Foundational Leadership for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Global Transformation
The CIRAS Core Council serves as the enduring strategic and ethical foundation of the Centers for International Research and Applied Science (CIRAS). Composed of the organization’s four co-founders—Waldemar Herdt, Lothar Hartmann, Thorsten Schmitt, and Sandra Bünger—the Core Council ensures continuity of purpose, deep interdisciplinary alignment, and a long-term vision that transcends institutional cycles and political influence.
With a unified commitment to conscious innovation, planetary ethics, and global equity, the Core Council anchors CIRAS’s mission across its 12 Centers, guiding transformative research and action in science, society, and sustainable development.
Mission
To protect and guide the foundational vision of CIRAS, ensuring all global initiatives remain aligned with its interdisciplinary, ethical, and human-centered philosophy while advancing bold, long-term solutions for global challenges.
Core Council Members
- Waldemar Herdt
Director & Vision Architect
As Director of CIRAS, Waldemar Herdt provides spiritual and strategic leadership with a focus on planetary ethics, peacebuilding, and socio-political resilience. His legacy in diplomacy and cultural unity laid the moral and structural framework for CIRAS’s global mission. - Sandra Bünger
Vice Director & Human Potential Advocate
Sandra Bünger champions emotional intelligence, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership across CIRAS’s programs. As Vice Director, she cultivates a culture of mindfulness and systemic compassion, ensuring people remain at the heart of innovation. - Lothar Hartmann
Director of Science, Technology & Finance
A leading systems architect and global IT strategist, Lothar Hartmann brings over 35 years of experience in digital infrastructure, finance, and renewable energy. His leadership empowers CIRAS’s scientific and technological transformation across sectors. - Thorsten Schmitt
Director of Spirituality, Ethics & Secure Technologies
A pioneer in secure communications and decentralized systems, Thorsten Schmitt ensures CIRAS’s digital backbone is privacy-first and ethically designed. He bridges operational excellence with spiritual grounding and community resilience.
Core Responsibilities
- Philosophical Stewardship: Guard the ethical and visionary compass of CIRAS in all decisions and partnerships.
- Strategic Oversight: Provide long-range planning and adaptation strategies to navigate emerging global trends.
- Diplomatic Representation: Serve as the global voice of CIRAS in multilateral platforms, summits, and transformative alliances.
- Cross-Center Integration: Ensure synergy among all 12 CIRAS Centers, embedding values of balance, collaboration, and purpose.
- Mentorship & Legacy Leadership: Support the next generation of leaders and innovators through wisdom-sharing and institutional guidance.
Global Significance
The CIRAS Core Council embodies the institutional soul of CIRAS. Their vision, dedication, and lived expertise position CIRAS as a beacon for global cooperation, innovation, and consciousness. As humanity faces unprecedented challenges, the Core Council ensures that CIRAS remains a lighthouse for responsible science, equitable development, and planetary regeneration.