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Professional
Experience

Billi's Journey

From newsrooms in London and Bern to emergency response in Nepal, Pakistan, Ukraine and Greece, and on to the high Himalaya.

Career timeline

Gold markers show roles that are ongoing.

  1. Since 2014

    Managing Director, Himalayan Database

    Documenting mountaineering expeditions in the Nepal Himalaya.

  2. Since 2011

    Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

    Communications assignments, including roles at headquarters and in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

  3. 2018–2020

    OCHA in Ukraine and the Swiss Rapid Response Team on Lesbos

    Further assignments with OCHA in Ukraine and the Swiss Rapid Response Team on Lesbos, Greece.

  4. 2015

    Deputy Team Leader, Swiss Rapid Response Team, Nepal

    Following the devastating earthquake.

  5. 2008–2012

    United Nations: OCHA and UNHCR

    Humanitarian communications and reporting roles with the United Nations, including OCHA in Jerusalem and Islamabad, and UNHCR in Islamabad.

  6. 2001–2004

    Broadcast and Internet Journalist, swissinfo

    Bern.

  7. 2000–2001

    Coordinating Editor, Financial Times

    London.

  8. 1999–2001

    Editor, IKEA magazine room

    London.

  9. Earlier

    Journalism, editing and communications

    Roles in London and Germany, including work for CBS 60 Minutes.

Writing and translation

Author of Ich hab ein Rad in Kathmandu.

Translated three books from German into English:

Mountains in My Heart

By Karin Steinbach and Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner

The Fall of Heaven

By Reinhold Messner

My Life in Climbing

By Ueli Steck

Languages

  • German and English Fluent
  • Spanish Working proficiency
  • Nepali Basic

Humanitarian work and international communications

Managing Director of the Himalayan Database since 2014, maintaining records of mountaineering expeditions in the Nepal Himalaya.

  • Communications and reporting roles with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNHCR and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
  • Worked on humanitarian emergencies and disaster response in Nepal, Pakistan, Ukraine and Greece, among other international assignments.
  • Deputy Team Leader of the Swiss Rapid Response Team in Nepal following the devastating 2015 earthquake.
  • International experience spanning humanitarian affairs, crisis communications, advocacy and public information.

Journalism, writing and translation

Former journalist for swissinfo and assisting editor for the Financial Times and IKEA magazine room.

  • Column writer for the Swiss Alpine Club magazine.
  • Author of Ich hab ein Rad in Kathmandu.
  • Translated three books from German into English, including works by Reinhold Messner, Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and Ueli Steck.
  • MA in International Journalism, City University, London.

Education

  • MA in International Journalism

    City University, London

  • Degree in Translation and Interpreting (English/Spanish)

    Munich

Billi Bierling is an inspiring Lecturer, High-altitude mountaineering, Author.

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