The WALA Foundation

WALA was founded by Dr. Rudolf Hauschka in 1935 and today develops and manufactures products for the brands WALA Medicines (Only available in german) and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care on the basis of the anthroposophic knowledge of man and nature. Hauschka's vision was of a company where people are at the heart of all corporate activities and profit is seen only as a means to an end. This vision raised a number of questions about the best way to continue operating his company.

  • Who should own the company?
  • How can the company's vision be perpetuated in the long term?
  • How and to whom should the necessary company profits be distributed?
  • Is private ownership compatible with a company committed to the manufacture of natural, anthroposophic medicinal products?

The search for answers to these questions culminated in 1986 in the transformation of WALA from a general commercial partnership (OHG) to a foundation.
The WALA Stiftung, a company foundation, was established in Bad Boll / Eckwälden as trustee of the WALA company as a whole, while the latter was simultaneously transformed into a German limited liability company (GmbH). The primary task of the foundation is to promote the development of WALA Heilmittel GmbH and to take care of its inspiring resources. It is thus the 100% shareholder of the company. The approach of WALA Heilmittel GmbH to capital is marked by the conviction that no social or economic measure in itself has any significance. The company exists to fulfil the object of the foundation and cannot be bought, sold or inherited like goods. The profit is only the means to an end, not an end in itself. The end is primarily the corporate development and to foster an entrepreneurial framework that supports the individual development of the co-workers.

Articles of Association

The object of the Foundation is to safeguard the successful development of the company “WALA HEILMITTEL GMBH” and "WALA Agrikultur GmbH".

If you would like to read more about our mission and tasks, you can download our articles of association as a PDF file here:

Articles of Association of WALA Foundation

The WALA Foundation is a member of the Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen (Association of German Foundations).

Members

Wolfgang Gutberlet

Pirkko Ollilainen

Dr. Marcus Roggatz

Dr. Wolfgang Schuster

f.l.t.r. Christiaan Mol (employee of the WALA Foundation), Wolfgang Gutberlet, Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Pirkko Ollilainen, Dr. Marcus Roggatz

The WALA Foundation is responsible for a precious commodity in the form of the medicines and skin care products prepared by WALA Heilmittel GmbH, and we must ensure this commodity is used fruitfully. As a member of the board, I hope that we – ever alert to opportunities and risks – will oversee the protection and transformation of the company with such wisdom that more and more people will be able to find strength through WALA’s products and services.
Wolfgang Gutberlet

A central guiding principle in the production of WALA Medicines and Dr. Hauschka Skin Care is the wider anthroposophical view of nature and humans.
The interaction of the material and physical dimension with the mental and spiritual dimension should be researched further and applied to WALA product development.
As a member of the board of the WALA Foundation, I feel jointly responsible for maintaining and further developing this WALA impulse.
With my many years of practical experience in anthroposophical study and therapy, as well as in management design at the Filderklinik anthroposophical hospital, I hope to make a contribution to WALA’s thriving development.
Pirkko Ollilainen

To protect the core beliefs and values of WALA and to help shape the future of the company – these are the Foundation’s primary tasks. One such core belief at WALA is the belief in rhythmic processes, which are not only a central aspect of our production methods, but also form the basis of life for all of us. I believe that one of the tasks of the Foundation is to maintain and develop a healthy rhythm also in the social sphere, in working life and in cooperation with management. With this approach, WALA can become a role model for business life. Only when our society becomes more aware of the value of rhythmic processes can we hope to find better answers to the pressing challenges we currently face. I am convinced that, in this area, the WALA Foundation can make a contribution far beyond our company.
Dr. Marcus Roggatz

WALA, in its structure and in the nature of its activities, is like a mountain spring that provides crystal clear water. As the guardians of this spring, it is our job to give as many people as possible, indeed the whole world, access to this water. We are ever conscious of this responsibility.
Dr. Wolfgang Schuster

Wolfgang Gutberlet

Born in Fulda (Germany) in 1944, Wolfgang Gutberlet studied in Saarbrücken and Würzburg, graduating with a degree in business administration. From 1973 to 2009/2012, he held the position of CEO and partner at Tegut. Since 2013, he has been a partner and chairman of the supervisory board of the Fulda-based foundation W-E-G Stiftung & Co. KG.

Wolfgang Gutberlet is a member of various supervisory boards, as well as the executive board of the Research Institute for Biological Agriculture (FiBL). He has won several awards, including Eco-Manager of the Year 2005 and Entrepreneur of the Year 2007. In 2008, he was presented with the German Sustainability Award and the Federal Cross of Merit.

Wolfgang Gutberlet was appointed to the WALA Foundation’s board in 2005.

Pirkko Ollilainen

Pirkko Ollilainen was born in 1954 in the city of Nurmes in the Finnish region of North Karelia on the Russian border. After finishing school, she trained at an anthroposophical treatment institute where she learned about eurythmy. She then studied eurythmy for two years in Ringwood, Great Britain, as well as for two years at Else Klink (Eurythmeum Stuttgart) and completed a qualification in healing eurythmy. In 1976, Pirkko Ollilainen began work as a practitioner at the newly founded Filderklinik, where she was a member of the clinic management team for many years.

Thanks to a close professional relationship with Heinz-Hartmut Vogel, an anthroposophical doctor and long-standing WALA shareholder, Pirkko Ollilainen formed a link with WALA. This, together with her in-depth understanding of anthroposophical treatment and extensive management experience, led to her being appointed to the WALA Foundation's board on 1 January 2017.

Dr. Marcus Roggatz

Marcus Roggatz was born in 1957 in Badenweiler (Germany). He studied medicine from 1975 to 1982 in Cologne, Mainz, Heidelberg, Oxford, Tübingen, Vienna and Freiburg, eventually graduating in Freiburg. After training for several years at various anthroposophical hospitals, he established himself in 1990 as an anthroposophical medical practitioner in Hamburg. In 1991, he took up an additional post as school doctor at a Waldorf school in Hamburg. In 1999 he moved his practice to Freiburg im Breisgau. From 1999 to 2002, he performed additional work in an establishment for child and adolescent psychiatry. As a long-standing medical adviser for WALA, he was appointed a member of the WALA Foundation in 1996. Marcus Roggatz is married and has four children.

Dr. Wolfgang Schuster

Dr. Wolfgang Schuster was born on the island of Pellworm near Husum (Germany). He studied biology and medicine in Hohenheim and Tübingen, receiving his medical license in 1980 and his doctorate in medicine in 1982.  He completed surgical training at various hospitals in Stuttgart and became an accredited surgeon in 1986. This was followed by two years working as a surgeon. In 1990, after attending the Anthroposophical Medical Seminary at the Fildner Hospital, he set up a general practice together with his wife Renate Baumgärtner-Schuster.  In 1996 he received accreditation as a general practitioner. In 1992 he was appointed a member of the WALA Foundation, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board.

Contact

WALA Stiftung
Bosslerweg 2
73087 Bad Boll/Eckwälden
Germany
Phone +49 7164 930-168
Fax +49 7164 930-9168
stiftung@wala.de