Alena is a veterinarian who graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. She currently works as an official veterinarian for the Provincial Government of Styria, Austria, with a particular focus on animal health, disease surveillance and the prevention and control of infectious animal diseases. Her professional responsibilities include monitoring animal health, implementing disease control measures and contributing to the management of animal disease outbreaks.

Alongside her professional work, she is conducting doctoral research at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. Her research focuses on the impact of large-scale power outages on livestock farming in Styria. By combining livestock population data, surveys and simulation modelling, she aims to assess the potential consequences of prolonged power outages on animal health, animal welfare and livestock production. Her research also seeks to identify vulnerabilities in livestock farming systems and contribute to improving emergency preparedness and crisis management.