Kristina Fuerst
Head of German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office
Kristina Fuerst is the Head of the German–Nigerian Hydrogen Office (H2 diplo), a GIZ led program commissioned by the German Federal Foreign Office and financed through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). In this role, she drives bilateral cooperation on hydrogen development between Germany and Nigeria, working to shape regulatory frameworks, mobilize investment and facilitate technical and diplomatic dialogue on green hydrogen. Before leading H2 diplo in Nigeria, Kristina worked at several important institutions within Germany’s energy transition ecosystem. She has been with the German Energy Agency (dena) and the German Hydrogen Council, providing strategic advice on industrial decarburization policies. She also worked at the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) in Potsdam, where she researched societal acceptance of CO utilization technologies, bringing together her policy and technical expertise. Some of her notable achievements include leading the Flare4Value Project launch in Nigeria, which seeks to convert flare gas into usable hydrogen, thereby reducing emissions and creating new industrial value. Under her guidance, H2 diplo has also hosted high level forums, such as a side-event at WACEE 2024, to promote Nigeria’s industrial decarburization through hydrogen and capacity-building.