Managing Directors and the Management Board
Tamara Vobruba and Sarah Gilani are Co-Managing Directors of the company as of November 2025. Together with Maria Wirth and Marco Hartl, they form the Managing Board of alchemia-nova research & innovation gemeinnützige GmbH, steering the institute toward greater impact in nature-based and circular innovation.
This diverse leadership team brings together expertise in systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and innovation management continuing alchemia-nova’s mission to regenerate environments, strengthen communities, and shape sustainable transitions across sectors.
2024 – New Ownership and Shared Purpose
In 2024, alchemia-nova’s ownership was taken by new owners including long-standing employees of the company. This transition reinforced our values of collaboration, shared responsibility, and gender-balanced leadership, uniting experience and purpose to embed circular economy and nature-based solutions into climate action, urban development, agriculture, and industry.
2000–2019 – Foundations of Ecological Innovation
Founded in 2000 by eco-pioneer Hanswerner Mackwitz, alchemia-nova began as one of Austria’s early innovators in applied ecology.
In 2019, the non-profit spin-off, alchemia-nova research & innovation gemeinnützige GmbH, was established to broaden its social impact — promoting research, innovation, and knowledge exchange on sustainable systems and circular practices.