Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board of AVP e.V. oversees the activities of the Executive Board and advises it on strategic and operational matters. Our five Supervisory Board members contribute their extensive expertise and professional experience to support strategic decision-making and ensure the sustainable development of the organization.
The Supervisory Board ensures effective and transparent governance of the association, compliance with its objectives, and the strengthening of democratic structures across all areas of activity. The term of office is four years, and all members serve on a voluntary basis.
Members of the Supervisory Board
Marko Georg Zaic
Marko Georg Zaic has been the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AVP e.V. since 2022 and brings with him an impressive career with diverse experiences. He is currently part of the inDUStrial project team and serves as a subject matter expert in the office of the Mayor of Düsseldorf, focusing on culture, integration, and migration. He holds the rank of Frigate Captain (res.) and is the deputy head of the Düsseldorf District Liaison Command. Zaic completed a master’s degree in Cultural and Media Management at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre, as well as a master’s degree in Philosophy, Modern History, and Political Science at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. After serving as team leader for music promotion at the Düsseldorf Department of Culture and as a lecturer at the Institute for Municipal Administration, he gained experience as a research assistant in the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament and the German Bundestag. His commitment to the cultural and political landscape marks him as a dedicated and versatile actor.
Birgit Schentek
Birgit Schentek was born in Düsseldorf, is married, and has an adult daughter. She completed training as an insurance specialist and has been working as an administrative director for the Catholic parishes Heilige Familie & Angerland Kaiserswerth within the Archdiocese of Cologne since 2015. Since 2020, she has been actively involved in politics as a city councilor of Düsseldorf and as district mayor of City District 6. Through her many years of professional and voluntary work, she has gained extensive experience in administration and municipal politics and is deeply rooted in her hometown.
Edwin Pütz
Edwin Pütz is married, a father of two adult children, and has been serving as a judge in Düsseldorf for nearly three decades. Born in the Eifel region, he studied law in Bonn and Edinburgh and completed his legal clerkship in Cologne. He has been a judge since 1995, spending many years as a juvenile court judge. Additionally, he led the Düsseldorf juvenile detention center for over ten years. Beyond his judicial work, he is a trained mediator and organizational consultant, as well as a lecturer in juvenile criminal law and interrogation techniques. His expertise in the judiciary and his work with young people are further enriched by his diverse teaching and advisory activities.
Dirk Sauerborn
Dirk Sauerborn served as a police officer in North Rhine-Westphalia for many years, holding various positions, including in traffic services, public relations, and as a liaison officer for intercultural affairs at the Düsseldorf Police Department. Even after his retirement in 2022, he remains closely connected to AVP e.V. as an active member of the Supervisory Board. He is engaged in prevention projects and consulting, contributing his expertise as a lecturer and as a member of various foundations and committees. Sauerborn played a key role in establishing the extremism prevention program of the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Interior and led the association Wegweiser e.V. for several years. His passion lies in integration, crime and extremism prevention, and the historical examination of police and immigration history. With his Rhineland motto “Nit quake, make!” (loosely translated as “Don’t talk, take action!”), he embodies the proactive spirit of AVP e.V..
Michael Szentei-Heise
Michael Szentei-Heise was born in 1954 in Debrecen, Hungary. In August 1965, he fled to Germany with his mother. After completing his Abitur, he studied law in Erlangen and Cologne and spent a year abroad in Israel. In 1987, he passed the German state law examination. From December 1983, he served as the Director of the Jewish Community of Düsseldorf for over three decades, significantly shaping the community’s development and societal impact. His extensive experience in community work, legal expertise, and commitment to Jewish life, intercultural dialogue, and remembrance work make him a key driving force within the AVP e.V. Supervisory Board.
