President and Board
Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa – President
Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, President of the German Caritas Association.DCV / KNA / Gordon Welters
Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa has been President of the German Caritas Association since November 2021. In the association’s 125-year history, she is the first woman in this position. Prior to that, she was a Member of the Board from 2017 on, where she was responsible for departmental and social policy. Frau Welskop-Deffaa has divisional responsibility for development of the association and strategy, public welfare, policy and communication.
"To this day, this is what especially sets the Caritas Association apart: the readiness to start anew. Continuously finding different ways to express charity. Being open to the urgent responsibilities of today and tomorrow. Caritas is an incubator for social innovations, an untier of knots, an advocate of people in distress and a reliable partner to policymakers."
About the Person
After completing her studies of Economics and History in Munich and Florence, Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa (retired undersecretary) served as a policy officer to the German Catholic Women’s Association and was head of the section "Economics and Social Affairs” of the General Secretariat of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). From 2006 to 2012, she led the "Equality” department in the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). As a member of the federal board of the German trade union ver.di. (2013-2017), she served on the administrative council of the Federal Employment Agency and on the board of the Federation of German Pension Insurance Institutions. Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa was born in Duisburg (Westphalia) is married and has three grown-up children.
The Board
The Board of the German Caritas Association currently consists of the President and the Head of Finances, Personell and Corporate Issues and International Responsibility. The Chief Financial and Personnel Officer of the German Caritas Association is elected by the Caritas Council for a term of six years. He is a member of the governing bodies.
Dr Susanne Pauser – Board Member for Personnel and Digital Affairs
Dr. Susanne Pauser - Board Member for Personnel and Digital AffairsDCV / KNA / Gordon Welters
Dr Susanne Pauser has been a Member of the Board of the German Caritas Association since February 2023. On the Board, she has been the member in charge of Personnel and Digital Affairs since March 2023.Personnel, and since March 2023 in the role of Board Member for Finance and International Affairs.
"People, of course, are always at the core of our work. We accompany and support them in difficult times. Society is changing and challenges us: in terms of how we communicate and collaborate as well as in view of expectations and framework conditions. We must respond to these issues, in digital and analogue formats, but we are also in a position to respond to them. For me as an HR person, the further development of Caritas hinges on our staff in these challenging times. Staff are the point of departure as well as the target of any transformation. And change can only be achieved with them. Change is hard work and challenges us on a personal level. But it keeps us, as Caritas, future-capable and strong.”
About the Person
After completing her studies of Education, Philosophy, Religion and Speech Training in Regensburg and Passau, she worked for MISEREOR, the German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation. In addition to this, she served as an independent trainer for NGOs among others. From 2001 to 2012, Dr Pauser worked in HR development and served as head of HR at HUK-Coburg. She then worked as a fully authorised HR representative at Wüstenrot & Württembergische Gruppe as well as most recently as a Member of the Board at Württembergische Versicherung AG. She was born in Forchheim (Upper Franconia), is married and has two children.
Dr. Oliver Müller – Board Member for International Affairs, Migration, and Disaster Relief
Dr. Oliver Müller – Board Member for International Affairs, Migration, and Disaster Relief@ DCV
Dr. Oliver has been a Member of the Board of the German Caritas Association since January 2025. He also heads Caritas International, the relief organization of the German Caritas Association.
"Solidarity must not stop at our borders. With organizations in 164 countries, Caritas is a global network dedicated to social justice and humanitarian aid in times of crisis and disaster I am committed to ensuring that no place in crisis-stricken areas is left without help and that people who are forced to flee receive support and a welcoming home.”
About the Person
Dr. Oliver Müller was elected to the Executive Board of the German Caritas Association in November 2024. He is responsible for the areas of "International Affairs, Migration, and Disaster Relief.” He continues to serve as director of Caritas International.
Since 2006, he has been the director of Caritas International, the relief organization of the German Caritas Association (DCV), and is responsible for organizing and implementing the DCV’s global projects.
From 2000 to 2006, Dr. Oliver Müller headed the Europe Division, where he was responsible for project work in Central and Eastern Europe. This included reconstruction aid following the wars in the Balkans.
He has been working at Caritas International as a public relations officer and fundraiser since 1992.
Dr. Oliver Müller, born in Stuttgart in 1965, is married and the father of three adult children.
Dr. Friedrich von Schönfeld – Board Member for Finance and Legal Affairs
Dr. Friedrich von Schönfeld – Board Member for Finance and Legal Affairs@ DCV
Dr. Friedrich von Schönfeld has been a Member of the Board of the German Caritas Association since February 2025. He is responsible for the Finance and Legal Affairs division.
"The number of people who depend on support is growing. Society is becoming increasingly polarized. At the same time, it is becoming more difficult to fund social work. Our society, the welfare system, and Caritas face enormous challenges in this regard. I look forward to pitching in on the Caritas team during these turbulent times!”
About the Person
Dr. Friedrich von Schönfeld studied law in Hamburg and New York. He then earned his doctorate with a dissertation on management and oversight structures in nonprofit organizations. After completing his legal clerkship at the Leipzig Regional Court, he worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.
He then moved into the federal administration, first to the Federal Ministry of Finance and then to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. He lives in Berlin with his wife and two children.