Communications Officer, Swiss embassy Kyiv, Ukraine Adapting communication material to new situation in Ukraine
September 2020
Communications Officer, Swiss Rapid Response Team, Lesbos Reporting on the emergency response after the fire in Moria camp
October – December 2019/ September – December 2018
Reporting/Humanitarian Affairs Officer, UNOCHA, Kyiv, Ukraine Drafting two annual documents (HNO and HRP)
April 2018
Facilitator for a Strategic Planning Workshop, Kabul, Afghanistan Moderation of a 4-day workshop for the Swiss Development Agency
April – July 2017
Communications Expert, Swiss Development Agency, Tajikistan Writing & updating communications material for the Dushanbe Office
Every winter since 2011
Communications Expert, Swiss Development Agency, Bern  Supporting HQ in all their communication work and organising events
Since January 2016
Managing Director, Himalayan Database Keeping the records of climbing expeditions in the Nepal Himalaya
April/Mai 2015
Deputy Team Leader, Swiss Rapid Response Team, Nepal Setting up an aid infrastructure for Swiss Humanitarian Aid after the devastating earthquake hit Nepal in April 2015
October 2014 – December 2014
Media Consultant, Swiss Development Agency, Pakistan Developing promotional products for the SDC in Pakistan Writing human interest stories and revamping the website
October 2011 – March 2012
Desk Officer for Libya, Swiss Development Agency, Bern Writing and editing articles and speeches for the management Drafting credit proposals and project cycle management sheets
August 2009 – March 2010 January 2011 – April 2011
Press Officer, United Nations OCHA, Islamabad, Pakistan Writing speeches for UN Special Envoy and Humanitarian Coordinator Producing communication products (press kits, press releases, feature articles, brochures, key messages, talking points for press conferences) Organising press events and press visits to the field
July 2010 – December 2010
Press and External Relations Officer, UNHCR, Islamabad, Pakistan Writing press releases, key messages and other public material Writing and editing reports about the humanitarian situation in Pakistan Visiting the field on a regular basis and writing human interest stories
January 2008 – August 2008
Advocacy Officer, United Nations OCHA, Jerusalem Editing all of OCHAS’s written material and updating website
Since January 2005
Freelancing Journalist, Kathmandu, NepalÂ
July 2001 – December 2004
Broadcast and Internet Journalist for swissinfo, Bern Writing news and feature articles for the swissinfo website Producing radio features and presenting news bulletins
February 2003
Associate Producer for CBS 60 Minutes Managing a film crew for a television documentary
February 2000 – April 2001
Coordinating Editor for the Financial Times, London Coordinating news flow between the FT and the FT Germany
July 1999
BBC World Service Work experience at the World Service Programme âOutlookâ
December 1999 – May 2001
Editor, IKEA Magazine âroomâ, London Writing and editing features for a German lifestyle magazine
October 1995 – July 1997
German Copywriter / Editor – Cabouchon Ltd., London Coordinating and producing a corporate German magazine
 February 1994 – July 1994
English Teacher – Volkshochschule, Munich Teaching English grammar, conversation, reading and writing
October 1991 – July 1993
German Teacher – Sutton High School, Sutton (UK) Teaching German to A-level and GCSE students
Education
December 2016
IMPACT â Information Management Course, OCHA
October 1998 – September 1999
MA in International Journalism, City University, London
September 1990 – July 1995
Fachakademie fĂŒr Fremdsprachenberufe, Munich Degree as Tanslator and Interpreter (English/Spanish)
September 1988 – July 1990
Berufsfachschule fĂŒr Fremdsprachenkorrespondenten, Munich Degree as Foreign Language Secreteary (English/Spanish)
February 1993
TEFL-Diploma – Teacher Training International, London
June 1992
Cambrigde Proficiency in English (Grade: B)Â
Â
Special Interests
High altitude mountaineering in the Himalaya, ski mountaineering, climbing, cycling, running. I have led expeditions to 6,000 and 7,000-metre-peaks in Nepal and India and have travelled extensively in Asia, Europe and South America. In May 2009, I scaled Mount Everest as the 3rd German woman, followed by becoming the 1st German woman to scale Lhotse (4th highest), Makalu (5th highest) and Manaslu (8th highest). In 2016 I reached the summit of Cho Oyu, the 6th highest mountain in the world without supplemental oxygen and in 2019 I summited Broad Peak without using supplemental oxygen.
Skills and Experience
Fluent English and German (mother tongue standard), working Spanish, some Nepali, excellent communication skills; digital sound editing. I have written a book âI have a bike in Kathmandâ and have translated other books from German into English (âMountains in my Heartâ by Karin Steinbach u Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, âThe Fall of Heavenâ by Reinhold Messner and âMy life in Climbingâ by Ueli Steck).
*Please note that the gaps in my work experience are due to the long periods I spend on expedition â either climbing an 8,000m peak or leading commercial trips to the high mountains in the Himalaya.
Pingback: Broad Peak: Billi Bierlings sechster Streich - Abenteuer Berg
Pingback: Billis fĂÂŒnfter Streich - Expeditionen - Abenteuer Sport - DW.COM