Karin Keller-Sutter
Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), Swiss Confederation
Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter is the President of the Swiss Confederation and has been the Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) since January 2023. Before her election to the Swiss Federal Council in December 2018, she represented the canton of St. Gallen in the Council of States from 2011 until the end of 2018, serving as President of the Council of States from 2017 to 2018. Her political career began in 1992, and from 2000 to 2011, she was a member of the cantonal government of St. Gallen (Regierungsrat), where she held various senior positions, including leading the Justice and Security Department. Outside of government and politics and prior to joining the Swiss Federal Council, Ms. Keller-Sutter has held multiple board memberships, including positions at Bâloise Insurance Group, the Swiss Employers Association, and the NZZ Media Group. Notably, she also served on the board of trustees for the St. Gallen Symposium until 2018. Initially a trained translator/interpreter and secondary school teacher, between 1989 and 2000 she worked as a freelance translator and also taught at a vocational school. Hailing from the canton of St. Gallen, she holds a postgraduate degree in pedagogy from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Philipp Navratil
CEO, Nestlé; Member of the Board, St. Gallen Symposium
Philipp Navratil has been Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé S.A. since September 2025. Previously, he served as CEO of Nestlé Nespresso S.A. and brings over two decades of experience at Nestlé with a deep background in the coffee industry. Prior to his current role, Mr Navratil served as Senior Vice President of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit, where he was responsible for shaping the global strategy and driving innovation for the Nescafé and Starbucks coffee brands. Earlier in his career, he led Nestlé’s coffee and beverage business in Mexico and was Country Manager for Nestlé Honduras, after beginning his career at Nestlé in 2001 as an International Auditor. Philipp Navratil holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He was a member of the 28th International Students’ Committee (ISC) and served as President of the 29th St. Gallen Symposium. He now serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies, supporting the long-term vision of the Symposium.
Piyush Goyal
Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
Minister Piyush Goyal is India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry and Member of Parliament for North Mumbai, currently serving as the longest-serving Commerce Minister in the country’s history. In this role, he oversees India’s trade policy and international economic partnerships, driving record export growth and concluding major free trade agreements with key global partners. Over the course of his career, he has held several senior cabinet positions, including Minister of Railways, Power, Coal, and New & Renewable Energy, as well as Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles. He also served as Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and has played a central role in shaping India’s economic and industrial policy. Before entering government, Minister Goyal built a successful career as an investment banker. His tenure has been marked by large-scale policy initiatives, including the expansion of global trade agreements, the implementation of Production Linked Incentive schemes, and major infrastructure and energy reforms. He was awarded the Carnot Prize in 2018 for his contributions to energy policy. Minister Goyal is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a law degree from the Government Law College, Mumbai.
Emma Theofelus
Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Republic of Namibia
Minister Emma Inamutila Theofelus is the Minister of Information and Communication Technology for the Republic of Namibia and serves as a Member of Parliament. Known for her policy-adjacent activism, Minister Theofelus has championed issues such as gender equality, children's rights, sustainable development, and the fight against youth unemployment. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles as Deputy Speaker of the Youth Parliament of Namibia, a Board Member of the National Council of Higher Education, and the Junior Mayor of Windhoek. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was awarded the Laureate in the Individual Category of the United Nations Population Award in 2022. Minister Theofelus holds an LLB (Honours) from the University of Namibia, where she also served as Secretary General of the Student Union. She earned a diploma in Business Management from Amity University and a diploma in Afrikan Feminism and Gender Studies from the University of South Africa. She is currently a Master’s candidate in ICT Policy and Regulation at the University of Witwatersrand.
Kęstutis Budrys
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania
Kęstutis Budrys has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania since 2024. Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for shaping and implementing the country’s foreign and security policy within the EU and NATO frameworks. In his role, he oversees Lithuania’s diplomatic strategy, international partnerships, and security cooperation. Previously, he was Chief National Security Adviser to the President of Lithuania, Head of the National Security Group, Secretary of the State Defence Council, and Chairman of the Intelligence Coordination Group. He also served as Deputy Director of the State Security Department and as Presidential Advisor on intelligence and defence policy. Minister Budrys holds a BA in Political Science and an MA in International Relations from Vilnius University and completed internships in the United States and Canada.
Oliver Blume
CEO, Volkswagen
Dr. Oliver Blume has served as Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG since September 2022. From 2015 to the end of 2025, he served as Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, and since 2018, he has been a Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. In his current role, he leads the strategic direction of one of the world’s largest automotive groups, overseeing global operations, innovation, and transformation. He has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1994, beginning his career in the international trainee program at AUDI AG and holding multiple senior leadership roles across production, logistics, and planning. Dr. Blume earned his Doctor of Engineering in Vehicle Engineering from Tongji University.
Masagos Zulkifli
Minister for Social and Family Development, Republic of Singapore
Minister Masagos Zulkifli has served as Minister for Social and Family Development of Singapore since 2020. In this role, he oversees national social policies, family support systems, and community development initiatives. He entered politics in 2006 as a Member of Parliament and has since held several ministerial positions, including at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Environment and Water Resources, and Health. Prior to his political career, he was Chief Executive Officer of SingTel Global Offices at Singapore Telecommunications. In addition, he served as Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs from 2018 to 2025.
Clara Streit
Chair of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Börse & Vonovia; Member of the Board, St. Gallen Symposium
Clara C. Streit has been Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Börse AG since May 2024 and Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Vonovia SE since 2013, Germany’s largest residential real estate company and a DAX 40 member. She also chairs the Government Commission on the German Corporate Governance Code since 2023. In these roles she advances corporate governance standards and oversees key board committees. Previously she spent over 20 years at McKinsey & Company, most recently as Senior Partner leading its Banking, Exchanges & Insurance practice. She has served as a non-executive director on the boards of UniCredit S.p.A., NN Group N.V., Jerónimo Martins SGPS S.A., Vontobel Holding AG, Deutsche Börse AG as well as on the advisory board of Fraport AG and other companies. She holds a master’s degree (lic. oec.) in Finance and Accounting from the University of St. Gallen, where she was part of the 21st International Students’ Committee of the St. Gallen Symposium in 1991. Continuing her engagement, she serves on the St. Gallen Symposium’s Board of Trustees.
Andres Sutt
Minister of Energy and the Environment, Republic of Estonia
Andres Sutt has served as Minister of Energy and the Environment of the Republic of Estonia since 2025. He is a former Member of the Estonian Parliament (Estonian Reform Party) and a former Minister of Entrepreneurship and IT, where he oversaw the development of the e-Estonia ecosystem, raised investments in cyber security, and launched the 5G rollout. Andres Sutt is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tartu University Foundation and a Member of the Advisory Board of AI&Robotics Estonia. Prior to politics, he served as Member of the Board at Enefit, Head of Banking at the European Stability Mechanism, Senior Advisor to the Nordic-Baltic Executive Director of the IMF Board, and Deputy Governor responsible for financial stability at Eesti Pank. He holds a master’s degree in economics and finance (cum laude) from Tartu University and has studied management at INSEAD, France.
Kelly Craft
Fmr. United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Kelly Craft served as the 30th United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. In this role, she represented the United States in the UN and played a key role in advancing U.S. diplomatic initiatives, including the implementation of the Abraham Accords in the Middle East. Previously, she served as the 31st United States Ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Earlier in her career, she was appointed by President George W. Bush as a U.S. alternate delegate to the United Nations in 2007. Beyond public service, she founded the advisory firm Kelly G. Knight LLC and has served on numerous boards, including the Canadian American Business Council and several nonprofit and civic organizations. Craft holds a B.A. in Topical Studies from the University of Kentucky.
Prof. Ivan Krastev
Chairman, Centre for Liberal Strategies
Prof. Ivan Krastev is the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies and Albert Hirschman Permanent Fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences, IWM Vienna. He is a founding board member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Board of Trustees of The International Crisis Group and member of the Board of Directors of GLOBSEC. He is a Financial Times contributing editor and - among many others - the author of "Is it Tomorrow, Yet? How the Pandemic Changes Europe" (Allen Lane/Penguin, 2020) & “After Europe” (UPenn Press, 2017).
Mimoza Kusari-Lila
Minister of Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, Republic of Kosovo
Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila serves as Minister of Trade, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Innovation of the Republic of Kosovo and is a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo. In this role, she drives economic reforms, promotes private sector development, and advances entrepreneurship and innovation policies. Previously, she served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, and as the first female Mayor of Gjakova, focusing on governance and post-conflict recovery. In addition, she leads the political party Alternativa and has chaired parliamentary initiatives on environmental policy and democratic development. She is a Fulbright Fellow and Ron Brown Scholar. Kusari-Lila holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Prishtina.
Prof. Peter Sloterdijk
German Philosopher; Cultural Theorist
Prof. Peter Sloterdijk is a German philosopher, cultural theorist, and writer whose work has deeply influenced contemporary European thought. In 2024, he delivered a widely noted lecture series at the Collège de France in Paris. From 2001 to 2015, he served as Rector and Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design. His Critique of Cynical Reason became one of the best-selling works of philosophy of the 20th century and established him as a leading public intellectual. His years of independent writing were preceded by a formative period in India at the ashram of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and by his doctoral work at the University of Hamburg in 1976 on autobiographical writing in the Weimar Republic, following earlier studies in philosophy, history, and German literature in Munich and Hamburg.
Sergio P. Ermotti
Group CEO & President of the Executive Board, UBS AG
Sergio P. Ermotti has been Group CEO of UBS Group AG and President of the Executive Board of UBS AG since 2023. He was also the Group CEO from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re, where he was Chairman of the Board of Directors until 2023. Prior to joining UBS in 2011, he was at UniCredit Group, where from 2007 to 2010 he served as Group Deputy CEO and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking, prior to which he served as Head of the Markets & Investment Banking Division. Before that, he held various positions at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the areas of equity derivatives and capital markets. He became Co-Head of Global Equity Markets and a member of the Executive Management Committee for Global Markets & Investment Banking in 2001.
Nicolas Peter
Chairman of the Supervisory Board, BMW
Dr. Nicolas Peter has been Chairman of BMW’s Supervisory Board since May 2025. In this role, he chairs oversight of BMW’s corporate governance, strategic direction, and board decisions. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer (Board Member for Finance) of BMW from 2017 to 2023. He also held roles including Head of Europe, Head of Group Controlling, and leadership positions in BMW’s national operations (France, Sweden, etc.). He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt. Dr. Peter completed his law studies at the University of Munich with the Second State Examination and received his doctoral degree from the same university.
Thomas Schinecker
CEO, Roche Group
Dr. Thomas Schinecker has been Chief Executive Officer of the Roche Group since March 2023 and a member of the Corporate Executive Committee since 2019. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as interim CEO of the Pharmaceuticals Division in early 2023. For two years, he led Roche Diagnostics' largest business unit, including research and development, before taking over as CEO of the Diagnostics Division (2019–2022). Dr Schinecker joined Roche in 2003 as part of a management development programme. Over the course of his career at the company, he has held leadership positions across six countries and three continents. Before taking on more senior leadership roles, he served as Head of Marketing and Sales in Austria, Lifecycle Leader for Diagnostics' Sequencing Solutions in the United States, and General Manager of Roche Diagnostics in both Sweden and Germany. Alongside his work at Roche, Dr Schinecker serves as a member of the Innovation Board of Labor Berlin (Charité and Vivantes), Chair of the Biopharmaceutical CEOs Roundtable (BCR), and President of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), both since 2025. He was also elected to the Board of Directors of Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan in 2025. He studied genetics in Salzburg, Austria, and earned a PhD in molecular biology from New York University.
Patrick Zhong
Managing Partner, M31 Capital
Patrick Zhong is the Founding Managing Partner of M31 Capital and has over 20 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, buyout and public equity across diverse industries. Prior to founding M31, he served as Chief Investment Officer at Wanda Group, leading investments in technology & media, consumer and financial services. He was previously Senior Managing Director and Global Partner at Fosun Group. Zhong also led Fosun Lifestyle Brands, chaired Fosun Media Group and Forbes China, and earlier invested at Wellington Management, backing Tencent, Baidu, Alibaba and other major tech firms.
Thomas Gottschild
Managing Director, MBDA Deutschland
Thomas Gottschild has served as Managing Director of MBDA Deutschland GmbH since July 2016 and is Executive Vice President Strategy & Future Growth at MBDA. In this role, he is responsible for the Group’s overall strategic direction, business development, and product innovation, and serves as a member of MBDA’s Executive Committee. Previously, he led key efficiency and transformation initiatives as Executive Group Director Improvement. Prior to joining MBDA, he held various senior leadership roles at Airbus Defence and Space, including Corporate Secretary at executive management level and Head of Strategy for the Space Systems business. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, he was elected Chairman of the Security Committee of the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI) in February 2025. Thomas Gottschild studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Siegen following his service in the German Air Force.
Helene Budliger
State Secretary, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)
Prof. Richard David Precht
Philosopher & Author
Prof. Richard David Precht is a German philosopher, author, television host, and podcaster. He remains Honorary Professor of Philosophy and Aesthetics at Hanns Eisler University of Music in Berlin, and until October 2023 served as Honorary Professor of Philosophy at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. His 2007 bestselling book “Who am I? And if so, how many?” was translated into 40 languages. Since 2012 he has been the host of the philosophy television series “Precht” on German TV channel ZDF and, since 2021, part of the popular podcast “Lanz & Precht” with journalist and talkshow-moderator Markus Lanz. Prof. Precht discusses current societal and political questions on both his television show and podcast. He holds a PhD in German literature from the University of Cologne.
Bruno Le Maire
Fmr. Minister for Finance and Digital Sovereignty, French Republic; Fmr. Special Board Advisor, ASML
Bruno Le Maire served as France’s Minister of the Economy and Finance from 2017 to 2020 and subsequently as Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty until 2024. He currently serves as Special Adviser to the technology company ASML. In this role, he oversaw France’s economic, financial and industrial policy. Prior to this, he was a Member of the French National Assembly for the Eure constituency. Earlier in his career, he served as Minister of Agriculture and as Secretary of State for European Affairs. He also worked as Director of the Cabinet of the French Prime Minister and as political advisor within the French government. Earlier, he served in several advisory roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior. Bruno Le Maire studied at the École normale supérieure, Sciences Po and the École nationale d’administration (ENA).
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger
President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger has served as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 2022. In this role, she leads one of the world’s foremost humanitarian organizations, overseeing global operations in conflict zones and shaping international humanitarian policy. Previously, she served as UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS at UNDP, and held senior roles in the Swiss diplomatic service, including Ambassador for UN affairs. In addition, she has contributed to global governance as a lecturer at the University of Lucerne. Spoljaric Egger holds a master’s degree in philosophy, economics and international law from the Universities of Basel and Geneva.
Christoph Heusgen
Co-Conference Chair, St. Gallen Symposium
Christoph Heusgen is the former Chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), a position he held from 2022 to 2025. Before assuming that role, he served as Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations in New York from 2017 to 2021, chairing the UN Security Council in April 2019 and July 2020. From 2005 to 2017, Ambassador Heusgen advised Chancellor Angela Merkel on foreign and security policy. From 1999 to 2005, he headed the political staff of Javier Solana, then High Representative for the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Earlier in his career, he served as Head of the Europe Division at the Federal Foreign Office (1997–1999), following his role in the ministerial office of Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel (1993–1997). In 1988, he was appointed Personal Assistant to the Coordinator for Franco-German Cooperation, after previous postings at the German Consulate in Chicago and the German Embassy in Paris. Ambassador Heusgen joined the German Foreign Service in 1980. He studied at the University of St.Gallen, Georgia Southern College in the United States, and the Sorbonne in Paris, earning his doctorate at the University of St.Gallen, where he taught political science between 2021 and 2025. He serves as Conference Chairperson of the St. Gallen Symposium, fostering crossgenerational dialogue on leadership and global responsibility.
Ali Aslan
International TV Presenter and Journalist
Rainer Esser
Member of the Supervisory Board, Die ZEIT; Executive Adviser, Holtzbrinck
Dr. Rainer Esser is Executive Advisor at Holtzbrinck and a member of the supervisory board of DIE ZEIT since 2026. Previously, he served for more than 27 years as Chief Executive Officer of the ZEIT publishing group, where he transformed the company into a leading digital media organization and expanded its portfolio significantly. Under his leadership, the group grew its product portfolio to over 100 offerings and substantially increased revenue and audience reach. Earlier in his career, he was Managing Director of Mediengruppe Main-Post and Spotlight Verlag and worked as Editor-in-Chief of legal publications at Bertelsmann. He began his professional career as a lawyer after completing studies in law and journalism. Dr. Esser holds a doctorate in International Law from the University of Regensburg and an LL.M. from the University of Georgia, and studied law in Munich, Geneva and London.
Hanneke Faber
CEO, Logitech
Hanneke Faber has been Chief Executive Officer of Logitech since December 2023 and also serves as a Board Member and Member of the Audit Committee. In her role, she has returned the company to growth and is leading its mission to extend human potential in work and play. She brings more than 30 years of global business leadership experience across consumer, B2B, and e-commerce businesses, with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. Prior to joining Logitech, she held senior executive roles at Unilever, Ahold Delhaize, and Procter & Gamble, driving growth and large-scale transformations across multi-billion-dollar organizations. In addition, she has served as a board member at Tapestryand previously as a member of the Supervisory Board of Bayer. Hanneke Faber holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business.
Prof. Steven A. Altman
Director, Center for the Future of Management, DHL Initiative on Globalization
Prof. Steven A. Altman is Director of the DHL Initiative on Globalization and Senior Research Scholar at the Center for the Future of Management at NYU Stern. The DHL Initiative fosters research on globalization, cross-border strategy, and international management.
In his role, he leads research on globalization and global strategy, teaches courses like Global Strategy, and publishes academic work in international business. He holds a B.S. in Economics (Wharton), an MBA (Harvard Business School), an MPA (Harvard Kennedy School), and a PhD in International Business & Strategy (University of Reading).
Martin Blessing
Personal Representative of the Federal Chancellor for Investments in Germany; Chairman, Danske Bank
Martin Blessing has served as the Foreign Investment Commissioner of the Federal Government of Germany since 2025, acting as the government’s key representative for promoting and managing international investment in Germany. He also serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Danske Bank A/S (since 2022). He also serves on several advisory boards, including the fintech firm Unzer Group GmbH. From 2016 to 2019, he held senior leadership roles at UBS. Between 2008 and 2016, he was CEO of Commerzbank AG, where he guided the bank through its post-crisis restructuring and return to profitability. He holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Prof. Manuel Ammann
President, University of St.Gallen (HSG); Member of the Board, St. Gallen Symposium
Prof. Manuel Ammann is the President of the University of St.Gallen and a Professor of Finance. He previously served as Dean of the School of Finance at the University of St.Gallen and Director of the Swiss Institute of Banking and Finance. Known for his expertise in derivatives, asset management, financial markets, and risk management, Prof. Ammann has made substantial contributions to the field of finance. Before becoming President, Prof. Ammann was Chairman of the Board of Directors at Algofin AG and Neue Bank AG, and he also served on the Board of Directors of St. Galler Kantonalbank. He earned his master’s degree in computer science from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and a PhD in Finance from the University of St.Gallen. Additionally, Prof. Ammann has held visiting professor positions at New York University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Benedetta Berti
Secretary General, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Dr Benedetta Berti is the Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since October 2025. From 2018 to 2025, Benedetta Berti directed Policy Planning in the Office of the NATO Secretary General. She serves as a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe and has held fellowships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She has been recognized as a TED Senior Fellow and an Eisenhower Global Fellow. She holds a PhD and an MA in International Security Studies from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a BA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Bologna.
Jagdish Kharel
Fmr. Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Republic of Nepal
Jagdish Kharel served as Minister of Communication and Information Technology and Spokesperson of the Government of Nepal until January 2026. In this role, he focused on strengthening reliable public communication, improving digital access and connectivity, and fostering transparent coordination between state institutions, media, and citizens during a period of national transition. Prior to entering government, he spent more than 20 years in Nepali media across radio, television, and digital platforms, most recently as Editor-in-Chief and Executive Producer at Image Channel within Image Group. There, he led national broadcast and digital coverage, hosted the political interview program Hot Seat, and mentored journalists during major national crises. Jagdish Kharel holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Tribhuvan University and is pursuing a PhD in International Relations and Diplomacy at the same institution.
Prof. Martin Kocher
Governor, Austrian Central Bank (OeNB)
Prof. Martin Kocher is Governor of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank and member of the ECB Governing Council since September 2025. He held the positions of Austrian Federal Minister of Labor from 2021 to 2022 and Federal Minster of Labor and the Economy from 2022 to March 2025. Previously, he was Scientific Director of the Vienna Institute for Advanced Studies, President of the Fiscal Advisory Council and Chairman of the Statistics Council. He is Full Professor of Economics at the University of Vienna and has held academic positions at universities in Munich, East Anglia, Amsterdam, Göteborg, Brisbane and Innsbruck, where he obtained his doctorate.
Khaled El-Enany
Director-General, UNESCO
Khaled El-Enany has served as Director-General of UNESCO since 2025. In this role, he leads the United Nations agency responsible for international cooperation in education, science and culture. An Egyptologist and professor at Helwan University in Cairo for more than three decades, he has held several academic leadership roles including Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management and Head of the Tour Guide Department. Prior to his current position, he served as Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and subsequently as Minister of Tourism and Antiquities from 2016 to 2022. Earlier, he was Director General of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. He is also active internationally, including as Special Ambassador for Cultural Tourism of the World Tourism Organization and patron of the African World Heritage Fund. El-Enany holds a PhD in Egyptology from Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Tourism Guidance from Helwan University.
Alejandro Cacace
Secretary of Deregulation, Argentine Republic
Alejandro Cacace has served as Secretary of Deregulation for the Government of Argentina since 2025. In this role, he contributes to implementing structural reforms aimed at reducing economic distortions and fostering a fair and competitive market environment. He works on deregulation policies, government reform initiatives and legislative coordination designed to promote economic freedom and job creation. Prior to this appointment, he served as Undersecretary for Structural Reforms and was previously a Member of the National Congress of Argentina as well as Parliamentary Secretary for the Minority in the Chamber of Deputies. Earlier in his political career, he served as Representative of the Province of San Luis in the provincial Chamber of Deputies. In parallel, he has been Associate Professor of Constitutional Law at the Universidad Nacional de San Luis for over 16 years and is also Senior Partner at Estudio Cacace, Estrada y Asociados. He holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Master in Law and Economics from the University of Bologna.
Sebastian Kurz
Fmr. Prime Minister of Austria; Co-Founder and President of DREAM
Sebastian Kurz is former Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria and Co-Founder of DREAM since 2023. DREAM is an AI-cybersecurity company protecting nations and critical infrastructure against advanced digital threats, with operations in Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi and Vienna. In his current role, he works globally as an entrepreneur, investor and advisor, supporting the international expansion of technology-driven ventures. Previously, he served as Austria’s youngest Foreign Minister and twice as Federal Chancellor, becoming the youngest head of government in the world at the time. Beyond this, he supports organisations such as GLOBSEC, the International Democrat Union and the Abraham Accords Peace Institute on a voluntary basis.
Peter Voser
Chairman of the Board of Directors, ABB; President of the Board of Trustees, St. Gallen Symposium
Peter Voser has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of ABB since 2015, having previously led the company as Chief Executive Officer . Prior to this role, he held senior executive positions at Royal Dutch Shell, serving as Chief Executive Officer from 2009 to 2013 and as Chief Financial Officer from 2004 to 2009. Beyond his executive career, he holds a range of leadership and board mandates, including Chairman of the Board of Directors of PSA International and member of the Board of Directors of IBM Corporation, and has previously served on the boards of UBS AG, Roche Holding, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Catalyst Inc. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Symposium.
Sabrina Soussan
Member of the Board, Continental & St. Gallen Symposium; Member of Shareholders‘ Committee, Henkel
Sabrina Soussan is a member of the Board of Directors of Henkel and Continental. She served as Chairman and CEO of SUEZ and was a member of the Board of Directors at Boeing until 2025. Prior to these roles, she was CEO of dormakaba and held senior leadership positions at Siemens, including serving as CEO of Siemens Mobility. She has also previously served on the Boards of ITT Inc. and Schaeffler and is engaged in various industry associations, including the French Business Confederation (MEDEF). Ms Soussan holds a degree in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering from ENSMA and an MBA from the University of Poitiers. We are delighted that she also serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Symposium.
Prof. Scott D. Anthony
Clinical Professor of Business Administration, Dartmouth College
Prof. Scott D. Anthony is a Clinical Professor of Strategy at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Senior Advisor at Innosight. At Dartmouth, his research and teaching focus on the adaptive challenges of disruptive change. Harvard Business Review Press will release Scott’s ninth book Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World on September 16, 2025. Before joining the Tuck School of Business, Prof. Anthony spent over 20 years at Innosight, a growth strategy consultancy founded by Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen. He became a Senior Advisor in 2024 after serving as Managing Director of Innosight Consulting Asia-Pacific from 2009 to 2022, where he built out Innosight's presence in the region. Additionally, between 2012 and 2018, he served two terms as Global Managing Partner, a period during which Innosight doubled its global business, expanded to Europe, and was acquired by Huron. An internationally recognized expert and dynamic keynote speaker on navigating disruptive change, Scott has been at the forefront of strategic transformation. He has helped major global organizations navigate tumultuous changes, held board roles at public and private companies, delivered keynote addresses on six continents, and worked closely with CEOs at numerous global organizations. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Dartmouth College, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an Executive Master in Change (EMC) from INSEAD.
Jessica Anderen
CEO, IKEA Foundation
Jessica Anderen is the CEO of the IKEA Foundation, an independent philanthropy focused on tackling poverty and climate change. With more than 30 years of experience across IKEA’s global value chain, she has held senior leadership roles in Sweden, India, Singapore, China and Australia. Before joining the Foundation, she served as CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Switzerland, following earlier positions including Global Market Support Manager, Deputy Country Manager at IKEA Retail Sweden, and Trading Area Manager for South Asia. She has served on the boards of companies, universities and social organisations, and has acted as a senior adviser and coach to Inter IKEA’s Social Entrepreneurship programme, with an academic background in economics from Sweden.
Lord Brian Griffiths of Fforestfach
Conference Co-Chairperson, St. Gallen Symposium; Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom
Lord Brian Griffiths of Fforestfach is a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament and the former Vice-Chairman of Goldman Sachs International. In his roles in finance and public policy, Lord Griffiths has shaped economic strategy at the highest levels, including advising on domestic policymaking in the UK. Previously, he taught at the London School of Economics, became Professor at City University, and later served as Dean of its Business School. He also served as a Director of the Bank of England, as Head of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, and was the special advisor to the Prime Minister for domestic policy making. He has been recognised for his long-standing contributions to economic policy and public service. Lord Griffiths serves as one of three Conference Chairpersons of the St. Gallen Symposium.
Prof. Zhang Jun
Dean School of Economics, Fudan University
Prof. Zhang Jun is Dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University and Director of the China Center for Economic Research as well as the Fudan-Ping An Macroeconomic Research Center. He is a senior professor in Fudan’s Faculty of Liberal Arts and a recipient of several national talent programs and the State Council special allowance. His research focuses on China’s structural change and economic reform. Prof. Zhang has published around 200 academic papers and more than ten books. He received the China Economic Theory Innovation Award in 2015 and the ACES Bergson Prize in 2018. He holds BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Economics from Fudan University.
Egils Levits
Fmr. President of the Republic of Latvia
Egils Levits served as the President of Latvia from 2019 to 2023. From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Levits participated in the restoration of Latvia. Later in the 1990s, he represented the Republic of Latvia as an Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Hungary. He also held positions as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and served as a Conciliator at the Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE. Between 1995 and 2004, President Levits served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights, followed by a tenure as a judge at the European Court of Justice from 2004 to 2019. He is a graduate in law and political science from the University of Hamburg and has co-authored significant draft laws, including the Law on the Constitutional Court of Latvia and the Law on the Structure of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Gerald Knaus
Founding Chairman, European Stability Initiative (ESI)
Gerald Knaus is the founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative (ESI), a Berlin-based think tank working on democracy, migration, human rights, and European stability. He was closely involved in shaping the EU-Turkey Statement on Migration (2016), a landmark in European migration policy, and his work at ESI also helped uncover the “Caviar Diplomacy” corruption scandal at the Council of Europe in 2017. Alongside his role at ESI, he is a regular lecturer on Southeast Europe at the NATO Defence College in Rome and has held fellowships at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. His books include Can Intervention Work? (2011, with Rory Stewart), the Spiegel bestseller Welche Grenzen brauchen wir? (2020), Wir und die Flüchtlinge (2022), and most recently Welches Europa brauchen wir? (2025, with Francesca Knaus) on Europe’s future and the challenge of defending democracy against authoritarian threats. Born in Austria in 1970, he studied in Oxford, Brussels, and Bologna, and lives in Berlin.
Curtis Yarvin
American Political Blogger
Curtis Yarvin (Mencius Moldbug) is an American writer and computer scientist, and leading thinker in the Tech Right/New Right movement. He is the author of the blogs Unqualified Reservations and Gray Mirror, where he writes on political theory, governance and critiques of modern democratic systems. Yarvin is also the inventor of the decentralized computing platform Urbit and co-founded the San Francisco-based company Tlon Corp in 2013 to further develop the network with support from Founders Fund. He attended Brown University, graduating in 1992.
Georg Maier
Minister of the Interior, Thuringia
Georg Maier has served as Minister for Internal Affairs and Municipalities of the Thuringia since August 2017. In this role, he oversees internal security, municipal affairs, and civil protection, and currently chairs the Conference of Interior Ministers while serving as a member of key federal committees. Prior to this appointment, he was State Secretary in the Thuringian Ministry of Economy, Science, and Digital Society. Earlier in his career, he held various senior positions at KfW Banking Group, ultimately becoming Head of Start-up and SME Financing. Beyond his governmental functions, he has been a member of the SPD since 2009 and is active within party and policy advisory bodies. Georg Maier holds a degree in Business Administration from universities in Mannheim and St. Gallen and completed the Management Program at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Sunny Mann
Global Chair, Baker McKenzie
Sunny Mann has been the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie since 2025, having joined the Firm in 2000. In his current role, he leads one of the world’s largest global law firms with offices in over 40 countries and around 13,000 professionals. He also led the Firm’s Geopolitical Risks Taskforce, advising companies on geopolitical disruption, trade and tariff wars, export controls, trade sanctions, investigations, and crisis management. Earlier in his career, he worked across Washington D.C., New York, Paris, Sydney, and Hong Kong.
He is also a Visiting Professor at King’s College London and served on the board of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. He has been recognised for his expertise in sanctions, trade and geopolitical risk. He earned his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the College of Europe.
Georges Kern
CEO, Breitling
Georges Kern has served as CEO of Breitling SA since 2017 and currently also leads Universal Genève and Gallet as Chief Executive Officer. He introduced the House of Brands, aligning Breitling, Universal Genève and Gallet under a unified vision. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Richemont, including CEO of IWC Schaffhausen and Head of Watchmaking, Marketing and Digital, after earlier experience at TAG Heuer and Kraft Foods Switzerland. Beyond his executive roles, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce. He holds degrees in Political Science from Strasbourg and Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen.
Jens Petter Olsen
Chair, Telenor
Jens Petter Olsen is the Chair of the Board at Telenor Group and Vice Chair of the Board at DNB Bank. He brings extensive experience from the financial sector, having spent a decade at Danske Bank between 2008 and 2018, where he held senior positions including Head of Capital Markets, Head of Danske Bank Markets Norway, Head of Institutional Sales, and Chief Strategist. Prior to that, he worked at Norges Bank Investment Management from 1998 to 2008, serving as Head of the New York Office and Senior Portfolio Manager. Olsen holds a Master of Philosophy in Finance from London Business School and a degree from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
H.S.H. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein
Exec. Chairman, Industrie- und Finanzkontor Ets.; Co-Founder, International Institute of Longevity
Prince Michael of Liechtenstein is Executive Chairman of Industrie- und Finanzkontor Etablissement, a leading trust company with a tradition and expertise in the long-term and multi-generational preservation of wealth, family values and businesses. Furthermore, he is the Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Intelligence Services AG, a geopolitical consultancy company and information platform headquartered in Liechtenstein, as well as founder and publisher of the German print and online media DER PRAGMATICUS. In addition, Prince Michael of Liechtenstein serves on the Advisory Board of the Foundation for Economic Governance and Public Law in Vaduz, is a member of Liechtenstein Finance e.V., a member of the International Institute of Longevity as well as Chairman of the liberal think tank European Center of Austrian Economics Foundation.
Thorsten Pauli
Country Executive Switzerland, Bank of America
Thorsten Pauli has served as Country Executive Switzerland and Head of Equity Capital Markets DACH at Bank of America since 2019. In this role, he leads the bank's strategy, operations, and client relationships in Switzerland and oversees equity capital markets activities across the German-speaking region, with a strong track record in capital raising and IPO execution. Previously, he spent over 20 years at UBS, where he held senior roles including Head of Equity Capital Markets Switzerland and Global Head of ECM Wealth Management Distribution. In addition, he is closely connected to senior leadership at SIX Swiss Exchange. Pauli holds a BSc in Management and an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics.
Paul Morland
Demographer & Author
Dr. Paul Morland is an author and broadcaster who writes and speaks about population and major demographic trends worldwide, past and present. He is the author of four books: No One Left, Tomorrow’s People, The Human Tide and Demographic Engineering translated into nine languages. He has contributed to and been featured in outlets such as the Financial Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Toronto Globe and Mail, Der Spiegel and the Jerusalem Post, and has broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Morland is an Associate Research Fellow at Birkbeck, University of London and a Senior Member of St Antony’s College, Oxford. He holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in Demography and Population Studies from Birkbeck / University of London.
Kai Diekmann
Founder, Storymachine
Kai Diekmann co-founded Storymachine in 2017 after leaving Springer-Verlag, building it into a prominent communications platform. He later established Der Zukunftsfonds, a digital asset management company. He is the Chairman of the German Friends Association of the Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem. For 15 years, he served as Editor-in-Chief of Germany’s largest circulated newspaper, BILD, with a daily circulation of over one million copies. From 2010 to 2022, Mr. Diekmann held the position of Non-Executive Director at Times Newspaper Holdings Limited, contributing to its strategic oversight.
Michael Bröcker
Journalist, Table.Briefings
Michael Bröcker is Editor-in-Chief of Table.Media since January 2024. Table.Media is a Berlin-based media company producing professional briefings for decision-makers. Previously, he was Editor-in-Chief of The Pioneer and the Rheinische Post. Bröcker sits on the board of the International Journalists’ Programmes (IJP) and jury panels for ajor media awards. He was named “Regional Editor-in-Chief of the Year” in 2017 and won a Lead Award in 2018. He studied economics at the University of Cologne.
Mo Ibrahim
Founder & Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Dr. Mo Ibrahim is the Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which he established in 2006 to strengthen good governance and exceptional leadership across the African continent. He also serves as the Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private investment firm focused primarily on Africa, and is the Co-founder and Co-chair of the Africa Europe Foundation. Prior to establishing the Foundation, he built a distinguished business career, founding Mobile Systems International in 1989, a world-leading cellular consulting and software provider, and later launching Celtel International in 1998, one of Africa’s pioneering mobile telecommunications companies. Dr Ibrahim has received numerous honorary degrees and fellowships from leading universities, including Oxford University, Imperial College London and the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham in mobile communications.
Patrick Horber
President of the International Unit, Novartis
Patrick Horber is President of the International Unit at Novartis, where he focuses on strengthening and growing the company’s business across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Canada and Latin America. In this role, he oversees regional strategy, performance and long-term growth across diverse healthcare markets. Previously, he joined Novartis from AbbVie, where he served as Senior Vice President and President, Immunology, leading the global immunology strategy and U.S. execution, including the successful launch of major therapies. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Roche across multiple therapeutic areas and began his professional career in healthcare consulting at A.T. Kearney. In addition, he serves as a board member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), where he is Vice-Chair of the Patient Access Committee, and as a board member of economiesuisse. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Zurich.
Christian Sinding
CEO, EQT Partners
Christian Sinding is Institutional Partner and Chair of the EQT Council at EQT, a leading global investment organization. In his current role, he oversees key governance bodies, including the EQT Council and Global Investment Forum, and serves on multiple investment committees across EQT’s strategies. He previously served as CEO and Managing Partner from 2019 to May 2025, leading EQT’s IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm and a period of significant growth in which the firm quadrupled in size. Prior to this, he was Head of EQT Equity, playing a central role in building and expanding EQT’s global investment platform. In addition, he serves on the board of the EQT Foundation and has held several board positions, including at companies such as Gambro, XXL Sport & Villmark and VTI Technologies. Sinding holds a degree in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).
Manfred Lütz
Psychiatrist & Theologian
Dr. Manfred Lütz is a German psychiatrist, psychotherapist, Roman Catholic theologian, Vatican advisor and bestselling author. From 1997 to 2019, he served as Chief Physician of the Alexianer Hospital in Cologne, a leading clinic for psychiatry, psychotherapy and neurology. There he founded the “Alexianer Therapy Forum” and helped shape modern psychiatric care. Previously, he worked as senior physician in several psychiatric hospitals and specialized in neurology, psychiatry and psychotherapy. Lütz is a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life and has advised various Vatican dicasteries. He has received awards such as the Corine Literature Prize and was named Knight of the Order of St. Gregory in 2010. He studied medicine, philosophy and Catholic theology in Bonn and Rome.
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Director, Center for Middle East and Global Order
Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad is Founder and Director of the Center for Middle East and Global Order (CMEG), a transnational research network and think tank focused on geopolitical transformations in Iran, the Middle East and the evolving global order. In this role, he leads research initiatives and partnerships aimed at advancing analysis and policy dialogue on regional politics, international relations and development. He also serves as Lecturer in Middle East politics and international security at the Hertie School in Berlin and as Senior Fellow at the University of Bonn’s Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS). Previously, he held research and expert positions at institutions including the Brookings Institution in Doha, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut. Fathollah-Nejad is the author of several acclaimed books and policy studies on Iran and the Middle East and has published widely in international media and academic outlets. He holds a PhD in International Relations from SOAS, University of London.
Prof. Lars Feld
Director, Walter Eucken Institut
Prof. Lars P. Feld has been Director of the Walter Eucken Institute and holds the Chair of Economic Policy and Ordinal Economics at the University of Freiburg since 2010. His research focuses on economic policy, public finance, new political economy, and the economic analysis of law. Before that, he studied economics at the University of Saarland, earned his doctorate in 1999 and his habilitation in 2002 at the University of St. Gallen, and held professorships in Marburg and Heidelberg. In 2017 he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lucerne and was awarded the Gustav-Stolper Prize in 2021. Since 2003 he has served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Federal Ministry of Finance and has contributed to several government commissions on fiscal and financial reform.
Ryan Field
CEO & CTO, Kernel
Ryan Field is the CEO of Kernel, a neurotechnology company dedicated to building actionable insights from high-quality brain data. He has been with Kernel since 2018, previously leading the Kernel Flow team and serving as CTO, where he oversaw the concept, design, and development of the category-defining Kernel Flow brain-imaging system. Before joining Kernel, he spent three years at Quanergy, most recently as Director of ASIC Engineering. Prior to that, he worked as a Research Scientist at Intel Corporation. Ryan Field is an inventor with more than 20 granted US patents and a published researcher with over a decade of experience in complex sensing systems. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University.
Eckart von Hirschhausen
Managing Director, Healthy Earth - Healthy People
Eckart von Hirschhausen is a German physician, science journalist, TV host and author. In 2020, he founded Healthy Planet – Healthy People (Gesunde Erde – Gesunde Menschen), raising awareness of the link between human and planetary health with a focus on climate action. He is known for his work with ARD - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. In 2021, he published the bestselling book “Mensch, Erde! Wir könnten es so schön haben” on climate and health. He is an honorary member of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a member of the Club of Rome, and an honorary professor in Marburg. He studied medicine and science journalism in Berlin, London, and Heidelberg.
Martin Wolf
Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times
Martin Wolf has been Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times in London since 1996. He joined the Financial Times in 1987 after serving as Director of the Trade Policy Research Centre in London. From 1971 to 1981, he worked at the World Bank, where he became Senior Economist in 1974.
His distinguished commentary has earned him numerous accolades, including the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award, the Overseas Press Club prize for international reporting and the Ludwig Erhard Prize.
He has received honorary doctorates from leading institutions including the London School of Economics, KU Leuven and Macquarie University, and is an honorary fellow of several Oxford colleges and King’s College London. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Nuffield College, Oxford, and was appointed CBE in 2000.
James Heappey
Fmr. Minister of State for the Armed Forces, United Kingdom
James Heappey is a former UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Minister for Defence Procurement. He currently serves as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at M&C Saatchi World Services and acts as Strategic Advisor to Serco and Senior Advisor to Helsing, AECOM, and HPO Technologies. Previously, he was a Member of Parliament in the UK House of Commons, representing the Wells constituency, and held several senior government roles, including Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Transport. Earlier in his career, he was a commissioned officer in the British Army, reaching the rank of Major and serving in operational and staff roles with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Birmingham.
Aimee Donnellan
Associate Editor, Reuters
Aimee Donnellan is Associate Editor at Reuters Breakingviews, where she has worked since 2017. Reuters Breakingviews is the financial commentary arm of Reuters, providing analysis on global business, finance and economic developments. In her role, she focuses on sectors including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and insurance, shaping editorial perspectives and in-depth analysis. Previously, she served as Banking Correspondent at The Sunday Times and reported on bond markets at the International Financing Review. In addition to her journalism, she is the author of Off the Scales (2026), examining the global race to address obesity. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from the University of Galway and a diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism.
Steven Althaus
CEO, Grenzebach Gruppe; Member of the Board, St. Gallen Symposium
Dr. Steven Althaus has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Grenzebach Group since 2020. The Grenzebach Group is a global industrial engineering company specializing in automation and production solutions across various industries. In his role, he drives the company’s strategic development and transformation, having previously supported its growth as a member of the Advisory Board since 2015. Prior to joining Grenzebach, he held senior leadership positions including Chief Marketing Officer of BMW Group and Credit Suisse, as well as Chairman and CEO of Publicis Group in Germany and Austria, and Head of Global Brand Management at Allianz. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees of the St. Gallen Foundation for International Studies and is a former member of the International Students’ Committee. Dr. Althaus holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen.
Prof. Rüdiger Bachmann
Professor of Economics, University of Michigan
Prof. Rüdiger Bachmann is Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan's Department of Economics. In his role, he conducts research and teaches courses in macroeconomics, focusing on heterogeneous agents, uncertainty, and expectation formation. Previously, he held professorships at Notre Dame, Goethe University / SAFE in Frankfurt, RWTH Aachen, and was Assistant Professor at Michigan. Bachmann is also a member of the editorial board of Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik and is a member of the macroeconomics committee of the German Economic Association. He has advised the German federal government and members of parliament on a number of occasions. He earned undergraduate degrees in Economics and Philosophy from Mainz University and obtained his PhD in Economics from Yale University.
Veit Dengler
Member of Parliament, Austria
Veit Dengler is a Member of Austria’s National Council, representing the state of Styria and serving as spokesman for foreign affairs, Austrians abroad, and dual education. He is also Founder and Managing Partner of Draw.Solutions, a Zurich-based advisory firm focused on strategy, growth, and corporate transformation, and a Member of the Market Advisory Board of Chain IQ Group. Previously, he was COO of Bauer Media Group and CEO of NZZ Mediengruppe, following senior roles at Groupon, Dell, T-Mobile, and McKinsey & Company. He began his career as a journalist with Time Inc. Mr. Dengler holds an MPA in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Magister in Commerce from the Vienna University of Business and Economics.
Owen Matthews
Russia Expert and Associate Editor, The Spectator
Owen Matthews has been a leading historian and foreign correspondent since 1995, specialising in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the wider post-Soviet region. He is noted for his incisive analysis of geopolitics shaped by over 25 years of reporting from Moscow. In his work, Matthews offers nuanced perspectives on conflicts in Chechnya, the Balkans and Ukraine, grounding current events in their historical context. Before his long-standing role with Newsweek, he wrote from Moscow for The Times, The Spectator and The Independent. Beyond journalism, he speaks widely on global affairs and contributes to major international publications.
He is the award-winning author of Overreach, which won the 2023 Pushkin House Book Prize. Matthews studied Modern History at Oxford University.
Niddal Salah-Eldin
Committee Member, UNICEF
Niddal Salah-Eldin is a manager and advisory board member for digital transformation and innovation. She has been a Member of the National Committee of UNICEF e.V. since July 2025. She is a former member of the Executive Board of Axel Springer SE. She left Axel Springer to engage in humanitarian aid in Sudan and now works with more than two dozen local and international organisations and foundations. From 2022 to the end of 2024, she was responsible at Axel Springer for global talent and HR, journalism and technology training, and the company’s AI initiative. She is a long-standing member of the board of trustees of Reporters Without Borders and serves as an advisory board member to Startup Teens. She holds a Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, and Political Science from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Sebastian Ramspeck
International Correspondent, SRF
Sebastian Ramspeck has been working for Swiss Television SRF as an international correspondent and host of the foreign affairs magazine "#SRFglobal" since 2020. He covers events such as meetings of the UN and NATO and regularly appears as an expert on global political issues. Mr Ramspeck studied international relations in Geneva, European law in Zurich, and is a graduate of the Henri-Nannen School of Journalism in Hamburg. He began his professional career in federal administration, initially at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) and later in a security policy staff unit of the Federal Council. As a journalist, Mr Ramspeck worked for various media outlets at home and abroad, including "Der Spiegel" and "Sonntagszeitung". He has been with SRF since 2012, initially as a reporter and from 2014 to 2020 as a correspondent in Brussels.
Prof. Alena Buyx
Professor for Medical Ethics and Health Technologies, TUM; Fmr. Chair, German Ethics Council
Prof. Dr. Alena Buyx is Professor of Medical Ethics in Munich and a fully licensed physician with additional degrees in philosophy and sociology. Her work spans clinical ethics, biotechnological innovation, medical research, and questions of justice in modern healthcare systems, following an interdisciplinary “embedded ethics” approach. From 2016 to 2024, she served as a member of the Deutscher Ethikrat, chairing the Council from 2020 to 2024. She was also a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Committee on Developing Global Standards for Governance and Oversight of Human Genome Editing. Previously, she held academic positions at the University of Kiel, the University of Münster, Harvard University, and University College London. Prof. Buyx completed her habilitation in 2013.
Prof. Michael Hüther
Vice-Chairman, Atlantik-Brücke
Prof. Michael Hüther has been Director and Member of the Presidium of the German Economic Institute since July 2004. He studied economics as well as medieval and modern history at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen. Upon completion of his doctorate in economics, in 1991 he became a member of the scientific staff of the Council of Experts for the Evaluation of Macroeconomic Development. In 1995 he was appointed Secretary General of the German Council of Economic Advisers. In 1999, he joined DekaBank as chief economist and in 2001 additionally as Division Manager of economics and communication. Since August 2001 Prof. Hüther is Honorary Professor at the EBS Business School in Oestrich-Winkel and since April 2019 Prof. Hüther is chair of the supervisory board of TÜV Rheinland AG. He has held multiple appointments as Gerda Henkel Adjunct Professor in the Department of German Studies at Stanford University, CA, USA.
Prof. Dietmar Grichnik
Professor for Entrepreneurship, University of St. Gallen
Prof. Dietmar Grichnik has served as Vice-President for Innovation & Quality at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) since 2024. He is also Full Professor of Entrepreneurship and Technology Management and Director of the University's Institute of Technology Management (ITEM). Earlier in his career, he completed a banking apprenticeship and worked in banking before moving into academia; he held professorships at the Universities of Witten/Herdecke and WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management before joining HSG in 2010. He is active as an investor and startup mentor, serves on boards such as Switzerland Innovation, and supports entrepreneurial initiatives through the HSG Center for Entrepreneurship. He holds a Dr. rer. pol. (PhD) in Business Administration and Business Education from the University of Cologne.
Nico Luchsinger
incoming CEO, Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute
Nico Luchsinger will assume the role of CEO of the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute as of 1 July 2026. Nico Luchsinger has been Executive Director of Asia Society Switzerland since 2021. Asia Society Switzerland is an independent foundation fostering Asia competence and dialogue between Switzerland and Asia within the global Asia Society network. Luchsinger oversees strategy, programming and flagship events such as the STATE OF ASIA conference and the TOY Senior Fellowship. Previously, he was Co-Executive Director and Head of Programming, co-founded the global entrepreneurial community Sandbox, and worked as journalist at Neue Zürcher Zeitung and as Head of business development at Swiss startup Mila. He holds a master’s in history and economics from the University of Zurich.
Lars-Hendrik Röller
Founder & Chair, Berlin Global Dialogue
Lars-Hendrik Röller is Founder and Chair of the Berlin Global Dialogue and Professor of Economics at ESMT Berlin. He previously served as Chief Economic Advisor to former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and as Germany's Sherpa for the G7 and G20, preparing and shaping 17 international summits. Prior to this, he was the Chief Competition Economist at the European Commission and held academic positions at INSEAD, Humboldt University Berlin, and Stanford University, among others. In addition, he serves on multiple advisory boards, including roles in climate finance and geopolitical advisory, and co-founded the consultancy E.CA Economics. He is a Fellow of the European Economic Association and a Distinguished Fellow of CEPR, and has received several international honors, including the Gossen Prize and multiple national orders of merit. Röller holds a PhD in Economics as well as master’s degrees in Economics and Artificial Intelligence from the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M University.
Fabienne Kinzelmann
Swiss Business Reporter, Bloomberg
Fabienne Kinzelmann-Opel has been Swiss Business Reporter at Bloomberg News since 2025. In this role, she covers the Swiss pharma and consumer sectors. Previously, she was international editor and correspondent at Handelszeitung, reporting on foreign affairs and macroeconomics, including the World Economic Forum and UN climate summits. She also served as foreign affairs editor at Blick Group and contributed to Der Spiegel and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, reporting from Washington, D.C., with Axios. She holds an M.A. in Religion–Economics–Politics from the University of Zurich.
Mehreen Khan
Economics Editor, The Times
Mehreen Khan is the Economics Editor for The Times of London. Her coverage focuses on the global and UK economy, geopolitics, and financial markets. Mehreen writes a weekly column and is a regular contributor to the BBC and Times Radio. She was the EU correspondent for the Financial Times in Brussels between 2017-2022.
Tristan Horx
Co-Founder, The Future:Project
Tristan Horx is Co-Founder and Spokesperson of The Future:Project, a platform dedicated to exploring societal change and future developments. As a trend and future researcher from Generation Y, he focuses on generational dynamics and the role of rebellion as a driver of social innovation and transformation. In his work, he addresses topics such as sustainability, mobility, digitalisation and the Conscious Economy from the perspective of younger generations. Alongside his international speaking engagements, he serves as lecturer at SRH University Heidelberg and at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt (Campus Wieselburg). He is also a columnist for the Kronen Zeitung and author of several publications on societal change. Horx co-hosts the podcast “Horx & Horx” together with his father Matthias Horx. He studied Cultural and Social Anthropology at the University of Vienna.
Tobias Reichmuth
Longevity Entrepreneur & Investor
Dr. Tobias Reichmuth is Host of the Longevity Investors Conference and Founding Partner at Maximon since 2021. Maximon empowers entrepreneurs to build impactful, science-based and scalable companies providing healthy aging and rejuvenation solutions. In his current roles, he invests in and advises multiple technology-driven start-ups, often serving as a board or advisory member, and is a regular investor on the Swiss TV show Die Höhle der Löwen. Previously, he founded SUSI Partners, an infrastructure fund manager focused on climate change mitigation, following a career in strategy consulting at The Boston Consulting Group. Beyond this, he co-founded The Singularity Group and Crypto Finance Group and initiated the CFC St. Moritz conference. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from EBS Oestrich-Winkel.
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook
Executive Vice President & Senior Advisor, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook has served as Executive Vice President and Senior Adviser at Bertelsmann Stiftung since 2022. In this role, she is leading two of the foundation's important initiatives: the German-American Future Forum and a high-level strategy group on Europe. Previously, she was Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and held senior leadership roles at Harvard University, including Executive Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center and of the Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship at Harvard Kennedy School. In parallel, she serves on the Alumni Board of Directors at Brown University and is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute. She was named a 2017 Eisenhower USA Fellow. She holds an MPA from Harvard University, an MSc from the London School of Economics, and a BA from Brown University.
Christian Mumenthaler
Fmr. Group CEO, Swiss Re; Multiple Board Member
Dr. Christian Mumenthaler was Group Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re from 2016 to 2024, having joined the company in 1999 and subsequently held senior roles including Group Chief Risk Officer, Head of Life & Health, and CEO Reinsurance after starting his career at Boston Consulting Group. Since 2025, he has served as a Non-Executive Director on MetLife's Board. MetLife is a leading global insurance company providing life, health, and retirement products. He also chaired The Geneva Association (2021-2024) and serves on the Board of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (since 2025). He has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and was included in the "Top 100 Climate Leaders in Business 2023." He holds a PhD in Physics from ETH Zurich.
Meline von Brentano
EVP Digital Transformation Strategy, Palantir Technologies
Meline von Brentano is the Executive Vice President of Digital Transformation Strategy at Palantir Technologies. In this role, she leads the design, development, and implementation of data-driven transformation with a focus on applying data technologies to real-world contexts for tangible outcomes. Before joining Palantir in 2012 to help build its European business, Meline von Brentano worked as Managing Director of The Caedmon Group, where she supported the creation, financing, and scaling of ventures in technology and asset management. She has spent her career operating at the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship. Meline von Brentano is also active as a contributor at conferences on digital transformation, technology, and entrepreneurship. Meline von Brentano holds M.A.s in both Business and Public Administration from Harvard University’s Graduate Schools of Business and Government.
Jan Goetz
CEO and Co-Founder, IQM
Dr. Jan Goetz is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IQM Quantum Computers, a role he has held since 2019. In this position, he led the spin-out of IQM from Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and has driven the company’s growth, including raising more than USD 600 million in capital. Prior to founding IQM, Dr. Goetz completed his doctorate on superconducting quantum circuits at TU Munich and worked as a Marie-Curie Fellow at Aalto University in Helsinki, where he holds the title of Docent. Beyond his executive role, he serves as an EIC Ambassador, sits on the Board of the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC), and is a member of the German Federal Economic Senate, the EIC Scaling Club Council, the Hall of Future, and acts as a Digital Leader and Global Innovator at the World Economic Forum. His work has been recognised by WirtschaftsWoche, which selected him as one of 30 executives shaping Germany.
Maximilian Rothkopf
COO and Board Member, Hapag-Lloyd
Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf has been Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a Member of the Executive Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG since 2019. In this role, he is responsible for the company’s global shipping operations. Prior to joining Hapag-Lloyd, he spent over a decade at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he became a Partner in 2014 and was a member of the global Travel, Transport and Logistics leadership team. During this time, he advised major liner shipping companies, airlines and globally operating logistics firms on strategy and operations. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and a doctorate in Economic Sciences from the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel.
Enna Pariset
CEO and Head of Territory, BNP Paribas Group Switzerland
Enna Pariset is Chief Executive Officer of BNP Paribas Switzerland and Head of Territory for BNP Paribas Group in Switzerland. In her role, she oversees the bank’s operations in the country, leading its strategic development and serving corporate, institutional and private clients across multiple business lines. She has worked in the finance industry for over 30 years in the US, the UK, France and Switzerland. With BNP Paribas for 22 years in Switzerland and the UK, she has held both client origination and management roles, encompassing Mergers & Acquisitions, Commodities and Coverage and has served as Global Head of Metals and Mining Investment Banking and Head of Food, Beverage and Retail Investment Banking EMEA.
She has previously worked at the World Bank and JP Morgan. In addition to her executive role, she serves on several boards, including the Swiss Bankers Association, Arval (Switzerland) AG, and as Vice-Chair of the Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland.
Enna Pariset holds an MBA in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Lehigh University and completed the St. Gallen Board Academy at the University of St. Gallen.
Prof. Alyson Meister
Dean of Degree Programs and Hilti Professor of Leadership, IMD
Professor Alyson Meister is Dean of Degree Programs and Hilti Professor of Leadership at IMD, where she oversees the MBA, EMBA, and Executive Master’s programs. She partners with global organizations to build high-performing, resilient leaders, teams, and cultures. Named to the Thinkers50 Radar list in 2021, her research focuses on resilience, workplace well-being, and identity at work, and is published in leading journals such as Academy of Management Review, Journal of Management, and Leadership Quarterly, as well as practitioner outlets such as Harvard Business Review. Canadian-born, she holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne (Melbourne Business School) and an HBA from Ivey Business School.
Tamur Goudarzi Pour
Executive Vice President Strategy and Member of the Group Executive Committee, Lufthansa Group
Tamur Goudarzi Pour has served as Executive Vice President Strategy and Member of the Group Executive Committee of the Lufthansa Group since 2024. In this role, he is responsible for the Group’s overall strategic direction, shaping its long term vision and the development of all airlines and business segments across the Group. Since joining the Lufthansa Group, he has held a number of senior leadership positions across the organization. Prior to assuming his current role, he served as Senior Vice President Customer Experience for Lufthansa Group and previously as Chief Commercial Officer and Member of the Management Board of Swiss International Air Lines. Over the course of his career, he has played an important role in advancing customer experience, commercial strategy, and business development across the aviation sector. He holds a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Cambridge.
Jade Nester
Director Safety, Privacy and Security, TikTok
Wolfram Eilenberger
Author, Philosopher & Moderator
Wolfram Eilenberger is a philosopher, author and television host at SRF, where he presents the program Sternstunde Philosophie. In this role, he brings philosophical debates to a broad public through television, media appearances and public discussions. He previously served for many years as Editor-in-Chief of Philosophie Magazin. Eilenberger is also a program director of phil.COLOGNE, Germany’s largest philosophy festival. As an internationally bestselling author, his book Time of the Magicians received the Bavarian Book Prize in 2018 and the Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger in France in 2019 and has been translated into numerous languages. He studied philosophy at Heidelberg University and received his doctorate in philosophy from the University of Zurich.
Sung-Joo Kim
Chairperson, Chief Visionary & Sustainability Officer, MCM Group
Sungjoo Kim is Chairperson of MCM Holding AG, a position she has held since 2005, and Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the Sungjoo Group, which she founded in 1990. Sungjoo Group is recognized as a leader in the Korean fashion industry and has launched and developed major global brands before acquiring the German luxury house MCM. In her current roles, she shapes long-term brand strategy, global expansion, and creative vision across luxury and lifestyle businesses. Previously, she also served as President of the Korean Red Cross and was the first female entrepreneur appointed to ABAC, representing Korea at APEC. Beyond her business leadership, she is deeply engaged in philanthropy and serves on boards and advisory bodies including Asia House, the Global Summit of Women, the Sungjoo Foundation, and the Fashion Council Germany. Her distinctions include an Honorary OBE, the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, and multiple global leadership awards. Sungjoo Kim holds an MSc in International Relations from London School of Economics and Political Science and three honorary doctorates.
Prof. Eri Bertsou
SNSF Assistant Professor of Comparative Political Behavior, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Eri Bertsou has been an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of St. Gallen since 2022. At the School of Economics and Political Science, she leads the Swiss National Science Foundation project “Varieties of Expertise” on public demand for independent experts in democratic politics. Previously, she was a Senior Researcher in Comparative Politics at the University of Zurich. She also serves as an Associate Member of the Electoral Psychology Observatory at the London School of Economics and as an Associate Researcher at the European University Institute. She received her PhD in Government from the London School of Economics.
Prof. Damian Borth
Director Institute of Computer Science, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Damian Borth is Director of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of St. Gallen, where he holds a professorship in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. His research focuses on large-scale machine learning and the analysis of multi-modal data streams to enable trustworthy and accountable applications of deep neural networks. Previously, he was the founding director of the Deep Learning Competence Center at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Kaiserslautern and Principal Investigator of the NVIDIA AI Lab at DFKI. His work has received several awards, including recognition at NVIDIA GTC Europe, the ACM ICMR Best Paper Award and the McKinsey Business Technology Award. Prof. Borth serves on multiple boards and advisory committees in the fields of data science and AI. He conducted postdoctoral research at the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley and earned his PhD from the University of Kaiserslautern and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, including a visiting research stay at Columbia University.
Tatjana Haenni
CEO, RB Leipzig
Tatjana Haenni has served as Chief Executive Officer of RB Leipzig since 2026. In this role, she oversees the club’s strategic and operational development, bringing extensive international experience from across the global football ecosystem. Previously, she was Chief Sporting Director of the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League and earlier Director and Head of Women’s Football at the Swiss Football Association, where she played a key role in developing women’s football structures. She also worked as a consultant in the sports industry with Y Sport in London. In addition to her executive roles, Haenni serves as advisor to the sports data platform Game1.ai. She holds an MBA in Sport Management from the University of Bayreuth and completed further studies in diversity and inclusion at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland.
Michael Rauchenstein
News Anchor, SRF
Michael Rauchenstein is News Anchor of the main edition of the SRF - Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen Tagesschau and Editor in the SRF foreign affairs department. In his current role, he covers international politics and European affairs and previously served as SRF’s EU and Benelux correspondent in Brussels. Earlier, he worked as a television journalist in Berlin and held editorial roles including Arena editor and video desk journalist. He began his career as a TV host and video journalist at Zentralschweizer Fernsehen Tele 1 AG and completed an internship at the Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten. Michael Rauchenstein holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin and a Bachelor’s degree from Universität Luzern.
Jacomo Corbo
Co-founder and CEO, PhysicsX
Dr. Jacomo Corbo is CEO and Co-Founder of PhysicsX, a physical AI company focused on accelerating engineering and manufacturing innovation in advanced industries. Previously, he was Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at QuantumBlack and a Partner at McKinsey, where he specialized in advanced analytics and data-driven transformation. Earlier in his career, he served as Chief Race Strategist for the Renault F1 (Alpine) Team from 2005 to 2008, contributing to two double world championship wins. In addition, he was a Senior Fellow at Wharton and held the Canada Research Chair in Information Management from 2011 to 2015. Dr. Corbo holds a PhD in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Applied Statistics from Harvard, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University.
Prof. Annette Kehnel
Chair of Medieval History, University of Mannheim; Ria & Arthur Dietschweiler Fellow, SG Collegium
Prof. Annette Kehnel is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Mannheim and currently serves as Visiting Fellow at the University of St. Gallen. In her work, she explores historical perspectives on sustainability and societal transformation, most recently in her books The Green Ages and Die Sieben Todsünden, where she reinterprets medieval concepts for contemporary global challenges. Previously, she held several academic leadership roles, including Vice President and Dean at the University of Mannheim, and conducted research at institutions such as the University of Oxford and TU Dresden. In addition, she is an author, speaker and foundation board member. Her work has gained wide recognition for connecting historical scholarship with present-day debates on sustainability and societal change. Prof. Kehnel holds a PhD in History from Trinity College Dublin and completed her studies in history and related fields at LMU Munich and the University of Freiburg.
Prof. Tomas Casas Klett
Director China Competence Center, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Tomas Casas Klett is a theorist of sustainable value creation especially in relation to the Elite Theory of Economic Development, a permanent faculty at the University of St.Gallen’s School of Management (IIDM-HSG) and the Director of its China Competence Center. He also serves as the co-director of both the annual Elite Quality Index (EQx), a global political economy measurement on the sustainable value creation of nations, and its counterpart, the Value Creation Ratings (VCr) of firms. Additionally, he collaborates with the St. Gallen Symposium on its narrative space initiative. Prof. Casas Klett has developed innovative teaching formats, including in his international executive education programmes. Moreover, he is a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua SEM, Fudan University FDSM, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He graduated with honors from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, obtaining in parallel a Japanese language degree from Sophia University in Tokyo. Prof. Casas Klett later earned a Master's degree in Management from Fudan University in Shanghai and a PhD in Economics from the University of St.Gallen.
Barbara Bleisch
Author, Philosopher & Moderator
Barbara Bleisch has been a philosopher and journalist at SRF – Swiss Radio and Television since 2010 and a columnist for the Tages-Anzeiger since 2018. In these roles, she contributes philosophical commentary and public discourse through broadcast media and print journalism. Alongside her media work, she has been active in academic research, including as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich from 2014 to 2017. Previously, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bern and briefly served as Senior Researcher at Queen’s University Belfast. She is also active as a keynote speaker on philosophical and societal topics. Barbara Bleisch holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Zurich and studied at the University of Basel and the University of Tübingen as part of exchange programmes.
Florian Feltes
CEO & Co-Founder, Zortify
Dr. Florian Feltes is the CEO and Co-founder of Zortify, where he has spent over five years advancing AI-driven HR diagnostics to support HR professionals in talent selection, development, and team dynamics. His work focuses on equipping organisations with the tools needed to drive people-centred success. In addition, he serves as Professor of Digital HR and Leadership at XU University in Potsdam, where he mentors future leaders and innovators. Mr Feltes is the author of Revolution? Yes, please! When Old-School Leadership Meets New-Work Leadership, a book examining the transformation of leadership cultures towards change, diversity, and empowerment. He holds a PhD in the science of education from the University of Luxembourg
Rachele Focardi
Founder & Multigenerational Workforce Strategist
Rachele Focardi is the Founder of XYZ@Work and has been a leading global voice on generational diversity and the future of work for over two decades. XYZ@Work supports organizations in leveraging multigenerational collaboration to drive innovation and inclusion. In her current role, she advises companies, governments, and universities worldwide and pioneered DUO, a two-way generational exchange model. Previously, she served as Chief Strategy Officer at Universum and began her career as an anchor and international correspondent for CFN–CNBC. She chairs the Multigenerational Workforce Committee at AHDO, lectures for Duke Executive Education, Emeritus, and USI, is a MENSA member, and is the author of Reframing Generational Stereotypes. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Axel Threlfall
Editor-at-Large, Reuters
Axel Threlfall is Editor-at-Large at Reuters, based in London. Alongside his editorial duties, he hosts high-profile engagements and thought leadership events for, and on behalf of, Reuters and Thomson Reuters. He was previously Lead European Anchor for Reuters Digital Video. Prior to joining Reuters, Axel spent five years as an anchor for CNBC in London. Before that, he was an editor and reporter with The Wall Street Journal in New York, and a news reporter for Bloomberg in London. He has also advised businesses and NGOs on their dealings with international media. He holds a BA in History from Durham University and a postgraduate degree in journalism from City University of London.
Prof. Claudia Franziska Brühwiler
Professor of Political Theory & American Studies, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Claudia Brühwiler has served as Academic Director of the St. Gallen Collegium at the University of St. Gallen since 2024 and is Professor of American Political Thought and Culture. In this role, she leads the academic direction of the Collegium while teaching and researching in the field of American political thought. She has been affiliated with the University of St. Gallen for more than a decade, previously serving as Senior Lecturer, Adjunct Lecturer, and as Personal Advisor to the Rector. In addition to her academic work, she is a guest columnist for the Tages-Anzeiger and previously wrote a regular column for NZZ am Sonntag. She has held several international fellowships, including at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Prof. Brühwiler received her venia legendi in American Studies from the University of St. Gallen and completed further studies in Leadership and Governance at the University of Zurich.
Carlos Alvarez Pereira
Secretary General, Club of Rome
Carlos Alvarez Pereira has served as Secretary General of the Club of Rome since December 2023. In his role, he advances the organization’s mission to drive cultural transformation towards equitable human well-being and a healthy biosphere, building on over 30 years of experience across research, innovation, entrepreneurship and business leadership. Previously, he served as Vice President of the Club of Rome and founded the Innaxis Foundation & Research Institute, focusing on complex systems and sustainability. Earlier in his career, he held multiple CEO and chairman roles in technology and consulting firms, including Telenium and Texelia, and led international advisory and mobility platforms. In addition, he serves on advisory boards such as the International Bateson Institute and UNESCO’s Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability. He holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering.
Lai-Ling Rodriguez
Deputy General Director External Affairs, MSF Operational Center Geneva
Lai-Ling Lee Rodriguez has served as Deputy General Director, External Affairs at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Operational Centre Geneva. In this role, she leads external relations for MSF Switzerland and oversees multiple regional offices, ensuring strategic alignment and effective global representation. Previously, she held senior leadership positions with MSF and the Canadian Red Cross, managing humanitarian programs and donor engagement across Africa, Asia and Central America, including operations in Georgia, Congo, Indonesia and Haiti. In addition, she contributes to strengthening partnerships and cross-sector collaboration in the humanitarian field. Rodriguez holds an Executive MBA from McGill–HEC Montréal.
Prof. Nikolaus Lang
Global Leader, BCG Henderson Institute
Prof. Nikolaus S. Lang is a managing director and senior partner in BCG’s Munich office and has been working for the firm since 1998. He is the global leader of the BCG Henderson Institute, BCG’s think tank, global vice chair of BCG’s Global Advantage practice, and chair of the Center of Geopolitics, supporting clients on an array of globalization-related topics: geopolitics, global trade, supply chain resilience, international joint ventures, and digital ecosystems. Prof. Lang is co-author of the book Beyond Great: Nine Strategies for Thriving in an Era of Social Tension, Economic Nationalism, and Technological Revolution. He is Honorary Professor at the Institutes for Business Administration and Mobility at the University of St.Gallen.
Sabine Rennefanz
Journalist, Der Spiegel
Sabine Rennefanz is a German journalist and author, and formerly long-time political reporter at Berliner Zeitung. At Berliner Zeitung, she led the domestic affairs desk, worked as London correspondent, and produced award-winning reports and essays. Additionally, she writes for Der Spiegel and Tagesspiegel, and contributes a regular column “Neue Heimatkunde.” She has received several awards, including the Theodor-Wolff Prize, the German Reporter Prize, and the Goldener Prometheus. Sabine holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Hamburg, she also studied at the Free University of Berlin earlier.
Joachim Jan Thraen
Director of Global Strategy & Policy Development, MSD
Dr. Joachim Jan Thraen is a Senior Advisor on Strategy and Geopolitics, advising senior leaders on geopolitical, regulatory, and strategic developments shaping global markets and corporate decision-making. His professional experience includes leadership roles in strategy, policy, and public affairs, currently at Merck & Co., and previously with Johnson & Johnson, and UBS, as well as earlier experience in strategy consulting at Bain & Company. He is also a lecturer in Geopolitics, China, and global strategy at the University of St. Gallen University, Oxford Saïd Business School, and other international institutions. A recognized China expert, he lived in Shanghai for two years and is the author of Mastering Innovation in China (Springer, 2015) and co-editor of Successful Technology Clusters in the 21st Century (De Gruyter, 2026). Dr. Thraen holds a BSc in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics, an MA in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Boston, and a PhD in Innovation Management from the University of St. Gallen.
Alexander C. Melchers
Managing Director, C. Melchers Singapore & Malaysia Branch
Emil Kendziorra
Founder & CEO, Tomorrow Bio
Dr. Emil Kendziorra is the founder and has been the CEO of Tomorrow Bio since 2020. Tomorrow Bio is a European biostasis (cryopreservation) company providing human cryopreservation and advancing cryomedicine. As CEO, he drives R&D and European infrastructure for standby, transport, and long-term storage and chairs the European Biostasis Foundation. He is also Founding Partner of Lightcone Capital, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Life Summit/Longevity Partners, and serves on advisory boards such as Product People.
Previously he founded and led tech and medical ventures including Medlanes (exit to ZAVA) and onFeedback (exit to QuestionPro). He holds an Doctor of Medicine from the University of Göttingen.
Prof. Leena Grover
Professor for International Law, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Leena Grover is a Canadian lawyer and Chair of Public International Law at the University of St. Gallen. In her role, she focuses on how legal frameworks can strengthen peace and security. Previously, she spent a decade in legal practice at the International Criminal Court, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression. She is also the author of two books published by Cambridge University Press. Her work has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada, the ICC, and the UN International Law Commission. She holds degrees in law, international relations, and political science.
Prof. Sebastian Kernbach
Life-Design Expert; Professor at the School of Management, University of St.Gallen (HSG)
Prof. Sebastian Kernbach is Professor affiliated with the University of St. Gallen (HSG), Stellenbosch University and Stanford University. He researches, teaches and consults at the intersection of Life Design, career transitions, innovation, and responsible leadership. His work focuses on how individuals and organizations can navigate uncertainty, longevity, and rapid technological change with greater psychological resilience and purpose. He is the author of Design Your Future: The Innovative Career and Transition Guide, published by Cambridge University Press. He works with organizations such as NASA, the UN, ECB and others to support people at all ages and stages to proactively shape their future. He is the Academic Director of the HSG Mentoring Program, the Life Design Executive Programs and the first European mid-career transition program called NEXT. He holds degrees in Communications from the University of Lugano and Copenhagen Business School.
Wolfgang Gründinger
Chief Evangelist, Enpal
Dr. Wolfgang Gründinger is Chief Evangelist at Enpal, a leading European solar company, since 2021. Enpal offers solar rental and purchase solutions enabling private households to drive the energy transition. In his role, he shapes Enpal’s public positioning across politics, media, and society. Previously, he served as Communications & Strategic Partnerships Lead at the Cyber Innovation Hub of the German Armed Forces, as Policy Advisor for Digital Transformation at the German Association for the Digital Economy (BVDW), and as Spokesperson and Board Member at the Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations. He is also engaged with the Club of Rome, the World Economic Forum, and Scientists for Future. Dr. Gründinger holds a PhD in Political Science from Humboldt University of Berlin.
Burkhard Varnholt
Managing Director, UBS Global Wealth Management
Burkhard P. Varnholt is Managing Director and Senior Financial Markets Advisor at UBS Global Wealth Management. In this role, he advises large investors globally on financial markets, drawing on over 30 years of investment experience. Previously, he served as Global Chief Investment Officer at Credit Suisse and held senior leadership roles across leading private banks. In addition to his professional work, he is active as a trustee, including chairing the Investment Committee of the Credit Suisse Group Pension Fund, and founded the charity “Kids of Africa.” He has been recognized with the Swiss Re Civilian Services Prize. Varnholt holds a PhD in Economics from the University of St. Gallen and an honorary doctorate in International Relations from the Geneva School of Diplomacy.
Prof. Oliver Gassmann
Professor of Technology Management, University of St.Gallen
Prof. Oliver Gassmann is Full Professor of Technology Management and Director of the Institute of Technology Management at the University of St. Gallen, a position he has held since 2002. In this role, he focuses on innovation management, business model design, platform economy and R&D management, teaching across bachelor, master, MBA and executive education programs. Prior to joining academia, he led Corporate Research at Schindler Group until 2002. Gassmann is one of the most cited scholars in the fields of business models and R&D management and has published more than 800 academic and practitioner publications. His book The Business Model Navigator became an international bestseller. He has also served as visiting faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University and Harvard Business School and sits on the boards of several international companies. He studied at the University of Hohenheim and the University of St. Gallen.
Lara Gervaise
Co-Founder, Virtuosis AI
Lara Gervaise is Co-Founder of Virtuosis AI, a company she founded in 2020 following her thesis at EPFL. Virtuosis AI is an EPFL spin-off developing voice biomarker technology to turn short audio recordings into actionable health insights. In her role, she leads the development of clinically validated AI models capable of assessing up to 25 mental, cognitive, respiratory and cardio-metabolic conditions from a 30-second recording. Prior to this, she gained experience in research and industry, including roles at Idiap Research Institute, BlackRock and Twist Bioscience, and was a former professional athlete. Beyond her operational work, she advocates for fair, explainable and responsible AI in healthcare. Her work has been widely recognized, with Virtuosis AI named Microsoft Startup of the Year 2023 and her selection among the top 100 French AI talents by President Emmanuel Macron. Gervaise holds a Master’s degree in Robotics and Data Science from EPFL, completed a research project at MIT, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Microengineering from EPFL.
Thomas Stoffmehl
CEO, Vorwerk
Dr. Thomas Stoffmehl has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Vorwerk Group since 2026, after previously acting as Speaker of the Executive Board from 2021 to 2025. In his current role, he leads the Group’s global strategy, market development and transformation agenda. He currently serves as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of La Mer Cosmetics AG and previously was a member of the Supervisory Board of Semper idem Underberg AG. Before joining Vorwerk in 2019, he was Chief Executive Officer and Speaker of the Management Board at LR Health & Beauty Systems. Earlier, he spent many years at bofrost*, most recently as Co-CEO and company spokesman with overarching responsibility for European operations. Dr. Stoffmehl began his career as a commercial lawyer and holds a Doctorate in Law (Dr. jur.) from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf.
Ilja Känzig
CEO, Vfl Bochum
Ilja Kaenzig has served as Chief Executive of VfL Bochum 1848 GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2018. In this role, he oversees the club’s strategic and operational management and contributes more than three decades of experience in international football. Prior to joining VfL Bochum, he served as Chief Executive of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and BSC Young Boys, while also leading STADE DE SUISSE Wankdorf Nationalstadion AG during the same period. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive positions as Managing Director and Sporting Director at Hannover 96 and as General Manager at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He began his professional career at Grasshopper Club Zürich as Assistant to the Sporting Director and Player Transfer Coordinator. In addition, he gained experience in media as Managing Editor for Sports at Ringier AG and founded a football investment and consulting boutique. He also possesses institutional experience at league level through engagements with UEFA, the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) and the Swiss Football League.
Amir Eldad
Founder & Managing Director, A2E Partners
Amir Eldad is the Founder and Managing Director of A2E Partners, a role he has held since 2011. A2E Partners supports governments, corporations, and universities in harnessing entrepreneurship and innovation for economic and business growth. In his current role, Eldad builds entrepreneurial ecosystems and advises leaders on Deep Tech development across Israel, the US/Boston area, Switzerland, and Melbourne.
Previously, he led Global Go-to-Market efforts for Israeli startups and served in Global Partnerships at MassChallenge, where he co-founded MassChallenge Israel and MassChallenge Switzerland. He holds a Computer Science degree from the Technion and completed Management Science studies at Tel Aviv University.
Stephan Lendi
Moderator & Host
Stephan Lendi has spent two decades serving as a Moderator and Voice Over Artist, lending his voice to radio and TV commercials, movies, TV shows, image films, and corporate productions. Additionally, he moderates Raumkultur TV and Zff72 at the Zurich Film Festival. Stephan Lendi also shares his expertise as a rhetoric and moderating coach at Event Speaking and serves as an executive coach at Newbury Media and Communications Ltd. He holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool and received training in mediation at Harvard Law School and London School of Mediation, along with acquiring skills in conflict management and negotiations at the University of Cape Town.
Anna Erat
Physician and Expert in Preventive Medicine
Dr. Anna Erat is Medical Director at Klinik Hirslanden and Chief of Strategy for Preventive Medicine and Longevity at the Hirslanden Group. The Hirslanden Group is Switzerland's largest private hospital network, focused on high-quality medical care and healthcare innovation. In her current role, she drives strategic initiatives in preventive medicine, longevity, and the integration of digital health and AI into clinical practice. Beyond her executive responsibilities, she is an entrepreneur, holds selected board positions in healthtech and AI, serves on the board of the Finnish-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, mentors at ETH Zurich, and is faculty at the University of St. Gallen Executive School. She also advises Forbes on health topics and speaks on sustainable and planetary health at international platforms including the UN and the World Economic Forum. Anna Erat completed the International Directors Program at INSEAD. She holds a PhD in epidemiology and health systems management from the University of Basel and studied medicine with research stays at Harvard and the University of Zurich.
Damita Pressl
Independent Journalist
Damita Pressl is an award-winning journalist, moderator and public speaking trainer. Born and raised in Vienna, she worked as a news anchor and TV host on Austrian national television before moving to Zurich to join the renowned Neue Zürcher Zeitung. She has shared the stage with personalities ranging from Ursula von der Leyen to Jane Goodall, she works in English, German and French and is available as an MC or moderator for conferences and panels in Europe and beyond.
Brewster Kahle
Founder, Internet Archive
Brewster Kahle is the Founder and Digital Librarian of the Internet Archive, which he founded in 1996. The Internet Archive is one of the world’s largest digital libraries, serving over one million users each day and working with more than 1,400 library and university partners worldwide to provide free public access to knowledge. In his role, he oversees policy, strategic direction, and technological innovation, including the launch of the Wayback Machine, the only public archive of the web. Prior to founding the Internet Archive, he helped pioneer the early internet by creating the Wide Area Information Server (WAIS), co-founding Alexa Internet (later acquired by Amazon), and contributing to early supercomputing ventures. Beyond his organizational leadership, he is a prolific writer and global advocate for technology grounded in privacy, security, and accessibility. Brewster Kahle studied artificial intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds an honorary Doctor of Computer Science.
Alona Pammer
CTO and Co-Founder, Devanthro
Alona Pammer is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Devanthro, a Munich-based deep-tech startup developing humanoid robots for use in private homes. Devanthro focuses on building robotic systems to support elderly care and address challenges in aging societies. In her role, she leads the development of the full robotics stack, from hardware and control systems to AI-enabled autonomy and played a key role in deploying the first humanoid robots living with and assisting elderly people at home. Previously, she worked as a robotics engineer and researcher at the Technical University of Munich and General Interfaces GmbH. She has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a Women TechEU winner. Alona Pammer holds a Master’s degree in Robotics, Cognition and Intelligence from the Technical University of Munich.
Prof. Karl Schmedders
Professor of Finance, IMD Business School
Prof. Karl Schmedders has been Professor of Finance at IMD Business School since 2019. In this role, he focuses on climate finance, sustainability, and the economic implications of the transition to a low-carbon economy, advising firms on transition risks, asset valuation, and carbon pricing. Previously, he was Professor of Quantitative Business Administration at the University of Zurich and held academic positions at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. In addition, he serves on the boards of LPX Group and SYLVA AG and is a fellow of the Game Theory Society and SAET. He has received multiple teaching awards and published in leading journals such as Econometrica and the Journal of Finance. Schmedders holds a PhD in Operations Research from Stanford University.
Hans-Willy Brockes
CEO, ESB
Hans-Willy Brockes has served as Managing Director of the ESB Marketing Netzwerk since 1995. The ESB Marketing Netzwerk is a leading business platform in the German-speaking region for decision-makers in sport, entertainment and marketing. In this role, he has developed the organisation from the original “ESB Europäische Sponsoring-Börse” into a major industry network with more than 550 partner companies and over 50 events annually. Through these platforms, he fosters exchange and collaboration across the sports, entertainment and marketing industries. Brockes studied at the University of St. Gallen (HSG).
Christian Edelmann
Managing Partner & Head of Europe, Oliver Wyman
Christian Edelmann has served as Managing Partner and Head of Europe at Oliver Wyman. In this role, he leads regional strategy and growth initiatives, advising clients on strategic transformation, digital innovation, and AI-driven change across industries. Previously, he built extensive international experience across Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East in senior advisory roles. In addition, he is a member of the Advisory Boards of The Investment Association and the Financial Markets Standards Board and contributes to global forums such as the World Economic Forum. He is recognized for his thought leadership on AI, particularly on generative AI in financial services and responsible adoption.
Prof. Salvador Santino Regilme
Program Chair of International Relations and Associate Professor, Leiden University
Prof. Salvador Santino Regilme is Associate Professor and Program Chair of International Relations at the Institute for History, Leiden University. An interdisciplinary scholar of international relations and human rights, his expertise focuses on the politics of foreign aid and development, international human rights, and transformations in the global order, with particular attention to the United States, the Global Majority, and transnational authoritarian practices. He has held research fellowships at the Macmillan Center of Yale University, the Center for Global Cooperation Research at Universität Duisburg-Essen, the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity’s Comparative Constitutionalism Group, and the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam.
His scholarship has been recognized by major international academic associations, and his forthcoming book, "United States and Chinese Foreign Assistance and Diplomacy: Aid for Dominance" (Manchester University Press, 2026), is co-authored with Obert Hodzi. He received his PhD in Political Science and North American Studies from the Freie Universität Berlin and previously studied at Yale University, Universität Osnabrück, and De La Salle University–Manila.
Nadja Skaljic
Co-Chair, SuperSymmetry Institute
Nadja Skaljic is a lawyer, corporate strategist, and systems thinker focused on next-generation initiatives spanning law, finance, emerging technologies, and sustainability. She is Chief Legal Officer of a privately-held Swiss lab-based company and serves as Co-Chair of the SuperSymmetry Institute. A seasoned board director, she advises and serves on boards across Europe and the United States. Her experience spanns venture-backed and clinical-stage biotechnology as well as Silicon Valley–based longevity and AI ventures founded by former Google AI engineers. Her work centers on aligning governance with long-term value creation in frontier industries. She is also an advisory board member of InterJust, a Clooney Foundation for Justice spin-off advancing universal jurisdiction to ensure accountability for international crimes. A thought leader on governance, foresight, and the future of capital, she focuses on the role of legal and institutional design in shaping emerging technologies. Skaljic studied law at the University of Oxford and Harvard Law School, and holds master’s degrees in international relations and political systems from The Fletcher School and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Nina Kataeva
Managing Director and Partner, BCG
Nina Kataeva is Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she serves as Global Lead for Operating Model & Organizational Design. Prior to this, she held multiple roles at BCG since joining in 2009, building deep expertise in organization design and digital transformation across the CEMA region. In addition, she is actively engaged in advancing new ways of working and human-centered transformation approaches. She has led major transformation initiatives, including large-scale digital capability programs and data-driven operating model redesigns. Kataeva holds a Master’s degree in Digital Arts from the University of Applied Arts Vienna and a Master of Science in Management from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Mariam Solika
CEO, thegoodnews.me
Mariam Solika is an Egyptian media entrepreneur and youth leader, currently serving as Founder and CEO of The Good News (TGN), a digital media platform focused on hope-driven storytelling and youth opportunities across the Arab region. She is a UN Youth Leader (2025) with the United Nations, and a graduate of the 500 Global Creator Ventures Accelerator. Mariam has represented youth voices at regional and international forums, including COP28. Under her leadership, TGN has evolved into a multi-revenue media business delivering branded content, workshops, and community programs with a focus on impact and sustainability.
Marco Lavazza
Vice Chairman, Lavazza Group
Marco Lavazza is Vice Chairman of Lavazza Group, a family-owned global coffee company headquartered in Turin. In this role, he oversees key strategic areas including operations, sales, and mergers & acquisitions, contributing to the company’s international expansion and positioning. He joined the company's Board of Directors in 2002 and has since gained extensive managerial experience across core business functions, including coffee sourcing, operations, and commercial development, before being appointed Vice Chairman in 2011. Prior to joining Lavazza, he worked at the University of Nevada's International Business Department and in marketing at the Ferrero Group. In addition to his executive role, he is active in industry associations. He serves on the General Board of Confindustria and has held several leadership roles within the organization. He was Chairman of Unione Italiana Food until 2023 and is Vice Chairman of the Unione Industriali Torino. Marco Lavazza holds a bachelor’s degree from the School of Management at the University of Turin.
Joachim Rother
Project Manager Gaming and Democracy, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Dr. Joachim Rother serves as Project Lead for Gaming and Democracy at Bertelsmann Stiftung. In this role, he explores the societal and educational potential of gaming communities, aiming to strengthen civic engagement and address challenges such as disinformation in digital spaces. Previously, he led the foundation’s Israel portfolio and worked on issues related to fake news, and served as Deputy Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s office in Jerusalem. In addition, he is a content creator under the alias “MDVAL,” connecting medieval history with gaming culture on digital platforms. He is a recipient of multiple academic scholarships, including from KAS and the German Historical Institute. Rother holds a PhD in Medieval History (Dr. phil.).
Prof. Mariana Valente
Assistant Professor for International Economic Law
Prof. Mariana Valente is an assistant professor of law and researcher at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and co-founder and associate director of InternetLab in Brazil. She researches digital platform regulation and artificial intelligence from a socio-legal perspective, focusing on gender violence, intellectual property in the digital economy, regulation in peripheral markets, and data justice. She is the author of Online Misogyny in Brazil (2026), which, in its Portuguese version (2023) was a finalist for the Jabuti Academic Award, Brazil's most important book award. She was a member of the Brazilian Federal Senate's Commission of Jurists that drafted the AI regulation bill, and of the working group of the Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic (SECOM/PR) to assess the impact of deepfakes. She has also coordinated Creative Commons in Brazil and written extensively on copyright policy and the commons. In 2025, she received the Internet Governance Highlights Award from CGI.br (Internet Steering Committee in Brazil).
Wiktoria Wójcik
Co-Founder & CEO, inStreamly
Wiktoria Wójcik - Co-founder of inStreamly and New Game +, innovative technology platforms that are revolutionizing gaming marketing. Over the past six years, she has helped over 160 brands (including Netflix, Samsung, L'Oreal, PlayStation, and Pepsi) reach gamers in 15 countries around the world. She specializes in building innovation and business resilience culture, marketing to the younger generation, and leveraging the Gen Z perspective as a competitive advantage in organizational management and development. She has been recognized with the Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2022 and Forbes Poland 25 under 25 awards. She shares her knowledge about innovation, startups, and the new era of marketing. She has appeared in over 100 conferences, websites, and podcasts, including Web Summit, TedX, Infoshare, Perspektywy Women in Tech, ImpactCEE, Creator Conf, AdAge, MyCompany, and Forbes.
Xiaoqun Clever-Steg
Member of several international supervisory boards
Xiaoqun Clever-Steg is a technology executive and board member with over 20 years of international experience in digital transformation. In her leadership roles, she has driven innovation in cloud computing, big data, and AI, significantly shaping the digitalization of the media and technology industries. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President at SAP SE and President of SAP Labs China, as well as Chief Technology Officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE and Chief Technology & Data Officer at Ringier AG. In addition, she serves on several supervisory and advisory boards and is a member of the Members’ Council of the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions since 2019.
Ian Chew
Founder, Greenie Web
Dr. Ian Chew is Founder of Greenie Web, a Singapore-based ClimateTech company advancing low-carbon computing and digital sustainability. The company focuses on reducing the carbon footprint of software and digital infrastructure through innovative code and technology solutions. In his role, he pioneers the decarbonization of the digital sector and has deployed scalable approaches to sustainable digitization globally. Previously, he advised governments and international organizations on digital sustainability and contributed to projects with institutions such as the Asian Development Bank. He also serves as Enterprise Chair (Digital Sustainability) at the Global Sustainable Futures Network and is active in international sustainability initiatives. He has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 (Asia) honoree.
Fabiola Günther
President, International Students' Committee (ISC), St. Gallen Symposium
Fabiola Günther is one of the three Presidents of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), where she oversees the Leaders of Tomorrow, Participant Services, and Transportation. Her journey with the St. Gallen Symposium began in September 2024, when she took responsibility for the Leaders of Tomorrow and Aspiring Leaders. Since then, she has been deeply committed to the Symposium’s mission of fostering cross-generational dialogue by bringing together different generations to discuss world-changing issues, while also helping make the ISC a true school of life for students. Fabiola is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, riding her Vespa through the Swiss countryside, and enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Jonas Wicki
President, International Students' Committee (ISC), St. Gallen Symposium
Jonas Wicki is one of the three Presidents of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), where he oversees Markets, Food & Beverages, and Social Sessions. He joined the ISC in September 2024 and taking on the Swiss Industry Market as well as Food & Beverage operations for the 54th St. Gallen Symposium. His motivation is driven by a strong interest in geopolitics and emerging markets, combined with a passion for connecting people and creating spaces that encourage diverse perspectives and meaningful dialogue. Alongside his work for the Symposium, Jonas is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen.
In addition, he serves in the Swiss Armed Forces as a Quartermaster with the rank of First Lieutenant, where he is responsible for overseeing logistics within a mechanised battalion. In his free time, Jonas enjoys playing darts as well as watching football, Formula 1, and ice hockey.
Lena-Sophie Vogt
President, International Students' Committee (ISC), St. Gallen Symposium
Lena-Sophie Vogt is one of the three Presidents of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), where she oversees Innovation & Technology, Marketing & Communication, and Technical Operations. She joined the ISC in February 2025, taking on responsibility for Food & Beverage and Social Sessions at the 54th St. Gallen Symposium. Her commitment is driven by a passion for creating platforms that bring together diverse voices and foster meaningful, inspiring conversations. Alongside her role in organising the Symposium, Lena is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen. In her free time, she enjoys staying active through sports such as skiing, running, and horseback riding, and has a keen interest in creative fields, particularly music and film.
Lara Popovic
Responsible for Leaders of Tomorrow, St. Gallen Symposium
Lara Popovic is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC) and part of the Leaders of Tomorrow team at the St. Gallen Symposium. As part of her role, she has travelled across Europe to promote the Global Essay Competition, connecting with students and young talents in cities such as London, Paris, Riga, Tartu and Vilnius.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of St.Gallen. Lara grew up between Swiss and Serbian cultures, which shaped her open-mindedness and interest in different perspectives. Through her work at the Symposium, she enjoys bringing people together and contributing to an environment where new ideas and conversations can emerge. Beyond her academic work, Lara has a strong passion for creative expression, especially through dance and art.
Lorenzo Ayala Bombino
Responsible for Leaders of Tomorrow, St. Gallen Symposium
Lorenzo Ayala Bombino is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC) and responsible for the St. Gallen Symposium’s Leaders of Tomorrow. In this role, he travelled across Mexico, Canada, and the United States to promote the Global Essay Competition (GEC) at leading universities and engage with students worldwide. He is deeply inspired by the Symposium’s mission to foster cross-generational dialogue and mutual understanding and is dedicated to creating a meaningful platform for emerging voices from around the globe. Alongside his work for the Symposium, Lorenzo serves as a Floorball referee in the second highest category of the Swiss Floorball Federation. His commitment to resilience and hard work is also reflected in his duties as a voluntary Firefighter. Lorenzo is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of St.Gallen.
Matéo Krupp
Responsible for Leaders of Tomorrow, St. Gallen Symposium
Matéo Krupp is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC) and responsible for the Leaders of Tomorrow in Asia. In this role, he travelled across Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and India to promote the Global Essay Competition (GEC), engaging with leading universities and outstanding young talents worldwide. He played a key role in ensuring the participation of over 200 Leaders of Tomorrow by coordinating travel and visa processes. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. With German and Belgian roots, Matéo is a native speaker of both German and French and has a strong interest in international exposure, reflected in his work across various countries beyond Switzerland. Outside of his work for the Symposium, he is passionate about sports. Having played football at a high level, he continues to stay active through skiing and tennis, driven by a strong work ethic and determination.
Antonia Mau
Responsible for Germany & Technical Operations, St. Gallen Symposium
Antonia Mau is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), responsible for the German market and Technical Operations at the St. Gallen Symposium. She joined the Symposium in September 2025, initially focusing on partnership management in the northern and eastern German market, where she worked on strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones. In February 2026, she additionally joined the Technical Operations Team, contributing to the development of the Symposium’s technical infrastructure. Antonia believes in the power of dialogue, not only to prevent conflict, but also as a means of learning from one another. Alongside her responsibilities at the Symposium, she is pursuing a master’s degree in Economics. In her free time, she enjoys a wide range of sports, from long-distance running to volleyball, as well as reading and photography.
Dana Vosskötter
Responsible for Germany & Social Sessions, St. Gallen Symposium
Dana Vosskötter is a member oft the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), currently responsible for Germany and Social Sessions at the St. Gallen Symposium.
She joined the ISC in September 2025, initially managing partnerships and relations in Germany, including travelling to the region to strengthen relationships in the DACH region.
Since February 2026, she has joined the Social Session team, organizing the evening program of the Symposium. Inspired by the Symposium’s mission to foster intergenerational and international dialogue, Dana values the unique influence and global perspective her role offers at just 20 years old. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of St. Gallen, with strong interest in the food industry. Outside of her academic and professional life, she is passionate about international cuisine and baking. As an animal lover, she enjoys horse riding and going on walks with her dogs.
Joo-Ran Schärer
Responsible for Switzerland, Communications and Marketing, St. Gallen Symposium
Joo-Ran Schärer is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC) at the St. Gallen Symposium. She joined the ISC in September 2025, initially managing partnerships and relations in Switzerland, with a focus on Legal, Pharma, Logistics and Foundations. Since February 2026, she has also joined the Marketing & Communications team, contributing to the visual identity and documentation of the Symposium. Through her work at the Symposium, she particularly values the opportunity to take on significant responsibility at an early stage and to be part of a strong and supportive community. She is currently finishing a bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of St. Gallen. Outside of her academic and professional life, she is passionate about drawing and bringing laughter to people’s faces.
Konstantin Feldbaum
Responsible for Continental Europe and Programme Design, St. Gallen Symposium
Konstantin Feldbaum is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC) at the St. Gallen Symposium, where he is responsible for partnerships in Continental Europe and Programme Design. He joined the team in September 2025, initially contributing to partnerships in Germany with a particular focus on his home region of Bavaria.
What particularly drew him to the Symposium was the sheer scale and ambition of the initiative, a fully student-led platform that brings together global leaders across generations. He was inspired by the idea that students can take ownership, drive meaningful dialogue, and build something truly impactful on an international stage.
Currently in his second year of studying Business Administration at the University of St.Gallen, Konstantin has a strong interest in strategy and finance. Outside of the Symposium, he is a passionate runner and golfer, as well as an avid Formula 1 fan.
Magnus Tillmann
Responsible for Innovation & Technology, St. Gallen Symposium
Magnus Tillmann is a Member of the 55th International Students’ Committee (ISC), responsible for Innovation & Technology at the St. Gallen Symposium. Originally joining the Symposium as a volunteer last year, he was inspired by its mission to lead with the next generation in mind and decided to join the team in September 2025, contributing to the technical infrastructure and digital experience of the event.
Magnus is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen. Outside of the Symposium, he enjoys singing and playing the piano, often initiating jam sessions in the evenings and is also a passionate football fan.
Noah Anderegg
Responsible for UK, Donors and Food & Beverage Logistics, St. Gallen Symposium
Noah Anderegg is a member of the International Students’ Committee (ISC) of the St. Gallen Symposium. Over the past year, he was responsible for the UK market and donor relations, and currently leads Logistics on site, with responsibility for Food & Beverages as part of the Symposium’s overall operations, ensuring smooth execution and high-quality hospitality. Alongside his role in the ISC, Noah is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialisation in International Management at the University of St. Gallen. Beyond his academic and organisational commitments, he is actively involved in innovation projects, education initiatives, and social engagement through his work with Smartfeld and the Swiss Scouts movement, while his participation in international Model United Nations conferences has shaped his interest in global dialogue and cross-generational exchange.
Vincent Gather
Content Creator
