Strategic Advisor-in-Residence
Tech • Democracy • Public Interest
Hi, my name is Peter Bihr. I help mission-driven organizations navigate the intersecion 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, navigate complexity, and build coalitions that last.
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