She was preceded by Kishore Rao, and was succeeded by Lazare Eloundou Assomo Rössler studied cultural geography at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg and was awarded her doctorate in 1988 at the University of Hamburg on the topic "Science and Living Space", Geographical East Research under National Socialism: a contribution to the history of the discipline of geography.

[1] In 1991 she joined UNESCO, first in its Division for Ecological Science, followed by a move the following year to the World Heritage Centre.

Her roles at UNESCO in the years prior to her appointment as Director included: Programme Specialist for Natural Heritage (1993-2001), Chief of Europe and North America (2001-2010), Chief of the Policy and Statutory Meeting Section (2010-2013) and Deputy Director (2013-2014).

[7] During her time at UNESCO the World Heritage List expanded to include cultural landscapes.

[9] In the same year she called on the Government of Hungary to halt a EUR 68 million development on Lake Fertő.