Anja Günther

Programme and Strategic Partnerships Manager

Essl Foundation – Zero Project

Austria

In her current role, Anja Günther oversees leading international conferences and manages strategic partnerships across India, Kenya and the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining the Zero Project, she worked within Austria’s philanthropic and sustainability sectors, managing funding programs and initiatives focused on social innovation. Her professional background also includes roles in organizational management and administration at TÜV SÜD and the BMW Group. Anja holds a Master’s degree in International Development from the University of Vienna and a Bachelor’s degree in Management of Social Innovation from the Munich University of Applied Sciences.

The Essl Foundation MGE gemeinnützige Privatstiftung is an Austrian Foundation established in 2007 by Martin and Gerda Essl, and their children, for social purposes and scientific research. Its mission is to support social innovation, social entrepreneurship and persons with disabilities. The Zero Project was initiated by the Essl Foundation in 2008, with its mission centred on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its commitment to a world with zero barriers.

Building bridges – conversations with the Zero Project International Delegation

September 8, 2026

12:40 – 13:20

This session puts the Zero Project International Delegation in the spotlight. Across different sectors and world regions, delegates will share insights into their organisations, their interest in India’s disability inclusion ecosystem, and the collaborations they are looking to build.

Reimagining neurodiversity through creativity, art and play

September 8, 2026

16:00 – 16:30

This panel explores neurodiversity beyond a clinical lens, highlighting how, art, play, music and creative expression can become powerful pathways for communication, learning, emotional expression and social participation. Through approaches such as stone art and LEGO-based play, the session will examine how caregivers, families and communities can create more inclusive environments that build confidence and enable neurodiverse individuals to participate meaningfully—not only in therapy or special schools, but also at home and in mainstream cultural, educational and social spaces.