Matthias Trefs

Matthias Trefs has extensive work experience, starting as a Trainee at KfW in 2007 and holding various roles such as Project Manager and Principal Economist until 2017. Matthias then worked as a Research Associate and Parttime Lecturer at Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg from 2002 to 2013. In 2016, they became a Parttime Lecturer at Technische Universität Darmstadt. In 2018, Matthias returned to KfW as a Principal Economist before progressing to become the Principal Credit Risk Manager in 2020 and, most recently, the Head of Country Risk Rating Committee in 2021.

Matthias Trefs completed their Bachelor's degree equivalent at Heidelberg University in Political Science, Economics, and Philosophy. Matthias then went on to earn a Master of Science (MSc) in Comparative Politics from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Subsequently, they pursued their PhD, earning a Dr. rer. pol. from Heidelberg University in Political Science. Most recently, they obtained a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard Kennedy School.