Inside GS-F

The GS-Foundation took part in the 8th Berlin Congress on “Wehrhafte Demokratie” in Berlin on 29 and 30 June 2026. The organisation was represented by CEO Michael Schemke, COO Stefan Schwarz and Project Manager Mirgeta Hajdari.

The GS-Foundation had the honour of participating in the inaugural “Marketplace of Implementing and Executing Agents” during the NATO Defence Capacity Building (DCB) Conference, held on 2–3 June 2026 at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

On Monday, 11 May 2026, Managing Director Michael Schemke and COO Stefan Schwarz visited the IBZ Schloss Gimborn. The purpose of the meeting was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is intended to lay the foundations for future cooperation between the GS-Foundation and the International Education and Meeting Centre Schloss Gimborn.

Effective 1 March 2026, the GS-Foundation has expanded its management team: Michael Schemke has taken on the role of second managing director and will lead the organisation alongside Nicole Mechehrawi. The decision is a structural response to the growing scope of work.

We are proud and grateful. Our initiative EQUALFORCE has received the Outstanding Security Performance Award (OSPA) 2025 in the category Outstanding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.

On 1 October 2025, Stefan Schwarz joined the GS-Foundation (GS-F) as Chief Operating Officer. His appointment marks an important step in strengthening GS-F’s leadership for the future of security sector reform.

On 1 July 2025, the GS-Foundation welcomed new consultant Michael Schemke to its team. With over four decades of experience in the North Rhine-Westphalia police force, including many years in a senior position, he will now contribute his extensive expertise to the work of the foundation.