Amelie Liebst
Who are you?
My name is Amelie. I'm working as management assistant at the European Centre for Refractories (ECREF). Since May 2026, I’ve been organizing events, including the ICR Conference in Aachen this September, among other responsibilities.
How old are you and for how long do you work in the refractories industry?
I am 34 years old. My journey in the refractory industry began in May 2026, so I am still in the exciting early stages of exploring this field.
Who has significantly influenced your professional life?
My professional life took a transformative turn during my master’s studies, when I began working at a semi-professional student radio station. There, I discovered my passion for music, moderating, the medium of radio itself, and journalism. I loved engaging with people, learning about their lives, and understanding their career paths.
This experience led me to an assistant role at a music management company, where I spent eight years learning the intricacies of building careers in the music industry, organizing concerts, and managing album releases. These experiences shaped my ability to connect, adapt, and create impactful projects.
Tell us something about your personal background. What do you burn for besides refractories?
Beyond refractories, I am deeply passionate about electronic music, insects, nature and sports.
In 2021, I co-founded the DJ group E.P.I.Q. in Cologne, a collective of seven female DJs. Together, we organize parties across Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia. This experience has shown me the power of collaboration—creating something together and sharing the stage brings so much more fulfillment than being a lone player. It’s not about "me or the other women"; we can all succeed together, building our careers side by side.
How did you get aware of Women@Refractories?
Kerstin Hauke introduced me to the Women@Refractories initiative. For me, discovering that joining an initiative like Women@Refractories can be part of my work motivates me and gives me a sense of purpose.
Why did you join Women@Refractories?
I joined Women@Refractories because I believe in the power of community and shared learning. As someone new to the industry, I saw this as a valuable opportunity to connect, gain insights, and contribute my own experiences.
How has the initiative impacted your professional or personal life?
It’s too early to really feel a direct impact, of course. But it’s truly inspiring to see how women from all professional fields are connecting and building networks. This sense of solidarity and collaboration feels very motivating and helps me see that there could be a better future for all of us.
Which specific tasks or areas do you currently support within the initiative, and/or in which areas would you like to contribute in the future to expand your professional or soft skills?
I’ll take the role as a community manager. My goal is to make participation easier and more engaging, while expanding my skills in networking, communication, and community-building. My dream is to create a space where connecting is not only meaningful but also fun.
How did becoming a member of Women@Refractories and its Leaderboard changed your professional network?
It’s already connecting me with women across different fields, and I can’t wait to see where these new connections will lead.
If you had to describe Women@Refractories in one sentence, what would it be?
Women@Refractories is a thriving network – connecting talent, building future careers and strengthening the future of refractories.
Thank you for your passion, Amelie! We love to have you on (leader)board!