Director of Public Affairs
Church of Scientology International

Karin Pouw is Director of Public Affairs for Church of Scientology International and oversees a wide range of public and media relations activities around the world.

She has been a senior public relations official and spokesperson for the Church since 1993. She has conducted community affairs and public information campaigns for Church of Scientology International and has met with national and international media.

Originally from France, Ms. Pouw has been a Scientologist and Church staff member since 1977, when she was public affairs director and spokesperson for the Church of Scientology in Paris.

She later became President of the Paris Church and a member of its Board of Directors. She became an ordained minister in 1980.

In the early 1980s, she coordinated and organized the social reform activities of the Paris Church - specifically its drug rehabilitation and education programs.

In 1983, she assumed responsibility for public relations matters for all of Europe and later that year was promoted to a position with Church of Scientology International.

Under her direction, the Church has launched hundreds of community affairs programs in cities around the globe. These include drug awareness and prevention campaigns, community improvement efforts, collection drives for the underprivileged and programs to help foster children.

Ms. Pouw's duties additionally include overseeing the activities of the Church of Scientology International's Human Rights Office, which is located in her department. The Office, headquartered in Los Angeles, conducts a wide range of activities to promote human rights around the world and to bring violations to public attention so that reforms can be undertaken.

In 2002, in response to the increasing scope of the Church's activities in Europe, Ms. Pouw was instrumental in acquiring new facilities in Brussels for Church of Scientology International's European Office for Public Affairs and Human Rights. The new office opened in September 2003 and has been a launching point for European social betterment and human rights programs.