Professor Klaus Dieter Barbknecht, Rector of the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF) from 2015 to 2024, is a distinguished academic, economist and lawyer. His expertise lies primarily in the fields of energy law and labor law. As rector of TUBAF, his landmarks include a progressive internationalization of the university, its continuing increase in third-party funding and pronounced transfer activities, which are led to 80 spin-offs within his ten years appointment. Klaus-Dieter Barbknecht has held various management and board positions and has been an officer and Vice Chair for Strategic Leadership Communities at the World Energy Council (WEC).

Barbknecht studied economics and law at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen from 1978 to 1984 and graduated with the 2nd state examination in law. He has been a lawyer since 1987 and a specialist lawyer for employment law since 1992.

He is the 2026 Winter term's Distinguished visiting Harris Professor at Dartmouth.