Heidrun Piwernetz

Heidrun Piwernetz, born in 1962 in Bayreuth, studied law at the University of Bayreuth. Since September 1, 2023, she has served as President of the Bavarian Supreme Audit Office (ORH) in Munich. She is also a member of the Executive Board and the General Council of the Catholic Academy in Bavaria.

• Question 1: What had the greatest impact on you during your time at the University of Bayreuth?

I began my studies in the winter semester of 1980/81, making me part of one of the first cohorts at the newly established University of Bayreuth. The atmosphere back then was very familial – everyone knew each other, and both the university administration and the professors took great care to address each individual concern. Long waiting times were virtually unheard of, and we also benefited from relatively low rents. In the integrated law program offered at the time, the focus was on a clearly structured, well-planned, and efficient course of study – which is exactly how I pursued my degree. I wanted to gain professional experience as quickly as possible and become independent. My CV is a good example of the broad career and development opportunities that a law degree can provide. The university equipped me with all the essential tools I needed. I look back fondly on the fellow students I studied with and on the free time we spent in my dream study location: Bayreuth, the Fichtel Mountains, and Franconian Switzerland. Many of those connections still exist today.
The University of Bayreuth itself has developed fantastically in the humanities over the years, in my opinion – and in the life sciences, it has even become something of an innovation engine. I’m truly delighted by this.

• Question 2: What excites you most about your current role?

I am deeply convinced of the value of the Bavarian Supreme Audit Office (ORH) as an institution. The ORH independently audits the entire budgetary and economic management of the state and, in doing so, interacts with all parts of the state administration, the state parliament, the state government, many other institutions, and of course with numerous citizens.
What is essential at the ORH is interconnected, cross-cutting, and holistic thinking. Whether it’s reducing bureaucracy, advancing digitalization, or maintaining the debt brake – the ORH plays both an auditing and advisory role. What also makes the ORH unique is its collegial principle. At the heart of its working methods lies the joint consultation of its 17 judicially independent members.
What I value most is the teamwork – it allows space for diverse perspectives and approaches, and for collective deliberation aimed at achieving the best possible outcomes. As members of the ORH, we work together with our auditors to help shape the future by ensuring that public funds are used in a way that is sustainable and fair to future generations.
The ORH provides reliable data and facts that political decisions can be based on – something more important now than ever. Presenting the state of public finances as it truly is helps support parliament and, at the same time, strengthens public trust in democracy.​

• Question 3: What advice would you give to young women today for their future?

Young women today have virtually every opportunity to grow both professionally and personally. However, many still tend to choose career paths in more traditional fields and often within familiar environments.
That’s why my main advice would be: think carefully about what kind of work truly suits you and fulfills you, and then seize the opportunities that come your way with confidence and courage! And don't hesitate to consider a career in financial oversight, too.