May 06th 2019

Energy and sustainability in Austria.

As part of the MCI Alumni & Friends Distinguished Guest Lectures, the Entrepreneurial School® had the honor to welcome General Secretary Josef Plank, Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism.

General Secretary Josef Plank during his speech.

© MCI

Josef Plank has been Secretary General of the Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism since January 2018. Born in Lower Austria, he is a farmer's son from the Mostviertel and can look back on a classic career as an agricultural expert. After his studies at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna he started his career as a cattle market consultant at the Chamber of Agriculture.

Josef Plank was CEO of Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) and for nine years (from 2000 to 2009) the Agricultural and Environmental Council of Lower Austria. Most recently, Josef Plank was Secretary General of the Austrian Chamber of Agriculture, where he was responsible for around 110,000 farms. As former President of the Biomass Association, Josef Plank is also an expert in renewable energies and strategic energy planning.

Josef Plank is married and has two children.