Portait of Dr Felix Klein (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BMI Dr Felix Klein

Dr Felix Klein was born in Darmstadt in 1968. He has served as Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life in Germany and the Fight against Antisemitism since May 2018. After attending school in Darmstadt, he attended the United World College in Duino, near Trieste, Italy, where he earned the International Baccalaureate school-leaving certificate in 1987. He studied law at the University of Freiburg and at the Freie Universität Berlin. Following his law studies, he completed a masters programme at the London School of Economics, receiving the degree Master of Public International Law (LL.M.). From 1994 to 1996, he trained for the German higher foreign service at the Federal Foreign Office training centre in Bonn. In 2001, he received a doctorate from the University of St Gallen, Switzerland, with a dissertation on a topic in the area of family law. He began his diplomatic career as desk officer for South America and served abroad in Jaunde, Cameroon and Milan, Italy. From 2007 to 2018, he held various posts at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, lastly as Special Representative for Relations with Jewish Organizations and Issues relating to Anti-Semitism.

Outside of work, Dr Klein is passionate about classical music. He started playing the violin as a child and has played in numerous chamber music ensembles and orchestras, including the Akademisches Orchester Freiburg and the RIAS Youth Orchestra. He is currently a member of the Berlin Diplomatic String Quartet, which focuses on performing works by Jewish composers. In his free time, he often goes to concerts and the theatre. He enjoys hiking and bicycle touring with his family, and he loves to ski. Dr Klein is married and has three daughters.