District committee appoints Annekatrin Tauer as new equal opportunities officer!

District committee appoints Annekatrin Tauer as new equal opportunities officer!

Today, on July 10, 2025, the Kulmbach district took an important step towards equality. The district committee has unanimously appointed Annekatrin Tauer as the new equal opportunities officer, after an impressive period of two decades under the leadership of Heike Söllner. This handover is not just a change in personnel, but a forward-looking step for equality work in the district.

Tauer's term of office begins on August 1, 2025 and ends on July 31, 2028. Her deputy, Markus Röschlau, will support her in actively tackling the challenges of equality work. Heike Söllner, who will act as an expert and mentor, emphasized the close cooperation with District Administrator Klaus Peter Söllner and the top authorities in order to set the course for a successful succession plan. For two decades, Söllner focused on many facets of equality work and was unanimously confirmed in office six times.

Equality as a mission

The task of the equal opportunities officer is in accordance with Bavarian Equality Act clearly defined. The state is obliged to promote equal rights between women and men, and the equal opportunities officer plays a central role in this. The goals of the law are urgent in both the public and private sectors: promoting equality, increasing the proportion of women in underrepresented areas and ensuring equal opportunities. Annekatrin Tauer recognizes these challenges and sees equality work as an essential building block for equitable regional development.

The Bavarian Equal Opportunities Act was first brought into force on July 1, 1996 and was recently amended in some points. It applies to all authorities, courts and public bodies as well as to municipalities and legal entities under public law in Bavaria. An exceptional aspect of the regulation is that the priority of suitability, competence and professional performance is maintained, which underlines the importance of qualifications.

The importance of collaboration

Heike Söllner expressed her thanks to the committee and emphasized the crucial role of the support from the authority management. Equality is a task for society as a whole that affects all areas - from internal equality work to socio-political projects. During her term of office, Söllner worked on a variety of topics and gained a broad range of experience.

There is also important continuity in the collaboration with Annekatrin Tauer. Tauer plans to further develop the network built by Söllner and will bring her health and economics expertise as well as her experience as a human resources councilor with her. A good hand for the future of equality in the Kulmbach district is therefore expected.

The Kulmbach district is grateful for Heike Söllner's many years of work and looks forward with confidence to the coming years under the leadership of Annekatrin Tauer and her deputy Markus Röschlau. This meeting of experience and a breath of fresh air could be the key to further advancing equality in the district Control center for equality between women and men in the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs.

The citizens of the district can look forward to exciting developments and an active continuation of equality work that meets the complex requirements of a modern society.