Rudolf Bühler

Board and Chairman Foundation House of Farmers

For more than 40 years, Rudolf Bühler has been involved as an agricultural engineer, agricultural sociologist and tropical farmer in rural regional development projects at home and abroad. In the beginning, he worked for many years as a development aid worker and since 1984 in his home region of Hohenlohe, where he took over his ancestors' family farm Sonnenhof in Wolpertshausen and opened an office for rural regional development. His most important domestic projects are the rescue of the old landrace Schwäbisch-Hällisches pig, the foundation of various farming organizations as well as the foundation Haus der Bauern/Akademie Schloss Kirchberg. His international projects are guided by the motto "Seeds of Hope".

Prof. Dr. Franz-Theo Gottwald

Senior Advisor

Professor Dr. Franz-Theo Gottwald studied theology, philosophy, Indology and social sciences. After research stays on environmental and agricultural ethical issues abroad, he worked in the field of environmental management at the consulting firm Schirmer und Kollegen. From 1988 to 2020, he was a board member of the Schweisfurth Foundation for Sustainable Agricultural and Food Sciences. Franz-Theo Gottwald researches and teaches as an honorary professor of agricultural, nutritional and environmental ethics at Humboldt University Berlin. He is involved in a variety of voluntary activities, for example as chairman of the supervisory board of the World Future Council Foundation and chairman of the board of the Bavarian Culinary Heritage Association. The author of expert literature on sustainable development, SDGs and corporate responsibility also acts as a keynote speaker and moderator. Since December 2021, Professor Franz-Theo Gottwald has the head of the Akademie Schloss Kirchberg. Together with Chairman Rudolf Bühler and the team, he continues to develop the Academy's work.

Angelika Müller

Management of Akadmie Schloss Kirchberg
angelika.mueller@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Angelika Müller has many years of experience in education, organizational development, event management, and association work. Throughout her career, she has conceived, organized, and facilitated numerous educational and dialogue programs, consistently focusing on social, environmental, and sustainability issues. A particular emphasis of her work lies in creating learning and encounter spaces that foster exchange, reflection, and personal development. She applies this expertise in her role as director of the Kirchberg Castle Academy to further develop the academy as a vibrant center for education, dialogue, and social engagement. Furthermore, since December 2015, Ms. Müller has been a founding member of the community-supported agriculture (CSA) project "Rote Beete Solawi Hohenlohe e. V." in Ellrichshausen. For several years, she served as treasurer, assuming responsibility for financial administration, organizational structure, and association development. This experience underscores her strong sense of responsibility, structured work methods, and long-term commitment.

Ulrike Gabert

Administrative and office manager of Stiftung Haus der Bauern
ulrike.gabert@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 54 70

Ulrike Gabert combines many years of experience in invoicing, accounting, and payroll with a strong commitment to sustainability, education, and the common good. She stands for structured processes, transparent financial procedures, and responsible conduct in service to the Kirchberg Castle Academy. With diligence, reliability, and a high level of professional expertise, she ensures smooth business operations, thereby creating a stable foundation for the successful implementation of educational and event programs. Her structured approach, discretion, and service orientation make her a dependable contact person for the academy's day-to-day organizational and financial matters.

Dr. Isaac Adodoadji

Tutor & Programme Design 
akademie@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Dr. Isaac Adodoadji is an expert in agricultural development with extensive international experience in organic farming, sustainable rural development, and farmer training. Before earning his MSc in Organic Agriculture from the University of Hohenheim, he worked for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Ghana, contributing to projects aimed at strengthening smallholder farming systems and food security. His doctoral research focused on agricultural innovations to improve farmers' livelihoods by connecting them to high-quality markets through value chain development and institutional strengthening. This work reflects his strong commitment to sustainability, social impact, and inclusive economic development. Currently, his work focuses on sustainable production methods, organic certification, and market access. He is also the president of Ecoland e.V. in Ghana, where he leads initiatives to promote agroecology, organic farming, and curriculum development. By combining scientific excellence, practical field experience and civil society engagement, he unites pronounced strategic, professional and intercultural skills and is therefore a valuable contribution to the mission of the Academy.

Thomas Wehinger

Tutor & Programme Design 
akademie@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Thomas Wehinger is a trained farmer and holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Hohenheim. For nearly thirty years, he has worked as a freelance consultant and on various research projects at the University of Hohenheim, the University of Freiburg, and Rottenburg am Neckar, focusing on sustainable land management and rural development. He has been commissioned by private companies, public authorities, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, UNFAO, and the German Federal Environmental Foundation. More recently, Thomas has concentrated on soil health, carbon sequestration, and the validation and verification of ecological claims and carbon credits, working for the Bio-Control Institute and supporting the team at the Kirchberg Castle Academy.

Dr. Gudrun Voggenreiter

Programs Design Erasmus + Project 
akademie@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Dr. Gudrun Voggenreiter has extensive experience in the conception, coordination, and management of international education and research projects. Since April 2022, she has been a researcher at the German Association of Preventologists (Berufsverband der Präventologen e. V.), where she is involved in the PETRA 2.0 study. In this capacity, she is responsible for the evaluation and further development of a psychoeducational program funded by the German Health Insurance Fund's Innovation Fund. Concurrently, she works as a Project Manager at Steinbeis University Berlin. There, she is responsible for the application, coordination, and management of transnational projects within the framework of the EU's Erasmus+ program. Her work involves collaborating with partner organizations from numerous European countries and managing complex international project structures. Through her pronounced expertise in project management, international cooperation, and program design, Gudrun Voggenreiter makes a key contribution to the strategic development of Erasmus+ activities and educational programs at the Kirchberg Castle Academy.

Olaf Datz

Tutor & Course Instructor (Specialist in Organic Retail IHK) 
akademie@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Olaf Datz is a lecturer at the Kirchberg Castle Academy in the module "Specialist for Organic Food in Retail." His areas of expertise include animal welfare, consumer motivations, and policy, trends, and forecasts in the organic food sector and sustainable consumption. He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering (Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences) and additional qualifications as a vocational trainer specializing in pedagogy, methodology, psychology, and didactics. He has nearly twenty years of professional experience as an instructor, lecturer, and trainer in vocational education. His work includes developing framework curricula and modular qualification programs (TQ/EQ) in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Federal Employment Agency, delivering instruction in technical and general education subjects at various competency levels, and designing and implementing multi-day seminars, particularly in the areas of communication, rhetoric, and educational management. Furthermore, Olaf Datz possesses extensive practical experience as an agricultural manager and as a freelance inspector and certifier of agricultural businesses in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation for various recognized testing institutes. His many years of expertise combine professional competence with high pedagogical quality and practical relevance.

Abdennour Akrikez 

Head of Front Office, Guest Services and Accommodation 
abdennour.akrikez@besh.de
Telefon (07954) 921 5471

Abdennour Akrikez heads the front office at Kirchberg Castle Academy, overseeing guest services and accommodation. In this role, he is responsible for the professional coordination of all processes in the reception and accommodation areas and serves as the central point of contact between guests, speakers, and internal departments. His responsibilities include, in particular, organizing arrivals and departures, planning and managing room occupancy, coordinating bookings, and ensuring smooth service operations while maintaining high quality standards. With his strong service orientation, excellent organizational skills, and intercultural sensitivity, Akrikez makes a significant contribution to a respectful, professional, and welcoming atmosphere at Kirchberg Castle Academy.

Ouakil Enadi

Course support, organization & events 
ouakil.enadi@hdb-stiftung.com
Telefon (07954) 9 21 18-80

Ouakil Enadi is currently in his second year of vocational training as an office management assistant. During his apprenticeship at the non-profit foundation Haus der Bauern (House of Farmers), he acquired sound practical knowledge in administrative, organizational, and communicative fields. His responsibilities included organizing and conducting events, meetings, and conferences; creating, processing, and tracking invoices; and professional communication with clients. His active participation in the planning and execution of the Eco-Marketing Days, a major national event, is particularly noteworthy. Ouakil Enadi impressed with his high level of commitment, sense of responsibility, organizational skills, and teamwork. Due to his international background and multilingualism in Arabic, French, and English, Ouakil Enadi possesses strong intercultural competence and is comfortable navigating diverse cultural contexts. He has a particular interest in education, social issues, and creative projects. He values ​​institutions like the Kirchberg Castle Academy as valuable spaces for exchange, learning, and personal development.