Damien J du Preez
Hi, I’m Damien – a Policy & Governance Analyst and an MA student at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. Originally from South Africa, my wife and I moved to Germany in 2024. I work on democracy and governance with the Democratic Innovations Research Unit and sometimes write about business, politics, and life.
As a student assistant to the European i4i Project under Prof. Dr Brigitte Geissel, I collect, code, and calibrate qualitative data for a QCA study, supporting an analysis of how integrative design choices affect the impact of citizens’ assemblies. In my previous role at CREDO, I initiated a project to design South Africa’s first citizens’ assembly and implemented a public engagement strategy aimed at strengthening the centre’s reach and credibility, using newsletters, events, media, and digital platforms.
I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Comparative Democracy at the Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, building on a Bachelor’s in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Stellenbosch University. I previously won funding for an academic exchange at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on EU governance and global challenges. Alongside my academic work, I’m developing practical data analytics skills (SQL, Excel, Python) to strengthen my ability to support evidence-informed decision making and problem solving. I also hold a CAPM™ certification in project management.
Have an idea and want to chat? Let’s meet.