Petra Schneebauer

Petra Schneebauer Austrian Ambassador to the USA, Petra Schneebauer, studied at the University of Vienna and the University of Salzburg while working as a language teacher. She developed an interest in diplomacy through an internship at the European Commission in 1993. Early in her career, she worked at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and represented Austria at the UN, where she coordinated the 1998 EU Presidency and served as Vice-President of the First Committee in 2000.

From 2001 to 2007, Schneebauer assisted two Federal Presidents and later served as Consul-General in Zurich and Ambassador to Malta. As head of the Consular Crises Center (2015-2017), she managed travel advice and supported victims of disasters. In December 2017, she became Director-General for Consular Affairs, overseeing visa policy and support for Austrians abroad, notably coordinating repatriation flights during the COVID crisis. Schneebauer holds law and philosophy doctorates and is fluent in several languages, including German, English, and French.