Webinar: Members in focus with Tanja Schriebl from Styrian Provincial Government
 

The we4DRR Members in focus webinar took place on 16 February 2026, featuring Tanja Schriebl from the Department of Water Management, Resources and Sustainability at the Styrian Provincial Government (Austria).

The session was opened by we4DRR member Engineer Kerstin Ganaus (Engineering Office Illmer Daniel), who welcomed participants and introduced Tanja Schriebl, a founding member of we4DRR.

About Tanja Schriebl

Tanja holds a degree in Civil Engineering and Water Management from BOKU University, Vienna, and is currently pursuing part-time studies in law at Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria). Tanja is married and has two children. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and horseback riding.

She serves as the Deputy Head of the Water Management Planning Division at the Office of the Styrian Provincial Government (Austria). Her work focuses on:

• Strategic water management planning at national and international levels.
• The implementation of the National Water Management Plan and hazard zone planning.
• Transboundary cooperation: She serves as Joint Country Representative for the EU Water Framework Directive, is a member of the steering group of the UNESCO five-country Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura–Drava–Danube, and participates in the Austrian-Slovenian Permanent Commission for the Mura River.

Webinar Talk: From Professional Development to International Cooperation: My Interdisciplinary Work at the Mura Commission

In her talk, Tanja provided an overview of her career path and her current work with the Mura River Commission, which allows her to engage in a wide range of specialist fields. The INTERREG project "goMURra" represents a cornerstone of this work. Tanja presented the project, completed in 2021, highlighting key outcomes including the development of a bilaterally coordinated flood disaster management plan.

Insights

After the presentation, Tanja shared practical insights on maintaining resilience and well-being during high-pressure projects. Key strategies include:

• Consciously managing personal resources to handle new demands and expectations.
• Prioritising tasks and focusing on what truly matters instead of trying to accomplish everything at once.
• Setting boundaries to maintain long-term stability without seeing it as a weakness or a lack of commitment.
• Balancing professional responsibilities without letting them define your entire life.
• Taking breaks, maintaining leisure activities, and caring for physical health are fundamental to sustain performance.
• Ultimately, recognising personal limits and adjusting when warning signs appear to ensure long-term resilience.

Regarding gender dynamics, Tanja noted that professional competence alone does not always guarantee advancement. Networks and affiliations often play a significant role in shaping opportunities. Her experience underlines the importance of being particularly well-prepared, confidently presenting her position, and not becoming unsettled easily. Visibility and a willingness to take responsibility are essential in demonstrating expertise. Building strong professional networks is equally essential, as supportive relationships can open doors and create opportunities. Rather than becoming discouraged by existing structures, it is crucial to think strategically and maintain a long-term perspective.

Looking back, the advice she would have valued most at the beginning of her career is not to become discouraged by setbacks. Challenges and things that are not working out immediately are a natural part of the process rather than signs of failure. Especially in the field of natural hazard management and Disaster Risk Reduction, meaningful change often takes time. Developing a clear personal vision, staying curious, and thinking ambitiously are key, while persistence is necessary to overcome resistance and continue pursuing long-term goals.

For her, success is not defined by titles or positions but by the ability to create meaningful change and contribute to lasting, positive impacts.