On November 22, 2023, Dr. Liane Pitsos handed over the chairmanship of the Garchen Foundation to Ms. Elke Bartussek and thus completely withdrew from Board work.

Elke Bartussek has been a Drikungpa since 1984. Already in 1986, she was able to get to know and appreciate His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon Thinle Lhundup during his first visit to Germany.

From the very beginning, she was engaged in the Dharma, especially in the field of organization. So then in 1997, H.E.  Ayang Rinpoche commissioned her and Dr.  Liane Pitsos with the honorable task of hosting the first visit of H.E. Gar Rinpoche in Germany and Europe and to accompany him for three months.

Further responsible activities followed, for both the Amitabha Foundation and the Tara Foundation.

In “wordly” life, Elke has worked for many years as a health consultant and for over 20 years as a marketing coordinator for Naturkost Elkershausen, an organic wholeseller in Göttingen.