Matthias Jäger was born in Kiel, Germany. He studied at Freiburg University, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and holds an M.A. in Law and Latin American Studies as well as Diplomas in European Studies and Spanish Law from Bielefeld University. Mr. Jäger gained his first professional experience at the Goethe Institute, the German Embassy and the Delegation of the European Commission (all Mexico City) and the German Local Government Office in Brussels. In 2005, he joined the Bertelsmann Stiftung, one of Europe’s largest private foundations, where he has been engaged in the areas of “International Cultural Dialogue” and “The Role of Religion in Modern Society”. Since January 2010, his focus has been on a project titled “Shaping Change – Strategies of Development and Transformation”. Mr. Jäger has been awarded research grants and scholarships by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Westfälisch-Lippische Universitätsgesellschaft, and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Mr. Jäger is fluent in German, Spanish, and English. Since 2000, he has published widely on cultural and international affairs in Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, among other German and Spanish language newspapers.