In Leoben

First female district head for the Red Cross

Premiere in the year 2024! For the first time in the history of the Red Cross in Styria, a woman is taking over the management of a district office. Anita Kozak succeeds Franz Vallant in Leoben.

After 15 years, Franz Vallant announced his resignation as Red Cross district office manager for personal reasons. He then proposed his previous deputy Anita Kozak as the new manager - and the 54-year-old was finally elected at the district assembly.

Born in Trofaiach, she has been active in the Red Cross for 37 years, most recently heading the local branch in her home community for a proud 20 years. "I have been working for the Red Cross for 37 years with complete conviction and passion - I want to focus this energy not only on the Trofaiach branch, but on the entire Red Cross district," says the Upper Styrian. She is full of praise for her predecessor: "I want to continue on his path of community cohesion and anchor the Red Cross even more firmly in the region."

The new Red Cross district office management in Leoben: Jörg Matejka, Andrea Leodolter, Josef Mrnak, Anita Kozak, Michael Rainer (from left).(Bild: Rotes Kreuz/Wolfgang Fischer)

Jörg Matejk, Josef Mrnak and Red Cross doctor Thomas Hausegger now form the deputy district management. Kozak and her team were elected as the new district office management with only one vote against.