Since 2025, Dr Catrin Hannken has been Director-General for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and Lifelong Learning at the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). Her responsibilities include designing the legal framework for initial and continuing vocational education and training as well as funding programmes to promote strong and attractive technical and vocational education and training. The responsibilities of the Directorate-General also include programmes to promote greater educational equity and funding research into educational topics relevant for society, such as inclusive education, financial education and adult education.
Before her appointment as Director-General at the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, she served as Director for Technical and Vocational Education and Training at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Dr Hannken started working at the BMBF in 2008 and oversaw various national and international projects and programmes in the field of education, among others for education for sustainable development, local education management and cultural education. Before joining the BMBF, Ms Hannken headed the Representation of the State of Bremen to the Federation in Berlin. Originally from Bremerhaven, she is a lawyer and studied at the University of Bremen.