Publix will be a new home for all those who work in journalism, shape the public sphere and strengthen democracy. This requires a strong team!

Maria, a journalist and the founding director of Publix. She guides our mission, in addition to building the team and designing the Publix program. Previously, Maria served as editor-in-chief of ZEITmagazin and deputy editor-in-chief of ZEIT ONLINE, where she developed innovative, civil society-oriented projects, including Germany Talks and the Z2X Festival of Ideas. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including the Jean Monnet Prize for European Integration and the Grimme Online Award, in addition to being recognized as Magazine Editor-in-Chief of the Year.

Mia Pascale is responsible for the Publix Community and is the first point of contact for all those who want to work in the space in the future. Mia Pascale studied political science, administration and international relations in Friedrichshafen and Buenos Aires, and she previously worked as a consultant to the board and Publix project coordinator at the Schöpflin Foundation in Lörrach and Berlin. She has been part of Publix since the very beginning. Following the planning work of the past several years, she is now extremely excited to see the project coming to life.

Katharina Klün adds years of experience in the conception and implementation of large-scale events to the Publix team. She was, for instance, responsible for international culture marketing projects of Red Bull as well as the Opening events of the fashion fair Bread & Butter in Berlin and Barcelona. As the director of “Q Berlin”, she modernized the flagship conference of the city of Berlin. Most recently, Katharina managed the architecture and design department of a Berlin agency.

Justina brings distinctive commercial and start-up experience to the Publix team and has built co-working spaces in Germany and abroad. Most recently, she worked as an investment manager at a Berlin-based venture capital firm, and before that, she was involved in building the photography center Chaussee 36. At Publix, Justina is responsible for finances, process set-up and operations. She is looking forward to turning an idea into a new institution.

Lea has extensive expertise in program planning and event organization. She previously led a team for editorial live formats at ZEIT ONLINE, was a consultant to the editor-in-chief and worked for several years as a freelancer on film sets, at festivals and as an event organizer. 
At Publix, she supports the director in program planning, fundraising and networking with foundations, editorial offices and ministries.

Deniz is the first point of contact at Publix for all commercial matters, takes care of optimizing workflows, looks at budgets and creates forecasts. Deniz grew up in Switzerland and has Turkish roots. She has worked for the last five years in a digital marketing agency as an authorised representative and assistant to the management in the area of Finance & Legal. Now she brings her financial expertise to Publix.

Johanna is Maria’s right-hand woman. She coordinates the calendar, prepares for appointments and takes care of organisation so that Maria can focus on other things. She also helps out with communication on the website and with social media activities. Prior to joining Publix, Johanna was digital content manager for the Pierre Boulez Saal of the Barenboim-Said Akademie. 

Julian supports us with office organisation and project-related tasks. In addition to his work for Publix, he is completing his master’s degree in social and cultural anthropology with a focus on intersectionality and qualitative data research. Julian has already gained significant experience in administration and project coordination through his work as a graduate assistant at Berlin’s Free University and for an NGO that focuses on anti-racism educational work.

As Operations Manager at Publix, Lilja maintains an overview of the technical and organisational processes within the company. After completing her studies in modern history, Lilja collected a wide range of experience in various positions in the film industry. Most recently, she spent eight years with the localisation company VSI Berlin in the area of office and project management. As Office Manager, Lilja initially ensured everything is perfectly organised ahead of the opening of Publix. As Operations Manager, she now keeps everything run smoothly in day-to-day operations.

As technical custodian, Levent has his eye on all of the building’s technical facilities – whether in the basement, in the attic, inside or outside. He is our liaison for fire protection – and he jumps in to fix loose cabinet doors in the kitchenette if need be. In short, Levent makes sure that operations at Publix run smoothly and safely for everyone in the building

Carolin brings many years of experience in organising cultural events and projects. Whether panel discussion, reading or conference – Carolin will ensure that the events in the house run smoothly and that the visitors can look forward to an exciting program. Most recently, Carolin was responsible for the Berlin Art Week as one of the largest art events in Berlin.

Juliane is responsible for the fellowship programs at Publix. She brings her many years of professional experience in supervising scholarship programs and collaborating with fellows, which she gained at the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, at the American Academy and most recently at the Deutsche Übersetzerfonds. Juliane studied German Studies, English/American Studies and Education and received her doctorate in the Department of American Literature and Culture at the University of Potsdam.

Frederic is responsible for setting up and running our studio area. With broad expertise in the field of digital media and a strong technical understanding, he will be in charge of our video studio, the two sound studios and the post-production workstations and will be available to you as a contact person for all studio matters - from planning to production.

Sabine is an architect and represents the interests of the Schöpflin Foundation as the client. She is the point person for all building-related issues surrounding the completion of the Publix space. After leading construction projects as a planning architect in Berlin, Sabine spent more than 10 years managing construction projects in Germany and abroad for the German Society for International Cooperation. Her passion is now aimed at ensuring that the AFF architects’ design for the Publix building is realized as a space for manifesting the ideas of the team and the community.

Ralph will be in charge of the technical infrastructure for the 6,000-square-meter Publix space. Ventilation and lighting will be his responsibility, along with supporting all users with day-to-day needs concerning the physical space. Ralph is a master electrotechnician and an expert in facility management with more than 20 years of experience in building control technology. He has been involved in the successful development of numerous facility management organizations. Currently, he is actively involved in construction of Publix and is keenly looking forward to interacting with all the people in the space and in the neighborhood.

Village One is a democratically organized studio for opinionated design and technology with a strong focus on meaningful projects. In partnership with Publix, Village One is developing the visual presentation and digital infrastructure of the space.