Monica Culen

Monica Culen is an Austrian business leader and philanthropist. She is the co-founder and chief executive officer Red Noses Clowndoctors International. In 1991, Culen helped create one of the first European hospital clown organisations. Since then, she founded ten Red Noses hospital clown organisations worldwide and currently sits on the board of directors for each organisation.For her contributions to Austrian society, Culen has received the Silver Medal of Merit [Silbernes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich] for her social services rendered to the Republic of Austria. She also currently serves as chairwoman of the board for the European Federation of Hospital Clown Organisations and for the Austrian Fundraising Association.

Monica Culen was born in Vienna on February 10, 1949. She is a descendant of the Fischer-Pochtler industrial family. She is the daughter of Marietta Fischer Pochtler and Hannes Folter. Culen grew up in an entrepreneurial family with many siblings. Her brother, Christian Pochtler, is now CEO and owner of the Pochtler Management GmbH and the iSi Group.

Early career

Monica Culen started her career as a hostess at the Games of the XX Olympiad in Munich in 1972. In 1974, she worked at the Institut Europeen d'Administration des Affairs (INSEAD) at Fontainebleu in France, where she worked as the Public Relations Assistant throughout the academic year of 1974-75.

In 1976, Culen was hired as the Public Relations and Protocol Officer at the newly established Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). She oversaw the organisation's intergovernmental relations as well as the regular convening and organisation of ministerial conferences in Vienna, in Africa and in South America.

Hospital clowning

In 1991, Culen co-founded one of the first European hospital clowning projects, Cliniclowns Österreich, and helped develop the strategic concepts and guidelines for such organizations in Austria, Netherlands and Belgium.

In 1994, Culen began a new project, with support from Giora Seeliger, the non-profit foundation ROTE NASEN Clowndoctors Österreich [RED NOSES Clowndoctors Austria]. Culen served as Managing Director until 2011, when she subsequently became President of the Board.

Then in 2003, Culen and Seeliger, along with additional support from Franz Haimerl, created RED NOSES Clowndoctors International.

Culen was appointed as President of the Austrian Fundraising Association [Fundraising Verband Austria]. The FVA is a platform for non-profit organisations to help influence the formulation of relevant legislation concerning the non-profit sector in Austria.

Culen is also the founder and current Chair of the European Federation of Healthcare Clowns, the world's largest federation of hospital clown organisations. The Federation defines binding quality requirements for the work of hospital clowns in order to professionalize their engagement with their beneficiaries and to define standards for a future certification.

From 2002 until 2008, Culen developed and was in charge of the first Austrian fundraising college.