Team

Marian Benbow Pfisterer has been heading the IOM Country Office for Austria and representing IOM in Austria since 2017. She oversees all activities and is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the mission. Between May and October 2023 Marian Benbow Pfisterer also served as IOM’s Head of Office Ad Interim for IOM Estonia. She has many years of experience in the field of migration and asylum and has been with IOM in various functions for more than 15 years. Marian Benbow Pfisterer studied Law in Heidelberg (Germany) and Bergen (Norway).

Saskia Heilemann is the Head of Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. Among other things, she is responsible for the overall coordination of the work of EMN Austria. Before joining IOM Austria, Saskia Heilemann worked as a Programme Support Officer at IOM Egypt. She graduated in International Development from the University of Vienna.

Leila Hadj Abdou is the Deputy Head of the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. In this function she is responsible for the supervision of research within the framework of EMN Austria. Before joining IOM Austria, Leila Hadj Abdou worked as researcher, lecturer/Assistant Professor, and trainer in Higher Education in Austria and abroad (Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute, University of Sheffield, Johns Hopkins University, University of Vienna, visiting positions at the University College Dublin and at Paris 8). She also worked for the City of Vienna and the NGO Caritas Vienna. Leila Hadj Abdou holds a Ph.D. in Social and Political Sciences from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and a master's degree (Political Science and History) from the University of Vienna, Austria.

As Research Associate of the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria, Anna Ammann is responsible for conducting studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum for EMN Austria. Prior to this assignment, she supported the Unit in the implementation of projects, research activities and legal questions as Project Assistant and Legal Consultant. Before joining IOM, Anna Ammann worked as policy advisor for human rights and integration and as legal associate in a law firm. Anna Ammann holds a doctoral degree from the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna as well as a master degree in human rights.

Prisca Eber is a Research Associate in the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. She is responsible for conducting studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum for EMN Austria and has a thematic focus on labour migration. Prisca Ebner studied Governance of Migration and Diversity at Leiden University (the Netherlands) and Transcultural Communication at the University of Vienna. Prior to her assignment with IOM, Prisca Ebner worked as a German and integration trainer as well as in project management and communication.

Inara Habibzadeh is a Communications Associate in the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. She oversees all communications activities for EMN Austria, including event organization and management of the website and the newsletter. Prior to working at IOM, she served as a Communications & Content Officer for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Berlin, Germany. She holds degrees in Multimedia Design and Political Science, the latter from the University of Vienna.

Martin Stiller is Legal Associate in the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. Within the framework of EMN Austria, Martin Stiller is responsible for studies and reports in the field of migration and asylum. Moreover, he works on the EMN Glossary of terms relating to Asylum and Migration. Martin Stiller studied law at the University of Vienna. Prior to his engagement with IOM, he passed the Austrian bar exam and represented the Republic of Austria in its legal affairs.

Sarah Zischka is Communications and Administrative Assistant in the Policy Research and Migration Law Unit at IOM Austria. She is responsible for the administrative tasks of the EMN Austria team. In addition, she supports public relation activities, the maintenance of the EMN Austria website and the organization of EMN Austria events. Sarah Zischka studied Media Studies and International Development at the University of Vienna. She worked previously in international congress management where she was tasked with event planning and implementation. Before joining IOM, Sarah Zischka completed traineeships at the European Parliament and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

Our team is supported by an intern.