White House Tarifa Advisory Board launched
- GSI
- Jun 22
- 2 min read
TARIFA, Spain — 15 June 2026 — The Global Society Institute (GSI) has officially created the White House Advisory Board, a new body responsible for supporting the continued development of White House Tarifa, the Institute’s seat at the southernmost point of continental Europe. The board was formally constituted on 15 June 2026.
In its initial formation, the board is composed of three founding members: Manuela Thiele, Peter Brass and Shenali Rajaratnam. Together, they will help guide and accompany the next phase in the development of the Institute’s home on the Strait of Gibraltar.
A clear mandate: use and vision
The board’s role is to promote the further development of the facilities, taking into account both their practical use and the broader vision of the Institute. In practical terms, this involves considering how White House Tarifa functions day to day as a place for research, education, exchange and encounter, while ensuring that each step in its development remains aligned with the Institute’s purpose: supporting a global civil society committed to sustainable development.
By bringing together questions of use and vision, the board is intended to connect the everyday operation of the site with its longer-term meaning, ensuring that the facilities continue to serve the people, projects and initiatives that come together there.
A fitting home
Tarifa was chosen for a reason. Located on the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea and the African coast lies just fourteen kilometres away, the town has long been a meeting place for peoples, cultures and continents. As the southernmost point of continental Europe, it provides a setting that reflects the Institute’s own work at the intersection of countries, cultures and ideas.
In this setting, White House Tarifa serves as the Institute’s seat: a place dedicated to bringing people and institutions together to help shape the future of civil society.
“This place has always been more than a building. With the founding of this advisory board, we are giving its future a clear and shared direction, one that honours how this place is used today and the vision it stands for. We are grateful to Manuela Thiele, Peter Brass and Shenali Rajaratnam for taking on this responsibility.” [Christoph Geisler – GSI Chairperson]
About the Global Society Institute
The Global Society Institute is an academic institution dedicated to advancing a global society for sustainable development. It brings together people and institutions who want to actively shape the future of civil society, initiating projects in research, education, economy and culture that contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. White House Tarifa is located at the meeting point of two seas and two continents, helping to bridge cultures, encourage cooperation and strengthen international collaboration.
