in different consulting firms, government institutions and NGOs to the organisation.

Before joining adelphi, Lena worked at the European Climate Foundation as Director for Green Deal Diplomacy and at NIRAS International Consulting as Climate Sector Lead and Business Development Director. Lena brings leading expertise on international climate and energy policies and collaboration. She has been advising the European Commission and the German government on their climate and energy diplomacy strategies and international collaboration for a sustainable energy transition. She also directed major policy dialogue projects between EU-China and EU-South-Korea with a focus on the Green Transition. Further to this, Lena also holds a strong background on European Climate and Energy Policies. She has been involved in the EU 2050 Climate Strategy Development and provided technical advice on the implementation of the Energy Union Governance Process in Member States, including for the development of integrated national energy and climate plans (NECPs). 

Lena is experienced in business development and acquisition as well as project and programme management and direction. She is a strategic thinker and has developed robust organisational strategies via an inclusive consultation process. She brings a wide network of stakeholders in government and the not-for profit sector. 

Lena is a native speaker in German and brings high language proficiency in English (having lived for 15 years in the UK), as well as French and Russian.

"Climate neutrality, energy and resource efficiency, adaptation to global warming and the preservation of biodiversity - the challenges we face are enormous. I am delighted to contribute to a green and socially just transformation with our dynamically growing organisation. adelphi offers a broad spectrum of technical expertise and the ability to communicate complex issues simply and clearly and to bring about change in this way."