Strategic Advisor
Tech • Democracy • Public Interest
Hi, my name is Peter Bihr. I help mission-driven organizations navigate the intersection of technology, democracy and public interest — from philanthropic foundations and public institutions to advocacy networks and emerging coalitions.
As an Advisor-in-Residence or in leadership roles, my work centers on strategic clarity, ecosystem shaping, and long-term impact. I often act as a trusted advisor or sparring partner to leadership teams, helping them make sense of emerging developments, align across stakeholders, and adapt strategy in fluid environments — always with the goal of helping organizations align strategy and navigate complexity.
You can find my bio on the About page. I’m happy to work in English or German.
How I Work
I’m especially effective in situations that are fast-moving, high-trust and characterized by ambiguity. If you’re looking for a trusted advisor who can help you connect the dots and hold the long view, let’s talk.
Engagement Model
I typically work in 6-12 month cycles (4–8 days/month), often on a retainer basis. This format allows for deep engagement, adaptability, and trust-building. Many of my client relationships grow organically into multi-year partnerships.
I’ve served as interim director (European AI & Society Fund), advisor to executive leadership teams, and a behind-the-scenes architect of coalitions and field infrastructure across Europe’s digital policy and funding space.
I wrote up a few easy starting points for a collaboration here.
Hands-on Support
Rather than deliver a slide deck and leave, I work in your documents alongside you and your team. Whether it’s research, workshops, governance questions, or coalition building — I’m there in the trenches with you.
Strategic Advisor-in-Residence
For organizations ready to invest in deeper, sustained strategic capacity, I offer a Strategic Advisor-in-Residence engagement — an embedded partnership designed for high-trust, high-complexity environments.
This model builds on the cadence I typically work with — but formalizes it as a deeper collaboration that flexes over time, often spanning executive advising, implementation, ecosystem design, and quiet field-building. This is the most flexible, custom-tailored way of working together.
What it looks like:
- 6–12 month engagement (renewable)
- 4–8 days/month cadence (retainer-based)
- Mix of strategic advisory, implementation support, and leadership coaching
- Embedded collaboration with executive or program leadership
- Flexibly scoped to meet evolving organizational needs
This model is ideal for navigating transitions, shaping new program areas, or building field-level infrastructure.
Explore an Advisor-in-Residence engagement“The smoothest transition of this nature I’ve experienced.”
— Board member, European AI & Society Fund
My Contribution
Much of my value lies in the background: identifying strategic priorities and opportunities, aligning stakeholders, shaping shared narratives, and designing the connective infrastructure that supports lasting impact. I specialize in:
- Translating complex developments into actionable strategy
- Building coalitions and field strategies
- Mapping emerging landscapes in public interest tech
- Supporting executives and boards through moments of transition
Who I Work With
With degrees in communications and media studies as well as political science, and a background spanning philanthropy, public sector, civil society, industry and media (see Clients page), I usually work with:
- Philanthropic foundations and funder networks
- Civil society organizations & advocacy alliances
- Public-sector institutions, ministries & innovation units
- Coalitions and ecosystem builders focused on systemic change
Projects & Publications
Projects: As a way to explore new topics, I sometimes launch independent projects or events. These include initiatives like the Trustable Technology Mark, ThingsCon, and Cognitive Cities Conference.
Publications: Whenever possible, I share insights and learnings publicly. Some publications include the reports From Software to Society, Towards a European AI & Society Ecosystem, Smart Cities: A Key to a Progressive Europe, View Source: Shenzhen, Understanding the Connected Home, ThingsCon’s report State of Responsible Internet of Things and the Getting Tech Right podcast.
Plus: I publish irregular field notes, reflections, and project updates on The Waving Cat blog and in my newsletter.
Recent publications:
Learn more on the Publications & Projects page.
Let’s Talk
If you’re seeking a high-trust advisor who brings structure to complexity, clarity to transitions, and long-term thinking to public interest tech — let’s talk.
Contact Peter