As of now we proudly count on 25 active members as part of our team!

Board

Birgit Gruber

President

Passionate and well-traveled, the Waldviertel born ranger has been working in the Thayatal National Park since 2009. Both, nature and people there are very close to her heart, and the focus of her actions. For her, the Thayatal National Park is a unique natural gem where one can feel at ease and get a sense of rejuvenation. During her guided tours, she enjoys catering to the individual needs of the groups and often concludes with a mindfulness exercise to help the group truly arrive and connect with their surroundings. Her additional professional experiences include public relations work for various companies, having worked as a nurse, and being a member of the European Ranger Federation.

Natalia Wrbka

Vice President

Since 2016, she is a ranger in the Donauauen National Park. Primarily a kindergarten teacher, Natalia especially enjoys leading children’s groups through the Donau-Auen National Park. Whether it’s through the exhibition rooms at Schloss Orth on the Danube or during a hike through the floodplains, there’s always something to discover, see, hear, and participate in during her tours. Her motto is: ‚Passing on environmental education to others — with brain, heart, and understanding.‘ To her, working in the national park is a wonderful hobby and immensely enriching. The decisive factor for her involvement in the Austrian Ranger Association has been, and continues to be, the fantastic colleagues from whom she always learns new things.

Claus Lackerbauer

Accountant

Since his earliest youth, he has been exploring the Northern Limestone Alps. Claus has a particular interest in the hidden corners and ancient trails in the area, the fascinating stories surrounding historical land use, and the remarkable big and small interrelations in nature.
Qualifications:
Corporate consultant for personnel and organisational development, geographer and economist (teaching degree), academic trainer and consultant, academic supervisor and coach, academic change manager, dual snow sports instructor (skiing and snowboarding), Wilderness Guide for Rites of Passage, wilderness educator, mountain hiking and scout leader, Upper Austria Nature Conservation Officer

Manfred Rosenberger

Accountant Deputy

As a participant and co-organizer of the Au occupation, he has been working for the national park from the very beginning. Not only does he have a deep understanding of the floodplain habitat, he also posseses extensive historical knowledge, which he shares with all participants of his programs—ranging from children to professionals.
In addition to his long-standing role as a national park ranger in the Donau-Auen, he has also worked at the Roman city of Carnuntum, the Lower Austrian State Museum and the Gesäuse National Park, on top of serving as a travel guide in numerous countries.

Gabriela Kleesadl

Clerk

Gabriele Kleesadl is a certified tour guide and visitor attendant for the Donau-Auen National Park.

Manuela Jenicek

Clerk Deputy

Her passion has always been biology and nature conservation, which is why she enthusiastically shows visitors the national park’s beauty. Reptiles, in particular, have captured her heart, and seeing a snake in its natural habitat while working as a ranger fills her with great joy. Manuela has been an active member of the international ranger association from the very beginning.

Active members

Christian Raffetseder

Working as a ranger means, strengthening the bond between humans and their surroundings. Through direct contact with species and habitats, we learn to respect its needs. As a biologist he examines nature’s intricacies on a micro and macro scale. Of particular importance to him are the species and habitats of the floodplain forest, as well as the issue of light pollution and its impact on humans and nature. His goal is to integrate life with nature more strongly into everyday life and to help people understand the importance of biodiversity.

Susanne Schiner

In 2004, she started her ranger training, and since then, she has been supporting the information desk team at the visitor center. Born and raised in the National Park area, she is deeply rooted there and knows the National Park and its community very well. She guides visitors of all ages through the National Park, showing them its natural beauty. However, she gets the most joy out of leading visitors through the town of Hardegg and sharing stories and secrets of the town’s past. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. Additionally, she is an active parish council member and sings in the church choir. But above all, she loves spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren and her family.

Norbert Weixlbaumer

Norbert is the team’s geographer and regional researcher. He loves exploring the National Park’s dazzling diversity and he invites you to explore it together. What ‚pearls of diversity‘ define the National Park? Is it the scenic peaks? The wild, yet gentle geological formations around which the river meanders? Or the multifaceted fauna and flora with their inherent dynamism? – In the Thayatal National Park, things are always in motion: let yourself be inspired by its untouched and tangible parts!