New association: Women in the environment

What began in 2024 with networking meetings for women in the fields of environmental law, environmental technology, and related disciplines is now officially becoming the association “Women in the Environment.” “Our goal is to connect women, strengthen their status, especially in environmental law, and provide new impetus through targeted exchange. With the official founding of the association, we are now creating an independent basis for our activities,” says initiator Stefanie Werinos, a lawyer specializing in public commercial law, particularly environmental and public procurement law. In addition to excursions and specialist lectures, regular networking events are also planned. The association sees itself not only as a meeting place, but also as a voice for greater diversity and a driving force for structural change in the environmental sector.

The launch of the association will be celebrated with a kick-off event on September 23 at PHH Rechtsanwält:innen in Vienna. All women who work in the environmental sector and are interested in contributing their ideas and becoming part of a growing network are invited to attend.

Strong women on the board
With Stefanie Werinos and Elisabeth Peneder(partner and head of operations at PHH), Babara Leitner (Office for Field Ecology and Nature Conservation Planning), Julia Konrad (K1 Group), and Sabrina Dobrohruschka (master carpenter’s workshop), the association also promotes diversity on its board.

Association chairwoman Stefanie Werinos (45) is a lawyer, has been a partner at PHH since 2021, and has been head of the PHH office in Graz since 2024. Born in Styria, she has returned to her roots both privately and professionally with the Graz office. Werinos is one of the leading experts in public commercial law and specializes primarily in environmental, procurement, and planning law. She has more than 15 years of experience and primarily advises public institutions and companies on complex planning and approval procedures for plant, infrastructure, and mobility projects. When it comes to public procurement law issues, Stefanie Werinos advises both bidders and clients before and during the implementation of procurement procedures, right through to review proceedings. In 2024, Werinos launched the Women in the Environment initiative and was now instrumental in transforming it into an association.

Board member Barbara Leitner is a zoologist specializing in mammals, including wildlife ecology. In 2020, Barbara Leitner founded the Office for Field Ecology and Nature Conservation Planning, which specializes in basic biological data collection, environmental and nature impact assessments, ecological construction supervision, consulting on construction projects, and applied ecological research. Together with her team, she is not only responsible for monitoring projects, but also writes environmental studies and reports. She is one of the co-founders of the Women in the Environment Association.

Board member Julia Konrad is a project manager at the K1 Group, whose companies offer real estate management and the development and management of real estate projects. Founded in 1995 by her father Helmut Konrad, Julia Konrad joined the family business in 2020. She brings with her a wealth of experience in project management, real estate management, and real estate development. The K1 Group is active in both the private and commercial sectors. Projects already completed include the K1 Tower in Graz, the conversion of the old fire station in Graz, and the residential project in Schladming.

Board member Sabrina Dobrohruschka is managing director of the family-owned company Tischlerkultur, which has made a name for itself as a specialist in custom-made furniture and kitchen and bathroom renovations.

Association secretary Elisabeth Peneder is responsible at PHH for planning, managing, monitoring, and optimizing work processes in the office, as well as heading up the IT, finance, facilities, marketing and communications, human resources, and business development departments. At Frauen in der Umwelt, she is responsible for organizing the association’s activities.

Founding celebration Women in the Environment
Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
PHH Rechtsanwält:innen
Julius-Raab-Platz 4, 1010 Vienna
Registration at office@fraueninderumwelt.at
www.fraueninderumwelt.at