Rolf Stahlhofen, Taste Village 2019
Our Founder

Rolf Stahlhofen

Founder, Musician, Singer & Activist

"I grew up in Algeria and Saudi Arabia. When I moved to Bavaria as a child, I could hardly believe that clean drinking water came straight from the tap. Back then I made a promise to myself: when I grow up, I want to distribute water more fairly around the world. That is why I founded Water is Right in 2011. There is enough water in the world. I see it as our duty to distribute it more fairly."
HOPE Award 2023 UN-Habitat Ambassador Söhne Mannheims

The WIR Team

Rolf Stahlhofen

Rolf
Stahlhofen

Founder & UN Ambassador

Founder of Water is Right (2011), singer of Söhne Mannheims, UN-Habitat Water Ambassador "Messenger of Truth" and recipient of the HOPE Award 2023.

Axel Jester

Axel
Jester

Managing Director
Water is Right gGmbH

Managing Director of Water is Right gGmbH. Former Managing Director of Reuters in Europe, Certified Sustainable Finance Expert of the Frankfurt School and Advisor.

Karun Körnig

Karun
Körnig

COO

Rolf's companion from the very start, involved in building Water is Right since day one. Long-time UN staff member and recognized foundation expert.

Nancy Sikukuu

Nancy
Sikukuu

Head of Project

Water engineer. She does not know the projects from reports -- she was there.

Jeanne von Walter

Jeanne
von Walter

Foundation Manager

Certified Foundation Manager (EBS), responsible for fundraising and communications.

Andreas Diehl

Andreas
Diehl

AI Strategist

AI strategist and digital thought leader, he applies artificial intelligence as a tool for the foundation's mission.

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board: Experience that helps. Responsibility that guides.

Matthias Blatz

Matthias Blatz

Advisory Board Member · Heidelberg iT

Founder and managing partner of Heidelberg iT Management GmbH & Co. KG. Over 30 years of IT expertise. Initiator of the poster competition "From Glacier to Glass" for World Water Day. Deputy Chairman of the Heidelberg-Palo Alto Club.

Barbara-Christine Haas

Barbara-Christine
Haas

Advisory Board Member · Consulting

Strategic consulting for Water is Right towards sustainable impact.

Matthias Hartmann

Matthias Hartmann

Advisory Board Member

Dedicated advisory board member with expertise in sustainable foundation development and social responsibility.

Dr. Manuel Reppmann

Dr. Manuel Reppmann

Advisory Board Member

Supports the foundation with his network and his experience in science and research.

Mark Steinbach

Mark Steinbach

Advisory Board Member · opta data group

CEO of opta data group in Essen, one of the leading companies for IT, billing and services in the healthcare sector with around 3,000 employees. Known for his social commitment as an entrepreneur.

Niklas Wilcke

Niklas Wilcke

Advisory Board Member · KPW Rechtsanwälte

Attorney at KPW Krell/Pleines/Wilcke in Essen. Active on the board of the Stiftung Ehrenamt Essen. Brings legal expertise and civic engagement to the advisory board.