Anne von Fallois (Chair and CEO of Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung): From Fulbright to Fighting HIV

In this special World AIDS Day episode of Fulbright PULSE, we sit down with Anne von Fallois, Chair and CEO of the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung (German AIDS Foundation), to explore how a Fulbright experience can plant seeds that grow into a lifetime of public service.

Anne's journey has taken her from studying international affairs at George Washington University as a 1991/92 Fulbright Scholar, through two decades at the Office of the Federal President of Germany, to executive search consulting at Kienbaum, and finally to leading one of Germany's most vital public health organizations. She took the helm of the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung on December 1st, 2023—World AIDS Day—a symbolic beginning to her mission of fighting HIV, AIDS, and the stigma surrounding them.

In this conversation, we trace Anne's path from Washington, DC to her current role, discussing how her Fulbright year shaped her understanding of diversity, identity, and democratic values. We explore the foundation's work both in Germany and internationally—from supporting people living with HIV at home to funding grassroots health projects in Kenya, South Africa, and Ukraine. Anne shares sobering realities about the current global HIV landscape, including the impact of funding cuts and political uncertainty on communities that depend on consistent support.

We also discuss the importance of testing, the game-changing potential of new long-acting prevention medication, and why solidarity matters now more than ever. Anne reflects on what it means to lead a foundation in times of rising discrimination, how civil society serves as a cornerstone of democracy, and why Fulbrighters have a special responsibility to defend transatlantic friendship and shared values.

This episode is published on December 1st, 2025, World AIDS Day and the two-year anniversary of Anne taking leadership of the foundation. It's a conversation about memory, responsibility, and the ongoing fight for a society that celebrates diversity and stands up for those at the margins.

Interviewed by Jonas Happ.

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