Equal Opportunity

The Equal Opportunity Officers

Dr. Gülcin Abbaszade was re-elected as the Equal Opportunity Officer for Helmholtz Munich for another term on December 2, 2025. She is supported by Dr. Katharina Gückel, who was also re-elected as the deputy Equal Opportunity Officer. The Equal Opportunity Officers actively help create a respectful and fair work culture where diversity is embraced as a strength and equal opportunities are a given. They are the go-to people, idea generators, and supporters for all employees when it comes to questions about equality, diversity, and balancing work and personal life.
Working closely with management, the works council, HR, talent development, and other key areas, they bring people, ideas, and perspectives together. This sparks sustainable strategies, fresh ways of thinking, and concrete actions that make everyday work life fairer, more open, and future-ready. Their drive: to create an open and appreciative environment where everyone feels seen, heard and supported and can fully realize their potential.

Our tasks:

• Increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions in science.
• Information on mentoring programs and advice on applications
• Advice and support in personal problem situations, referral to specific help and advice services, e.g., on the subject of violence
• Advice and support in cases of sexual harassment in the workplace
• Contact point for questions and suggestions on the subject of reconciling work and family life
• Organization and implementation of events such as lectures and workshops on the topic of equality and equal opportunities
• Monitoring of equality aspects and controlling of measures
• Creation of structures, offers, instruments and measures for equal opportunities

The Equal Opportunities Officers are members of various internal and external committees and of the Helmholtz working group "Women in Research Centers".