Susanne Raab joins the International Centre for Migration Policy Development as Director General, effective 1 January 2026.
Following a thorough selection process and after being elected at ICMPD’s Steering Committee Meeting in Stockholm last June, Ms Raab will serve her first five-year term to lead the organisation’s continued growth, expanding knowledge and project portfolios, and its implementation of Strategy 2026-2030.
“Establishing robust, rights-based migration management systems is a primary role of ICMPD. This involves working closely to strengthen the rule of law and ensure policies are fair and transparent. Our support upholds European and international rights and standards. We will also play a key role in putting the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum into action across the EU and beyond, helping to develop new ideas and innovative solutions for governing migration and for improving border management and security,” she said at last October’s Vienna Migration Conference.
The first woman to serve as Director General, Ms Raab will also put a central focus on labour migration, as a powerful tool for economic growth and valuable way to tackle irregular migration. “We must ensure labour migration is safe, just, and ethical for all parties. Our work will advocate for policies that protect migrant workers from exploitation and foster mutually beneficial partnerships between countries of origin and destination,” she added.
Finally, Ms Raab will also put an emphasis on ICMPD’s work around sustainable return and reintegration. “A credible asylum system must entail effective and humane return procedures for rejected asylum seekers. We will support returnees by ensuring they receive the necessary assistance to rebuild their lives and reintegrate successfully into their communities. This approach respects their rights, prevents cycles of secondary migration due to failed returns, and promotes long-term stability,” she said.
Before her election, Susanne Raab served as Austria's Federal Minister for Women, Family, Integration and Media. Prior to this, she was Director-General for Integration at the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, as well as heading the Department for Integration Coordination at the Ministry of the Interior. With a Doctorate in Law and Master’s in Psychology, she was Senior Legal Advisor for Asylum and Migration for the Ministry of the Interior; and held research and teaching positions in Migration and Asylum Law (University of Salzburg) and at the Institute for Civil Law (University of Innsbruck).