Freelance professional - communication sector (2003-2009)
Assisted at the Kärnten District Health Insurance Fund (1999-2003)
Studied journalism, communication and applied cultural studies at the University of Klagenfurt (2003) - Köstinger did not finish her studies due to her commitments as MEP
HBLA (College for Occupation in Service Industries Management) in Wolfsberg, Carinthia (1994-1998)
Secondary School in St. Paul, Carinthia (1990-1994)
Primary School in Granitztal (1986-1990)
Completed the AufZaQ course of the Austrian Rural Youth Organisation
Completed the EDUCA course of the Austrian Young Farmers' Organisation
Political career
Early beginnings
At the national level Köstinger is a member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), where she held a number of positions early in her career:
Head, Granitztal local group of the Rural Youth Organisation (1995-1997)
District head, Wolfsberg section of the Rural Youth Organisation (1997-2001)
Regional head, Kärnten section of the Rural Youth Organisation (2001-2002)
Federal head, Austrian Rural Youth Organisation (2002-2006)
In addition to her committee assignments, Köstinger was vice-chair of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, a member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly and also a substitute for the Delegation to the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
On 18 December Köstinger was appointed Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the Environment and Water Management by the current President of AustriaAlexander Van der Bellen; with changes to areas of responsibility in several ministries that went into effect on 8 January 2018 she became the Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism. In this capacity, she also co-chaired the European People's Party's Environment Ministers Meeting.[1]
Köstinger's climate-protection policies have been criticized repeatedly for lacking ambition by the scientific community and environmental protection groups alike.[2][3][4]
In May 2022, Köstinger announced her resignation from government, saying she intends to quit politics and go into the private sector.[5]
Role in national politics
Federal head, Austrian Young Farmers' Association (2007-2012)
Vice-chair of the Austrian Farmers' Federation (since 2009)
President of ‘wald.zeit Österreich’ (since 2012) [6]
President of the Ecosocial Forum Europe (since 2014)[7]
Secretary general of the Austrian People’s Party (since May 2017)
Other activities
Ryanair, Non-Executive Member of the Board of Directors (since 2023)[9]
Recognition
On 18 March 2014, Köstinger received the MEP Award in the category Agriculture and Rural Development.[10] The award recognizes the exemplary manner in which she conducted herself as shadow rapporteur during negotiations leading to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Personal life
Köstinger is unmarried and lives in St. Paul, Carinthia. In July 2018 she gave birth to a son.