Monique Rimkus was born and raised in Cuxhaven, Northern Germany. She has since then built an international career making her very adaptable and proficient in intercultural communication as well as negotiations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in African Studies from Leipzig University, an Erasmus Mundus master’s degree in Global Studies from the University of Vienna, Fudan University in Shanghai and a PhD in Applied Social Sciences from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has gained broad professional experience in the public and private sector working in different countries such as Ghana, South Africa, Spain and Hong Kong. Most recently she completed an international Project Management Certification in Germany and worked in project management in the context of private-public partnerships at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ). Monique is enthusiastic about sustainable ways of life and enjoys yoga and painting in her free time.