Walter J. Lindner is a lawyer, diplomat and musician. During his time as ambassador, he was considered an exception among top diplomats and “Germany’s most colourful ambassador”. In the course of his career, the experienced crisis manager was, among other things, spokesman for Joschka Fischer and State Secretary at the... Read more
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Walter J. Lindner is a lawyer, diplomat and musician. During his time as ambassador, he was considered an exception among top diplomats and “Germany’s most colourful ambassador”. In the course of his career, the experienced crisis manager was, among other things, spokesman for Joschka Fischer and State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office under Sigmar Gabriel. Most recently, he was German ambassador to India.
After graduating from high school, completing his civilian service, studying music in Munich, Graz and Boston, travelling the world and studying law in Munich, Walter Johannes Lindner (*1956) joined the diplomatic service in 1988.
He initially worked as an attaché in the legal department of the Federal Foreign Office in Bonn until 1990 and as a press officer at the embassy in Ankara until 1992. From 1992 to 1995, Mr Lindner was Permanent Representative of the Ambassador in Managua/Nicaragua, then Counsellor in the Press Office of the Federal Foreign Office and from 1998 to 2001 Counsellor at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. From 2001 to 2002, he was Deputy Head of Division GF 08 (Human Rights Working Group) at the Federal Foreign Office. He was then Spokesman of the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin under Joschka Fischer until 2006 and from 2006 to 2009 Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kenya, also responsible for Somalia, Burundi and the Seychelles.
From 2009 to 2010, he headed the Crisis Response Centre at the Federal Foreign Office, before becoming Commissioner for Africa Policy at the Federal Foreign Office from 2010 to 2012. Lindner was then German Ambassador to Venezuela until 2014, before being appointed Special Representative of the Federal Government for Ebola. For the duration of this temporary assignment, his office as ambassador to Venezuela was suspended. From 2015 to 2017, Walter Lindner was Ambassador to Pretoria/South Africa with a second accreditation for Lesotho and Eswatini. From 2017 to 2019, he served as State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office and then as Ambassador at the German Embassy in India until 2022, thus fulfilling a lifelong dream at the end of his impressive diplomatic career.
Walter Lindner has been back in Germany since 2022 and is passionately dedicated to his new life as a pianist, composer and music producer. He has always used music as a means of diplomacy and in doing so has not always strictly adhered to protocol conventions. Authentic, pragmatic and unpretentious – this is how Walter Lindner has remained throughout his diplomatic career and this is also how he convinces as a speaker.
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You can book Walter Lindner through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Walter's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Walter Lindner's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Walter tailored to your event.
Walter Lindner speaks on Geopolitics, Government & Politics. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Walter to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Walter Lindner for events worldwide, subject to Walter's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Walter Lindner is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Walter can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Walter Lindner on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Walter can offer.
Walter Lindner delivers keynotes in English, German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Walter Lindner's areas of expertise include Geopolitics, Government & Politics. To get a clear sense of Walter's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Walter Lindner can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Geopolitics, Government & Politics is relevant. Details of Walter's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Walter Lindner is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Walter Lindner, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Walter's current availability for your dates.