Gaby Schwarz

Gaby Schwarz from Burgenland has been Ombudsperson since 11 July 2022. At federal level, she is responsible for the penal system, taxes, fees, duties, the duration of proceedings at courts and public prosecutors' offices, European and international affairs and national defence. At regional level, Schwarz audits municipal administrations and all municipal matters (regional planning, building law, housing and settlement, regional and municipal roads) as well as cemetery administration.

Curriculum vitae

Gaby Schwarz was born on 3 September 1962. The native form Eisenstadt attended both primary and secondary school in her home town. After graduating from high school in 1981, she began studying journalism and started working as a freelancer for ORF while still at school (creating radio and TV programmes for the youth and family, current affairs, entertainment and culture departments). After working as a radio and TV presenter in the early years (Licht ins Dunkel, Burgenland Heute, Treffpunkt Burgenland), the journalist and producer became Head of Marketing and Public Relations in 2001 and Head of Radio Programmes in 2008. Promoting women as managers and mentors as well as training young journalists are still among the Rosa-Jochmann-Award winner's key concerns today. Above all, the fight against violence against women is one of her main focuses. To empower women, Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz launched the #Mutfrauen initiative. On her social media channels, she brings inspiring women in front of the curtain.

Gaby Schwarz was sworn in as a member of the National Council in November 2017. In the ÖVP parliamentary group, she took over the area of health as spokesperson for media from 2022.

She left the National Council on 10 July 2022 and was sworn in as Ombudsperson on 11 July 2022.

For many years, Ombudsperson Gaby Schwarz has also volunteered as a member of the crisis intervention team of the Austrian Red Cross Burgenland.