What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Gerald Loacker

Austrian citizenship

Profile

Independent legal professional and former Member of the Austrian National Council with wide experience in public finance, law, business, governance and institutional oversight. Over eleven years in Parliament, including as Deputy Chairman of the NEOS parliamentary group and member of the Financial Affairs Committee, I have been closely involved in scrutinising federal budgets, social and labour market expenditure and economic policy measures. Earlier senior roles in the banking and industrial sectors have given me knowledge of financial services, internal control systems and compliance with labour and social law. As a sworn court expert, I am accustomed to evidence-based analysis, drafting clear and well-reasoned reports and acting with full independence and integrity. I work pragmatically, communicate clearly and am committed to accountability, transparency and the values of the European Union.

Professional experience (Selection)

10/2024 – present Manager, HR consulting company, Austria

BWI Unternehmensberatung GmbH, Dornbirn

(Consulting, 5 employees, EUR 1.1 million turnover)

– Co-managing an HR consulting firm specialising in compensation and benefits in both the private and public sectors.

– Advising clients on transparent, legally compliant and cost-efficient remuneration systems.

– Joint leadership of a team of consultants, including project planning and quality assurance of deliverables.

02/2017 – present Legal expert for courts, self employed

– Sworn court expert in matters of work organization, business organization and leadership, as well as occupational profiling and job classification

– Preparing independent expert opinions for courts, including fact-finding, assessment of complex organizational structures and job profiles, and drafting clear, well-reasoned written reports.

10/2013 – 10/2024 Member of Parliament, Austria

NEOS – Austria´s liberal party

– Member of the National Council (lower house of Parliament) with a strong focus on the scrutiny of public finances and socio-economic legislation.

– Deputy Chairman of the parliamentary group (10/2015 – 10/2024), contributing to strategic positioning on budgetary, labour market and social policy issues.

– Spokesperson for Labour and Social Policy throughout the entire parliamentary tenure.

– At various stages, additional roles as Spokesperson for Economic Policy and for Health Policy, with responsibility for assessing the financial and regulatory impact of proposed measures in these fields.

– Member of the Financial Affairs Committee, contributing to the examination of financial legislation, tax measures and budget-related decisions.

– Preparing and analysing legislative proposals and parliamentary inquiries with a view to legality, efficiency and sustainability of public spending.

– Ensuring compliance with parliamentary rules of procedure, including in the role of Party Whip, and supporting orderly and transparent decision-making processes.

– Managing complex stakeholder relations with federal ministries, public authorities, social partners, civil society and businesses, often in the context of budgetary and regulatory reforms.

11/2007 – 02/2016 Head of Human Resources, Bank

Dornbirner Sparkasse Bank AG, Dornbirn

(Regional bank, 400 employees, EUR 2.2 billion balance sheet)

– Head of a department of five employees.

– Responsibility for HR development, recruitment and employer branding.

– Workforce planning and HR budgeting in line with business strategy and regulatory requirements.

– Handling labour law issues and company agreements in cooperation with employee representatives.

– Design and implementation of a trainee programme for school graduates.

– Management of apprenticeship training

– During this period, the bank received awards for its working conditions, as a family-friendly company, for excellent training and for promoting employee health in the workplace.

01/2004 – 10/2007 Head of Human Resources, Industry

Rondo Ganahl AG, Frastanz

(Paper production, corrugated cardboard; 320 employees, EUR 160 million turnover)

– Head of a department of four employees.

– HR development, recruitment and personnel marketing for a manufacturing environment.

– Workforce planning and HR budgeting.

– Responsibility for payroll, labour law matters and company housing.

– Coordination of apprenticeship training (25 apprentices in five professions).

– During this period, the company received awards for excellent training and for effective integration of people with disabilities in the workplace.

02/2000 – 01/2004 Deputy Head of Human Resources, Industry

Tridonic GmbH & Co KG, Dornbirn

(Electronics, part of the Zumtobel Group, approx. 360 employees, EUR 300 million turnover)

Academic education

2023 Vienna University of Economics and Business

Governance Excellence Program, WU Executive Academy

2003 – 2005 University of Innsbruck

Academic Personnel and Organizational Development, Postgraduate with honors

1992 – 1997 University of Vienna

Legal studies, Magisteriuris (Master’s degree equivalent)

Publications and Articles (selection)

10/2025 Article on work of equal value