Alexander Rieger is the Head of the Unit for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue as well as the Head of the Task Force Dialogue of Cultures (and Religions) at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. His responsibilities include Religion & Foreign Policy, the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief and Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue initiatives.

In 2021, he established the Vienna Group on Religion & Diplomacy that includes representatives of like-minded EU Member States and aims to increase coordination, information exchange and work on joint initiatives. Since November 2023, he heads the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) Working Group on Interfaith Dialogue. He coordinates the yearly Intercultural Achievement Award (www.intercultural-achievement.com) that recognizes best practice projects around the world. He has established new bilateral intercultural and interreligious Dialogues with Morocco (2022) and the United Arab Emirates (2024).

Alexander has held posts as Deputy Head of Mission in Saudi Arabia (2006-2009), Mexico (incl. Central America) (2009-2014) and Iran (2016-2020), where he was additionally the Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum and the President of EUNIC Iran.

Alexander holds a Master in Social and Economical Sciences of the Vienna University of Economics and Business and a Master in International Management of the Community of European Management Schools (CEMS).