The GUTcert Advisory Board

• Collaboration in the development of company policy
• Advice on the nature and scope of business
• Supervision of the implementation of company policy
• Technical supervision of the work of the certification body
• Monitoring of certification rules and principles
• Supervision of the financial situation of the certification body
• Where appropriate, establishment of committees on various issues
• Monitoring the neutrality and impartiality of the certification body

The members of the advisory board represent the various areas in which GUTcert is active. Their extensive experience ensures the targeted further development of GUTcert and guarantees that the changing requirements in the respective industries are taken into account.

Members of the Advisory Board

Natalja Karthaus-Birle

Natalja Karthaus-Birle, who holds a master's degree in political science, has been working in the social sector for many years, particularly in integration and disability support. Her work focuses on education and quality management, both of which are linked to the aspect of digitalisation. She is an auditor for the areas of education, health and AZAV (Accreditation and Approval Ordinance for Employment Promotion).

Solicitor Ludolf Ernst

Ludolf C. Ernst has been practising law since 1989. After more than 20 years as a partner in a supra-local law firm, he now practises at the law firm ERNST | RECHT. He is a member of the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) and the German Society for Waste Management (DGAW). His main areas of practice include recycling management and waste law, immission control law, water law and the law governing waste disposal contracts.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Uwe Lieback

Prof. Lieback is a senior environmental and quality auditor, environmental verifier and managing director of GUTcert. He is particularly interested in making certification an added benefit for all customers by providing lots of tips and recommendations from highly qualified auditors.

Prof. Dr. Jens Pape

Prof. Dr. Jens Pape is a professor at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, teaching sustainable business management in the agricultural and food industry. Since 1999, he has been a member of the Environmental Verification Committee at the Federal Environment Ministry (deputy chair since 2014) and a member of the Standards Committee for Environmental Protection at DIN.

Martina Tittel

Martina Tittel has been managing partner of Nicolaische Buchhandlung (Berlin's oldest bookshop, founded in 1713) in Berlin-Friedenau since 2015. Prior to this, she held management positions in various industries, always with a focus on sales and marketing. Today, she also contributes her network to voluntary work. She is the first chairwoman of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Landesverband Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Association of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association), a member of the executive committee of the Handelsverband Berlin-Brandenburg (Berlin-Brandenburg Trade Association) and a member of the IHK committee “Growing and Vibrant City”.

Dipl-Ing. Michael Werner

Michael Werner completed his university education with a degree in environmental engineering. After several years as a planning engineer, he has been working as a management consultant in the field of sustainability for more than 25 years. With over 15 years of experience at PwC and a further five years at Scholz & Friends Reputation, he has been self-employed since 2020. His work focuses on advising companies of various sizes and from various industries on strategic aspects of corporate sustainability, reporting and the collection of key performance indicators.