Sylvia Mayer Poised to Lead Austria’s Intelligence Agency After Unanimous Backing

From counter-terrorism expert to interim director in months—how Sylvia Mayer’s sharp legal mind and crisis-tested leadership secured her the top job. The agency’s future starts with her.

, and Administrator

2025 November 28 . 3:14 PM

1 min read

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Sylvia Mayer Poised to Lead Austria’s Intelligence Agency After Unanimous Backing

Sylvia Mayer has been named the top candidate to lead Austria’s Domestic Security and Intelligence Agency (DSN). A review committee rated her as 'highly qualified', while all other applicants were deemed unqualified. Her appointment follows the resignation of current director Omar Haijawi-Pirchner, who will leave at the end of the year.

Mayer has spent over a decade in Austria’s intelligence sector, starting in 2012 with a focus on counter-extremism. Between 2013 and 2021, she led the Critical Infrastructure Protection Division at the BVT, the DSN’s predecessor agency. There, she established a specialised unit dedicated to safeguarding essential infrastructure and cybersecurity.

She took on the role of deputy director at the DSN in October 2023. After Haijawi-Pirchner announced his departure in mid-September, she was immediately chosen as interim director. Her academic background includes a law degree and a part-time master’s in Strategic Security Management.

Haijawi-Pirchner’s exit comes eleven months before his term was due to end. With Mayer as the sole highly rated candidate, her confirmation as his successor appears certain.

Mayer’s extensive experience in intelligence and infrastructure protection positions her as the leading figure to take over the DSN. The agency will finalise her appointment in the coming months, with her tenure set to begin next year. Her background in law and security management aligns closely with the role’s demands.