Speakers 2024

The following speakers provided exciting input at the Sustainable Switzerland Forum 2024.

Alex Koster

Mobility & Energy

Alex Koster

Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Focus Topics

Alex Koster

Managing Director & Senior Partner, Boston Consulting Group

Alex Koster, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, leads the global technology business for clients in the automotive and mobility industries. He possesses extensive knowledge of evolving mobility trends, the transition to software/high-tech, and electrification technologies. Additionally, he heads BCG's global business in partnerships, joint ventures, and ecosystems. Alex has published extensively on these topics and is a TED speaker. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich and an MBA from INSEAD.

Andreas Christen

Andreas Christen

COO, Board Member, Innovator

Main Stage

Andreas Christen

COO, Board Member, Innovator

Andreas Christen is an ETH engineer and has worked in the textile industry for 19 years, covering the entire value chain from development to procurement and production. Since 2013, he has been COO of Lantal Textiles AG, a Swiss SME with various locations worldwide, specializing in aircraft, train and bus interiors. He is committed to Switzerland as a place to think and work and sees the future in sustainable developments. For one such sustainable innovation under his leadership, Digital Deep Dyeing Technology, Lantal received the Swiss Technology Award 2023. Christen financed his studies as a construction worker, journalist and trainer, is co-founder of an architecture firm and is involved in various boards of directors, such as the Switzerland Innovation Park Ost, the board of Swiss Textiles and as a lecturer.

Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter

Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter

Founding Partner, Forma Futura

Main Stage

Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter

Founding Partner, Forma Futura

Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter has been a founding partner and CEO of Forma Futura Invest AG, an independent asset management company for private and institutional clients focussing on investments that are financially sound and promote a sustainable quality of life, since 2006. She has been Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Berner Kantonalbank AG (BEKB) since May 2015. She has over 30 years of experience in finance and risk management, including as Chairwoman of the Swiss Stock Exchange and as a member of the Executive Board at Bank Julius Baer & Co. Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter is also a co-founder of the waterkiosk foundation, whose projects provide access to clean drinking water in emerging countries.

Carolin Roth

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Carolin Roth

Presenter, Sustainable Corporate Governance & Main Stage

Main Stage Focus Topics

Carolin Roth

Presenter, Sustainable Corporate Governance & Main Stage

Carolin Roth is a freelance presenter, journalist and reporter. After completing her Bachelor's degree in International Economics and Finance, she completed her Master's degree in Banking and Finance at the University of Zurich in 2009 with "Magna cum Laude". She has worked for CNBC as a producer and presenter of various shows in Zurich and London and has done reporting for Switzerland, Germany and Europe.

Christine Antlanger-Winter

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Christine Antlanger-Winter

Country Director, Google Switzerland

Focus Topics

Christine Antlanger-Winter

Country Director, Google Switzerland

Christine Antlanger-Winter is Country Director, Google Switzerland and Regional Director Switzerland and Austria. Previously, she was Country Director of Google Austria since December 2018 and interim Country Director of Google Switzerland since November 2022. Before that, she was CEO of the Vienna-based media agency Mindshare. She holds a degree in software engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Hagenberg. In Zurich, more than 5,000 Googlers from around 85 nations work on services such as Google Maps, Search and YouTube, and help develop applications for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Dr. Antje von Dewitz

Dr. Antje von Dewitz

CEO, VAUDE

Main Stage

Dr. Antje von Dewitz

CEO, VAUDE

Dr Antje von Dewitz is Managing Director of the outdoor brand VAUDE. After studying economics and cultural studies at the University of Passau, she joined VAUDE as a product manager and later became head of communications. From 2002, she worked at the Endowed Chair for Entrepreneurship at the University of Hohenheim, where she also completed her doctorate. She returned to VAUDE in 2005 as Head of Marketing. In 2009 she took over the management of the company from her father and VAUDE founder Albrecht von Dewitz.

Dr. Bastien Girod

Dr. Bastien Girod

Member of the National Counsil, GRÜNE Schweiz & Partner Deloitte

Main Stage

Dr. Bastien Girod

Member of the National Counsil, GRÜNE Schweiz & Partner Deloitte

Bastien Girod is a National Councillor and member of the GRÜNE Schweiz. He studied at ETH Zurich and holds a PhD in environmental sciences. He also holds an Executive MBA from the University of Zurich and is President of the Swiss Association of Waste Treatment Facility Operators. Following his resignation from South Pole, he is now a partner at an international consultancy firm, specialising in climate protection and sustainability services.

Dr. Beat Brechbühl

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Dr. Beat Brechbühl

Chairman, Kellerhals Carrard

Focus Topics

Dr. Beat Brechbühl

Chairman, Kellerhals Carrard

Beat Brechbühl is a co-founder, managing partner, and chairman of Kellerhals Carrard, one of Switzerland's leading business law firms with over 300 professionals across six locations. It is the only law firm organized as a cooperative holding with a purpose that includes promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and civic engagement. Among other things, it operates a dedicated sustainability and ESG desk. Brechbühl advises companies on governance and sustainability issues. He chairs AVAG Umwelt AG and the Volkswirtschaftliche Gesellschaft des Kantons Bern (VWG), and is a member of the boards of Mobiliar Genossenschaft, OM Pharma, and Swiss Automotive Group. Over 20 years ago, he co-founded the Swiss Venture Club (SVC). In 2021, he was awarded the Economic Prize by the Bern Chamber of Commerce. Since 2008, he has been a lecturer in entrepreneurship at the University of Bern.

Dr. Irene Aegerter

Mobility & Energy

Dr. Irene Aegerter

President, Stiftung für eine sichere Stromversorgung

Focus Topics

Dr. Irene Aegerter

President, Stiftung für eine sichere Stromversorgung

Irene Aegerter holds a PhD in physics. In addition to her position as a communications officer for technical projects at Gebr. Sulzer Winterthur, she founded the association 'Women for Energy' (ffe) in 1982, which was dedicated to dialogue with women about energy supply, including nuclear power. In 1992, she founded Women in Nuclear International. From 1989 to 2000, she served as Deputy Director of the Association of Swiss Electricity Companies (VSE) and was a member of the Energy Commission of the Swiss Academies of Technical Sciences (SATW) until 2006. From 2004 to 2014, she was its Vice President and advocated for fact-based technical information. From 2001 to 2007, she was a member of the Federal Commission for the Safety of Nuclear Installations (KSA). Since 2018, she has been the President of the Foundation for a Secure Electricity Supply.

Dr. Julia Schweizer

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Dr. Julia Schweizer

Head Controlling, Legal & Natural Risks Non-Life, die Mobiliar

Focus Topics

Dr. Julia Schweizer

Head Controlling, Legal & Natural Risks Non-Life, die Mobiliar

Julia Schweizer has a doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of Bern. She is an SAV actuary and has been working in the insurance industry for almost 20 years. Today she heads the Business Administration, Legal & Natural Risks department at Mobiliar and acts as a link to the Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks at the University of Bern. She is thus responsible for the transfer of knowledge from research to practice in the field of climate impacts and natural risks. Her area of responsibility also includes Mobiliar's commitment to the prevention of natural hazards and support for sponge city projects.

Dr. Michael Hermann

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Dr. Michael Hermann

CEO, Sotomo

Focus Topics

Dr. Michael Hermann

CEO, Sotomo

Dr Michael Hermann is an opinion researcher, political scientist and managing director of Sotomo. He teaches at the Institute of Geography at the University of Zurich.

Dr. Philipp Blom

Dr. Philipp Blom

Historian & author

Main Stage

Dr. Philipp Blom

Historian & author

Dr. Philipp Blom is the author of several bestsellers. Born in Germany, he studied in Vienna and Oxford and holds a doctorate in history. After London and Paris, he has lived in Vienna since 2007 and works as an author, journalist and presenter for the program «Punkt Eins» on Ö1. He also makes films such as the multi-award-winning documentary series "Der taumelnde Kontinent" and curates exhibitions. Against the backdrop of current upheavals such as global warming and digitalization, his book "Was auf dem Spiel steht" (2017; tr: What's at stake) also focuses increasingly on current and future issues.

Dr. Raimund Rodewald

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Dr. Raimund Rodewald

Managing Director, Stiftung Landschaftsschutz Schweiz

Focus Topics

Dr. Raimund Rodewald

Managing Director, Stiftung Landschaftsschutz Schweiz

Raimund Rodewald (born in Schaffhausen in 1959) holds a doctorate in biology and has been Managing Director of the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation (SL) in Bern since 1992. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Basel. Thanks to his expert work in numerous commissions and working groups, his extensive experience in conflict resolution processes and his lively publication activity, Raimund Rodewald has made landscape conservation a widely recognised topic in Switzerland. He is a guest lecturer in landscape aesthetics at the ETH Zurich.

Dr. Simon Zadek

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Dr. Simon Zadek

Co-CEO, NatureFinance

Focus Topics

Dr. Simon Zadek

Co-CEO, NatureFinance

Simon is the Co-CEO of NatureFinance and Senior Advisor to the Task Force on Nature Related Financial Disclosure. He was Head of the UN Secretary General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals, Senior Advisor on Finance and Co-Director of UNEP’s Finance Inquiry. He co-chaired China’s Green Finance Task Force and led the Green Finance Study Group secretariat under the Chinese, German and Argentinian G20 Presidencies. Previously, Simon has served as Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum and the Global Green Growth Institute. He was founder and CEO of AccountAbility and Development Director of the New Economics Foundation. He has been a lecturer and professor at various management and business schools around the world, written and published extensively, including the award-winning book, The Civil Corporation.

Evelyne Binsack

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Evelyne Binsack

Mountain guide

Focus Topics

Evelyne Binsack

Mountain guide

Evelyne Binsack is a qualified mountain guide, helicopter pilot, extreme mountaineer, bestselling author and passionate adventurer. She was one of the first women in Europe to become certified mountain guide. She was the first Swiss woman to reach Mount Everest single-handedly (2001), crossed 16 countries by bike, on foot and on skis and sledges to reach the South Pole in 484 days (2007) and also reached the North Pole under her own steam (2017). She uses her combination of tried and tested experience in extreme sports as well as expertise in psychology and neurology to support people in increasing their mental strength and to help them transfer this ability into their business life.

Gina Obrecht

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Gina Obrecht

Data Driven Sustainability, Business Development, Swisscom

Focus Topics

Gina Obrecht

Data Driven Sustainability, Business Development, Swisscom

For about three years now, Gina Obrecht has been driving data-driven sustainability initiatives for Swisscom's business customers. Her focus is on building a portfolio that includes ESG and CO2 management software solutions, consulting services, as well as innovative digital solutions for sustainable mobility, buildings, and supply chains. Her commitment helps support companies in achieving their sustainability goals while simultaneously developing innovative solutions for a more eco-friendly economy.

Hendrik Lang

Mobility & Energy

Hendrik Lang

Senior Vice President Strategy, Digitalisation and Cost Engineering, Purchasing and Supplier Network, BMW

Focus Topics

Hendrik Lang

Senior Vice President Strategy, Digitalisation and Cost Engineering, Purchasing and Supplier Network, BMW

Hendrik Lang has been Senior Vice President Strategy, Digitalization and Cost Engineering, Purchasing and Supplier Network at BMW Group since 2023. His career at the BMW Group began in 1998 when he joined the company as a specialist in purchasing tank systems. Prior to that, he studied Industrial Engineering at the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences. Since 1999, Mr. Lang has held various management positions at BMW, including Head of Purchasing Interior Electrical and Electronics as well as Head of Cost Engineering and Head of Project Purchasing.

James Cameron

James Cameron

Trusted Advisor & Social Entrepreneur

James Cameron

James Cameron

Trusted Advisor & Social Entrepreneur

James Cameron is an independent advisor, advocate and social entrepreneur. He is a qualified Barrister, Board and Committee Advisor with 30+ years’ experience spanning legal, nonprofit, academic, business, government and policy. He was part of UK Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group, COP20, COP22, COP23, COP26, COP28 and WEF. He co-founded Climate Change Capital (CCC) in 2003, developing it into a thriving investment bank employing 150 people with £1.5 billion under management. He was the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), The Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and Chairman of the Trustees for the China Dialogue Trust. Current roles include Chair - Crown Agents; Non-Exec Director - ORIT (Octopus); Director - Ignite Power; Senior Advisor - Howden, Korn Ferry, Pollination.

independent advisor, advocate and social entrepreneur

Jenny Zwahlen

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Jenny Zwahlen

Employee Engagement & Sustainability Initiatives, Corporate & Institutional Clients, UBS Schweiz AG

Focus Topics

Jenny Zwahlen

Employee Engagement & Sustainability Initiatives, Corporate & Institutional Clients, UBS Schweiz AG

In her more than 15 years at UBS, Jenny Zwahlen has held various roles on the client front as well as strategic positions in business management. For the past four years, she has been responsible for employee engagement and sustainability initiatives in the Corporate & Institutional Clients (CIC) division and is committed to positive change. Through the CAS in Sustainable Finance from the University of Zurich, she has deepened her knowledge of sustainability in order to support clients in their sustainability transformation. With her passion for people and the art of communication, she is the linchpin for effective employee engagement.

Judson Berkey

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Judson Berkey

Managing Director, Chief Sustainability Office, UBS

Focus Topics

Judson Berkey

Managing Director, Chief Sustainability Office, UBS

Judson Berkey is a Managing Director in the Chief Sustainability Office at UBS based in Zurich where he has worked since 2003 on global risk, regulatory and compliance topics. He currently focuses on sustainable finance policy and regulation including engagement with policymakers and standard setters. He also leads coordination of UBS' activities on nature related issues. He graduated from Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia and is on the board of ECOFACT. He currently chairs the Institute of International Finance Sustainable Finance Working Group and is a member of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures and Capitals Coalition Advisory Board.

Jürg Grossen

Mobility & Energy

Jürg Grossen

Member of the National Council and President, Grünliberale Partei Schweiz

Focus Topics

Jürg Grossen

Member of the National Council and President, Grünliberale Partei Schweiz

Jürg Grossen is Co-Managing Director and member of the Board of Directors of elektroplan Buchs & Grossen AG, ElektroLink AG and Smart Energy Link AG in Frutigen. Jürg Grossen has been a member of the National Council since 2011 and President of the Swiss Green Liberal Party (glp) since 2017. He is also President of the Swiss Solar Energy Association (Swissolar) and the Swiss eMobility Association (Swiss eMobility).

Kathrin Hönegger

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Kathrin Hönegger

Presenter, Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Kathrin Hönegger
Focus Topics

Kathrin Hönegger

Presenter, Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Kathrin Hönegger won her first roles on the radio after obtaining her general qualification for university entrance, and later moved on to television. She is a trained actress and completed the journalism modules at the Swiss journalism school MAZ. Today, you can listen to her on Radio SRF3, where her duties include various special formats, such as presenting and editing the discussion programme ‘Focus'. Since 2013, she has appeared in front of the camera for the educational series ‘Einstein’ on SRF. She is also an author and presents readings, panels and conventions about art, culture and science. We're happy to have her moderating the Sustainable Switzerland Forum for the second time.

Louisa Hugenschmidt

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Louisa Hugenschmidt

COO, BAK Economics

Focus Topics

Louisa Hugenschmidt

COO, BAK Economics

Louisa Hugenschmidt is COO and head of the data and modelling team at BAK-Economics, with a lot of enthusiasm for data-driven analysis and economical issues. A focus on various aspects of sustainability, from social justice and redistribution to the consequences of climate change, has been part of her academic training: She studied Economics (B.Sc.) and Political Science (B.A.) in Munich and Economics and Politics (M.Sc.) in Freiburg im Breisgau. She wrote her thesis on climate aid payments and is now responsible for the implementation and development of sustainability studies at BAK-Economomics.

Margarita Aleksieva

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Margarita Aleksieva

Head of Business Unit Wind and Solar, BKW

Focus Topics

Margarita Aleksieva

Head of Business Unit Wind and Solar, BKW

Margarita joined BKW in 2020 and is responsible for the renewable energy business of the BKW Group. Margarita has about 20 years of energy and infrastructure sector experience. Before joining BKW, she was in the executive team and headed the portfolio management of the global infrastructure fund at IST Investment Foundation. Prior to joining IST, Margarita was Head of Asset Management of the renewable energy business of Alpiq. She has served as board member in various companies across Europe and North America. Margarita holds an MBA and has a dual degree in Business Administration and Political Science.

Markus Reubi

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Markus Reubi

Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda , EDA

Focus Topics

Markus Reubi

Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda , EDA

Markus Reubi studied law at the University of St. Gallen HSG and holds an Executive MBA from McGill University and HEC in Montreal. After holding various positions in the private sector, including in management consultancy, he joined the Swiss diplomatic service in 2003. From 2008 to 2012, he served as Science and Technology Counsellor in China, from 2014 to 2018 he was responsible for the development of the Swiss Business Hub (trade and investment promotion) in Canada and from 2018 to 2022 as Deputy Head of Mission in Japan for diplomatic tasks. In between, he held various positions at the FDFA Head Office. In June 2022, he was appointed by the Federal Council as the Federal Council Delegate for the Agenda 2030. At the same time, he took up the position of Deputy Head of the Prosperity and Sustainability Division at the FDFA State Secretariat.

Michael Keller

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Michael Keller

Managing Director, Relationship Manager Multinationals, Corporate & Institutional Clients, UBS Schweiz AG

Focus Topics

Michael Keller

Managing Director, Relationship Manager Multinationals, Corporate & Institutional Clients, UBS Schweiz AG

Michael Keller is Relationship Manager Multinationals in the Corporate Clients division. During his first 8 years at UBS, Michael worked in Corporate Finance in Zurich as well as London. In 2009, he moved to Multinationals, where he successfully developed/expanded the business activities in the Swiss utilities sector, among others. In addition, he supports corporate clients with his industry expertise in the implementation of strategic transactions in the regions. After his banking education in Germany, Michael Keller graduated from the Swiss Banking School as a federal banking expert and completed an executive program at Harvard Business School in 2013.

Prof. Dr. Ambrogio Fasoli

Mobility & Energy

Prof. Dr. Ambrogio Fasoli

Professor EPFL, CEO EUROfusion

Focus Topics

Prof. Dr. Ambrogio Fasoli

Professor EPFL, CEO EUROfusion

Professor Ambrogio Fasoli is the Programme Manager (CEO) the European Consortium for Fusion Energy, EUROfusion, the Director of the Swiss Plasma Center at EPFL, and the Delegate to the Provost of EPFL. Ambrogio Fasoli, an honorary member of the American Physical Society, studied at the University of Milan and obtained his Ph.D. at EPFL, then, after conducting experiments on the European JET tokamak in the United Kingdom, became a professor at MIT, in the US, where he worked from 1997 to 2001, before being appointed at EPFL. From 2014 through 2020 he has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Nuclear Fusion journal, of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Prof. Dr. Boris Previšić

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Prof. Dr. Boris Previšić

Director, Institute Cultures of the Alps

Focus Topics

Prof. Dr. Boris Previšić

Director, Institute Cultures of the Alps

Boris Previšić is the founding director of the Uri Institute Cultures of the Alps in Altdorf and Professor of Literature and Cultural Studies at the University of Lucerne. He coordinates and leads numerous research and dialogue projects on planetary boundaries such as biodiversity and climate, energy production, tourism, agriculture and forestry. His most recent publication "Time collaps. Acting in the face of the planetary" (2023) examines from a transdisciplinary systemic-cultural-scientific perspective how we can create an urgently needed positive anthropocene to ensure the survival of current life forms.

Prof. Dr. Dr. E.h. Dr. h.c. Werner Sobek

Prof. Dr. Dr. E.h. Dr. h.c. Werner Sobek

Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Werner Sobek AG

Main Stage

Prof. Dr. Dr. E.h. Dr. h.c. Werner Sobek

Founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Werner Sobek AG

Architect and civil engineer. Professor at the University of Stuttgart, succeeding Frei Otto and Jörg Schlaich. From 2008 to 2014, also a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, succeeding Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Visiting professor at Harvard, Graz, Singapore, Hamburg. Recipient of numerous prestigious awards both domestically and internationally for his scientific and professional achievements. Founder of the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) and the globally active planning office Werner Sobek AG. Co-founder of several non-profit foundations and associations. The magazine CICERO lists Werner Sobek as the only architect and engineer among the 500 most influential intellectuals in the German-speaking world. ©René Müller

Prof. Dr. Kristy Deiner

Alpine Environment and Biodiversity

Prof. Dr. Kristy Deiner

Professor ETH Zurich, CEO SimplexDNA

Focus Topics

Prof. Dr. Kristy Deiner

Professor ETH Zurich, CEO SimplexDNA

Kristy Deiner describes herself as both fascinated and humbled by biodiversity. She works as both a scientist and entrepreneur on figuring out how it is generated and why it's important to maintain it. She has delivered new genetic technology as a Professor of Environmental DNA at ETH Zurich and developed ways to advance global biodiversity conservation and monitoring by heading up an ETH spin-off SimplexDNA she co-founded at the intersection of nature tech and finance.

Res Witschi

Sustainable Corporate Governance

Res Witschi

Responsible for sustainable digitalisation, Swisscom

Focus Topics

Res Witschi

Responsible for sustainable digitalisation, Swisscom

Res Witschi is responsible for sustainable digitalisation at Swisscom. He is an environmental scientist with additional training in entrepreneurship and a member of the Board of Directors. He supports Swisscom's sustainability team in the digitalisation of the path to net-zero and is helping to develop a business area that supports companies and municipalities in this area. He also plans investments in sustainable start-ups and represents Swisscom on the boards of individual start-ups.

Roger Nordmann

Mobility & Energy

Roger Nordmann

National Council, Social Democratic Party

Focus Topics

Roger Nordmann

National Council, Social Democratic Party

Roger Nordmann, born in 1973, has been an SP National Councillor since 2004 and was the President of the Social Democratic Party in the Federal Assembly from 2015 to 2023. He is a member of the Parliamentary Committee for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK). He was the committee's spokesman for the CO2 law, the 2050 energy strategy and the recently accepted law for electricity (Mantelerlass). From 2010 to 2021, he was President of the Swiss Solar Association. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the energy supplier Groupe E SA since 2020 and Chairman of the engineering company Planair SA since 2021. Roger Nordmann is the author of several books: "Climate protection and energy security - How Switzerland can achieve a rapid and just transition", "Sun for climate protection - A solar plan for Switzerland", "Nuclear and oil-free into the future".

Sabine Loetscher

Mobility & Energy

Sabine Loetscher

Sustainability Strategist, Quantis a BCG Company

Focus Topics

Sabine Loetscher

Sustainability Strategist, Quantis a BCG Company

Sabine leads the sustainability strategist work on fashion, sporting goods and luxury sectors at Quantis, a leading environmental sustainability consultancy which has been acquired by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in 2022. For over 15 years, Sabine worked in sustainability for multinational enterprises, consultancy and leading NGOs in Europe, Africa and Asia. She contributed to innovative and bold solutions on climate, biodiversity, water, circularity and human rights. Being a sparring partner to C-level executives and board members, she co-designed sustainability solutions closely with M&A, business strategy, procurement, operations, finance, marketing and innovation.

Sarah Model

Sarah Model

COO Model AG

Main Stage

Sarah Model

COO Model AG

Sarah Model studied art history and business administration at the University of Zurich and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2017. She joined the family business immediately afterwards and took over the plant management of a production facility for corrugated cardboard packaging in Thüringen (DE) in 2018. From 2021 to 2023, she completed a part-time MBA at the University of St.Gallen. In January 2024, she took over the management of Model AG and has been responsible for the Swiss production facilities of the internationally active Model Group ever since.

Sarah Troxler

Mobility & Energy

Sarah Troxler

Responsible "Luzernmobil", Canton of Lucerne

Focus Topics

Sarah Troxler

Responsible "Luzernmobil", Canton of Lucerne

Sarah Troxler is responsible for the cantonal umbrella brand ‘Luzernmobil’ and is an enthusiastic advocate for sustainable and conscious mobility. Since the relaunch at the end of 2022, she has implemented projects such as the ‘Luzernmobil Challenge’, a mobility database for municipalities and a toolbox for companies. Luzernmobil specifically encourages companies, institutions and private individuals to rethink their behaviour, because mobility starts in the mind. Prior to Luzernmobil, she worked at SBB for several years, where she was responsible for regional marketing and most recently advised business customers on the subject of mobility. After completing her commercial training in a travel agency, Sarah completed the management trainee programme at SBB. She holds a degree in Business Administration HF and an MAS in Communication Management from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

Simon Michel

Simon Michel

CEO, Ypsomed & National Council

Main Stage

Simon Michel

CEO, Ypsomed & National Council

Simon Michel has been CEO of Ypsomed since 2014. From 2006 to 2014, he held various positions in marketing and sales at the medical technology company. Prior to that, he worked for the telecoms company Orange from 2003 to 2006. He studied economics at the University of St. Gallen, with specialisation in media and communication management. Simon Michel is on the Board Committee of economiesuisse, the Bernese Trade and Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce of Solothurn and Swiss Medtech, the umbrella organisation for Swiss medical technology. In March 2017, he was elected to the Cantonal Council of the Canton of Solothurn for the FDP (the liberals) and to the National Council in October 2023. He is a member of the Foreign Policy Committee.

Stephan Klapproth

Mobility & Energy

Stephan Klapproth

Presenter, Mobility & Energy

Stephan Klapproth
Focus Topics

Stephan Klapproth

Presenter, Mobility & Energy

After 22 years as the frontman of 10vor10, Stephan Klapproth is one of the most experienced news presenters in the German-speaking world. Today he teaches communication at ETH. As a passionate live communicator, the trained political scientist adds impetus and rhetorical vigour to conferences with his storytelling approach.

Thierry Burkart

Mobility & Energy

Thierry Burkart

Ständerat (AG) and Member of the Council of States, FDP.Die Liberalen

Focus Topics

Thierry Burkart

Ständerat (AG) and Member of the Council of States, FDP.Die Liberalen

Thierry Burkart grew up in Obersiggenthal/AG. He studied law in St. Gallen and Lausanne and was admitted to the bar in 2010. He sits on the boards of directors of various national and international companies in the sectors of construction, property and IT. Thierry Burkart was a member of the Grand Council of the Canton of Aargau from 2001 to 2015, which he chaired in 2014. From 2010 to 2013, he was President of the FDP Aargau (the liberals). Burkart was elected to the National Council in 2015. He was elected in 2019 and re-elected to the Council of States in 2023. He has been President of the FDP Switzerland since October 2021.

Urs Wullschleger

Urs Wullschleger

Managing Director, Wilhelm Schmidlin AG

Main Stage

Urs Wullschleger

Managing Director, Wilhelm Schmidlin AG

Together with his brother, Urs Wullschleger is the owner and managing director of Wilhelm Schmidlin AG. As the only Swiss manufacturer of enamelled steel bathtubs, shower trays, washbasins and urinals, the company is explicitly committed to sustainable production with the "swiss made" label. The company employs a good 100 people. After graduating from ETH Zurich with a degree in industrial and production engineering, he worked in various positions at ESEC SA and then at Nuance Group AG. He has been the third generation to manage Wilhelm Schmidlin AG since 2007. Based on the KAIZEN philosophy, the site in Oberarth has been transformed from a traditional factory into a dynamic just-in-time production facility over the past 17 years. He is also a board member of two mountain railway companies, an industrial company and a start-up that manufactures customised skis.

Focus Topics

At the third edition of the Sustainable Switzerland Forum, participants could choose to delve deeper into the topic of sustainability in one of three thematic streams: Mobility & Energy, Alpine habitat & Biodiversity or Sustainable corporate governance. This division made it possible to organize the morning according to individual interests and to go into more depth on one focus topics.

Carmen Metzger

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