Dr. Susanne Michaelis

Germany

Former Science Officer, NATO Headquarters

Before her retirement in 2020, Dr Susanne Michaelis worked for nearly 24 years at NATO ‘s Scientific Affairs, Public Diplomacy and Emerging Security Challenges Divisions, promoting security cooperation on topics mostly related to environment, climate and energy. She developed concepts, events and projects supported by NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, established stakeholder communities and helped integrating the topics in high-level NATO documents.

In 2012, Susanne created ‘NATO Smart Energy’, an initiative aimed at reducing the fuel consumption of NATO forces. A highlight of this initiative was the NATO Smart Energy camp that she set-up with contributions by Allied nations in the Capable Logistician exercises 2013, 2015 and 2019. Susanne made a collection of public information available at the NATO-hosted Internet platform “NATO LibGuide Smart Energy”.

In 2004, Susanne negotiated the partnership of NATO with the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) under which international organisations coordinate their support to regions prone to environmental disasters. She highlighted the link between environment and security through news stories, exhibitions and video clips. These included a series of interviews with GMACCC members at the NATO workshop on energy and environmental risks facing the Alliance.

Susanne represented NATO in a number of international events and initiatives, such as EDA’s Consultation Fora, the Combat Engineering Conferences and climate conferences, including Climat et Défense: quel enjeux? organised by the French government in 2015 as a contribution to COP21.

Susanne obtained her PhD in molecular biology/human genetics at the “Westdeutsches Tumorzentrum Essen”.

Her publications include:

Individual Members of GMACCC serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of their respective organisations.