Anja Scherbe

Co-Founder and Partner at CO-LAB for Future Economics

Governance & Compliance, Policy

Vienna, Austria
& Germany

Anja is a driving force in public administration, governance, and regional development. With a career spanning the justice system, public administration, and labor and education policy, she understands the inner workings of government institutions, how they function, how they can evolve, and how they can better serve people and communities.

As Co-Founder of CO-LAB for Future Economics and a senior leader in regional public administration, Anja designs and steers complex initiatives across labor, social, and education policy, bringing clarity to regulation, funding mechanisms, and stakeholder collaboration. She has led transnational projects, implemented European Structural Funds programs, and built networks that connect policymakers, public institutions, and local actors to accelerate meaningful impact.

Anja is known for her ability to navigate the intricacies of legislation, compliance, and governance while keeping sight of broader strategic objectives. She brings structure to complexity, insight to decision-making, and a relentless focus on building systems that are effective, just, and responsive. At What Matters, she bridges government, policy, and practice, ensuring that bold ideas meet operational realities with precision, creativity, and integrity.