Gerald Leitner

Gerald Leitner

Secretary General, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). Netherlands.

Gerald Leitner took on the role of IFLA Secretary General in June 2016. He is responsible for the strategic and operational direction and financial management of IFLA.

Gerald Leitner has worked in senior positions at international organisations and in Austria’s cultural, scientific and educational sectors. Prior to becoming IFLA Secretary General, he was the Secretary General of the Austrian Library Association.

Gerald studied literature and history at the University of Vienna, and after his studies worked as journalist, chief editor of the Austrian Library magazine and head of training for public librarians in Austria.

He is a past president of the European Bureau of Library Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA) and a member of national and international advisory bodies in cultural, education and scientific sectors. He is highly experienced in negotiating with politicians, authorities, lobby groups, publishers, artists, businesses and strategic partners.

He has published extensively on themes around cultural management, library development and science, law, and literature promotion, in various languages. He has also lectured at the University of Vienna and the University of Eisenstadt in Austria. He has been awarded the Austrian State Award for Adult Education, the Austrian State Award for Public Relations, and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.

In 2017, Gerald Leitner initiated the Global Vision project.