Co-Founder and CEO, RepRisk, Zurich, Switzerland

Dr. Philipp Aeby is the CEO and co-founder of RepRisk. He is an expert in business conduct risk management, with a special interest in machine learning.

Before joining RepRisk in 2006, Philipp served in various managerial positions across Europe at Amgen, a global biopharmaceutical firm, and worked on a broad range of international assignments with the Boston Consulting Group. He started his career as a visiting scientist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia.

Philipp holds a PhD in Environmental Physics and a Master’s degree in Climatology and Hydrology from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, where he earned the ETH Medal for outstanding research that involved applying neural networks to pattern recognition.

Strategic Advisor, Microsoft; Four-Star General (Ret.), United States Marine Corps; Member, stars Global Advisory Panel, Washington DC, United States

General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.) is a four-star Marine Corps General and a global leader in defense strategy, emerging technologies, and international security. He commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and served as Special Presidential Envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL. A Strategic Advisor to Microsoft and Senior Fellow at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, he is also co-author of Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Future War and the Defence of Europe. He previously led the Brookings Institution and served as Director of Asia-Pacific Policy for the Pentagon, where he led regional initiatives involving China, Taiwan, and Korea. He advises on securing U.S. innovation and supply chains against geopolitical risk and helps align technology investment with national security priorities.

Mainau Island; stars Alumnus, Mainau Island, Germany

Count Björn Bernadotte is the eldest son of Swedish Count Lennart Bernadotte and Countess Sonja Bernadotte. He grew up on Mainau Island with his four siblings. After attending the Rudolf Steiner School and subsequently obtaining a commercial degree in Switzerland, Count Björn Bernadotte began his community service with the Maltese Order. This was followed by several stays abroad, including an internship at the Vorarlberg Tourism Association in Austria and a management internship at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, Great Britain. In 2000, he took on the position of assistant at the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation for one year. He then completed another internship at the Douglas Forestry Administration at Langenstein Castle. 

After successfully completing his studies in Switzerland in 2007, the certified social pedagogue started his own business and gave communication and team-building seminars. In the same year, the Bernadotte family underwent a change of leadership and Count Bernadotte took over the management of the foundation as an existing member of the board of the Lennart Bernadotte Foundation. In 2011, Count Bernadotte joined the management team and is now managing director of Mainau GmbH, which he runs today together with his sister Countess Bettina Bernadotte. As part of his voluntary work, Count Bernadotte has – among other things – been president of the University Society of Konstanz e. V. since 2015. 

Mainau Island; stars Alumna, Mainau Island, Germany

Countess Bettina Bernadotte, born 1974 in Scherzingen, Switzerland, is the oldest daughter of Countess Sonja and Count Lennart Bernadotte. Following her degree in Business Administration in Tourism (Destination Management) at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University in Ravensburg and work as an independent corporate consultant for companies in the tourism industry, she prepared to assume direction of the Mainau enterprise by serving as Personal Assistant to her mother and as Authorized Signatory from 2004 to 2007.

Countess Bettina Bernadotte assumed leadership of Mainau GmbH in 2007 with the goal of leading the family business into a successful future. Above all, she wishes to make a meaningful contribution through Mainau island, so that visitors and guests of the island experience relaxation and deceleration in contact with the garden culture, as well as derive impulses for a sustainable way of life from their visit. Herein, the continuous pursuit of the contents of the “Green Charter of Mainau” from 1961, which calls for the responsible treatment of nature, is another important aspect for Countess Bettina.

Since October 2008, Countess Bettina Bernadotte is president of the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and member of the Board of the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. She has been a member of the Council since 2005.

Aside from her commitment to the Lindau Meetings, Countess Bettina Bernadotte holds several other honorary positions. She is a member of the Council of Plan International Hamburg and member of the Administrative Council for the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart. As patroness, she is committed to the European Mini Cooks (Europa Miniköche) and has initiated the European Mini Gardeners project (Europa Minigärtner). Both organisations offer children the opportunity to learn the sustainable handling of nutrition and the environment. Since 2016, Countess Bettina Bernadotte is chairwoman of the board of directors for the Mentor Foundation Germany.

CEO, Anapaya Systems; Member, stars Scientific Board, Zurich, Switzerland

Martin Bosshardt is the CEO of Anapaya Systems and has 20 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience in the SD-WAN network and security space. Until 2019 he served as a CEO of Open Systems, a leading SD-WAN provider with a follow-the-sun operation managing a global footprint in over 180 countries and representative offices in the US, Germany, Austria, the UK and Switzerland. Martin is a member of the board of directors at Open Systems and he is also an active Chairman of Westhive Coworking. He works closely with the Swedish Private Equity company EQT. Furthermore, Martin is a recipient of the SVC Entrepreneurs Award 2020.

CEO, Concierge on Call; stars Alumna, Washington DC, United States

Misty Cook is the CEO of Concierge on Call, a consulting firm that specializes in helping retired General/Flag Officers and Senior Executives transition from government service into the board room prepared to make a prestigious first impression. She accelerates the transition process and creates the opportunity for retirement revenue with opportunities that support client lifestyle aspirations. She leverages her years of administrative support, meeting planning expertise, and business connections to support leaders in acquiring speaking opportunities and securing board membership with top corporations around the nation.

A retired Marine Officer, she is an analytical and conceptual thinker who effectively partners with senior managers to assess opportunities, facilitate strategic decisions, and drive results. Misty has managed a broad array of projects for start-up organizations by creating new processes and procedures to planning and execution of numerous events for foreign dignitaries, state and federal representatives, and industry leadership both across the US and abroad.

Misty is a speaker at consulting firms and armed forces events and an expert in military protocol, event planning, and dining etiquette. She lives in Washington, DC.

President, Fundación País Digital; Director, Universidad del Desarrollo; stars Alumnus, Santiago, Chile

Senior Drucker Fellow, Professor for Organizational Politics, Founder and Chairman, Center for the Future of Organization, Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University, Los Angeles, United States

Roland Deiser is a Drucker Senior Fellow and leads the Center for the Future of Organization (CFFO) at the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. His current research focuses on the capability requirements for shaping and leveraging business ecosystems. He is the author of four books and has written numerous articles on 21st century leadership and organization.

Founder and CEO, Deko Eko and Circular Consulting, Poland

Expert, trainer & consultant in ESG / circular economy / brand upcycling / waste to product fields.
Experienced in managing complex sustainability and circular projects for the biggest brands like
McDonald's, Castorama, IKEA, BNP Paribas, Coca Cola, Pepsico, Orange, T-mobile, Maspex,
Accenture. Finalist of The Next Women Competition 2018, Business Women of the Year 2019, one
of the 50 Most Creative Business People in Poland. Passionate about sustainable development, zero
waste and circular economy.

Director, Fundes International, Frauenfeld, Switzerland

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

• FUNDES International, San José, Costa Rica (CEO & Executive President, 2008 – present)
  Organization dedicated to the sustainable development of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Latin America. 8 years mandate to transform the previous philanthropic organization into a viable and successful, for profit business without altering its mission.
  By 2014 FUNDES had operations in 13 countries of the region, employs some 100 staff and over 500 consultants. Annual invoicing reached USD 17 MM (2014) and the financial sustainability is accomplished.
• MÜLLER+FREI Beratungs GmbH, Frauenfeld, Switzerland (Founding Partner; 2007 - 08)
  Start-up Consulting Company specialized in succession planning topics for SMEs. Partnership with experts in the various fields involved in the subject matter (i.e. Legal, Coaching, Financial, Taxes, etc.)
• SENN CHEMICALS AG, Dielsdorf, Switzerland (Corporate CEO; 2005 - 2007)
  Family-owned fine chemicals company, leading in research and manufacturing of fine chemicals (amino acids and peptides) for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries, with sales of US$ 20 MM and 85 employees in Switzerland (HQ), France and the USA.
  Successful restructuring mandate to save the enterprise from bankruptcy with operational responsibility for the Group and succession planning with family-external CEO.
• QUIMICA SUIZA SA, Lima, Peru (Corporate CEO; 2002 – 2005)
  Leading, family-owned corporation in the industrial, pharmaceutical, agro-chemical and consumer goods sectors. Total sales of US$ 400 MM with 2000 employees in 4 countries in the Andean region of South America.
  Succession Planning mandate with operational responsibility for all companies of the Group.
• MEDICENTRIX AG, Zurich, Switzerland (Managing Director; 2001 - 2002)
  Swiss-based Mail Service Pharmacy (MSP) business, with revenues of US$ 50MM and approx. 45,000 customers.
  Provide connectivity services to Swiss physicians (electronic prescription and medical information).
• SIBERHEGNER AG, Zurich, Switzerland (CEO Raw Materials; 1999 – 2001)
  A leading International Marketing and Services Group, focusing on technology products, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, food & ingredients, and consumer goods, with operations in 17 countries in Asia, Europe and the Americas with revenues of US$ 1,000 MM
  Global responsibility for the Group’s largest and most profitable Global Business Unit.
• NOVARTIS AG, Basel, Switzerland (Former Ciba-Geigy AG)
  Pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, and animal health company, result of the merger between Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy. World leader in research and development. Revenue of US$ 25,000 MM and operations in 140 countries.
• NOVARTIS DE VENEZUELA S.A. Caracas, Venezuela CEO; 1995 - 1998)
• CIBA PHARMACEUTICALS, Basle, Switzerland (Head Business Unit Africa; 1992 - 1995)
• CIBA HONG KONG Ltd. Hong Kong (Head Pharma Division; 1989 - 1992)
• P.T. CIBA GEIGY Pharma, Jakarta, Indonesia (Head Project Manager; 1987 - 1989)
• PRODUCTOS QUÍMICOS CIBA GEIGY Ltda., Santiago, Chile (PIC Manager; 1982 - 1985)
• CIBA GEIGY AG, Basle, Switzerland (Region South America;1980 - 1982)
• Others:
  • DROMO DROGERIE, Uster, Switzerland (Retail Druggist; 1972 - 1978)

EDUCATION:

• IMD (IMEDE), Lausanne, Switzerland MBA (1986)
• Ecole Suisse de Droguerie, Neuchâtel, Switzerland Masters’ Diploma (1978 - 1979)
• Professional Pharmacy School, Zurich, Switzerland Professional Degree (1968 - 1972)
• Primary and Secondary Schools, Frauenfeld, Switzerland (1959 - 1968)

BOARD OF DIRECTOR / ADVISORY BOARD:

• Öufi Brauerei: Brewery and Events 2000 - present
• Fundación Educación: Scholarships for Latin America 2016 - present
• SkillSonics: Export of Swiss Dual Education System 2017 - present
• Brotegg AG: Construction and Operation of Home for Elderly 2020 - present
• ALUNA: Home for children with cognitive challenges, Cartagena 2015 - present

Circular Economy Consultant, Managing Director MGT OPEN; Supervisory Board Member, Circle Economy Amsterdam; President, stars South-East Europe Alumni Chapter, Grižane, Croatia

Circular Economy Mentor, Trainer and Consultant, Managing Director and Co-Founder of EntrepreneurCircle.World

Gordana Kierans has over 24 years of business experience at the interface between leading Business Schools, companies, and governments. Her last 10 years have been primarily dedicated to teaching and consulting for circular economy initiatives. During her career, she has worked with students, entrepreneurs, SMEs, multinationals and the Public Sector in Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. During her time at a global network of universities and multinationals in Brussels, she worked with top academics in the area of the circular economy which inspired her to create a practical programme with focus on entrepreneurs that can be found on Udemy (with over 11,000 subscribers currently). Her career is further underscored by her invitation to deliver a TEDx Talk in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Dr Kierans was born and raised in Croatia, but she lived abroad for nearly three decades, including Italy, Germany, Belgium, and - most recently - China, where she spent four years as a Professor of International Business at Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU). She completed all her academic studies in Germany, including a PhD in Business Administration. In addition, Gordana is an alumna of the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education and the School of System Change.

Today, Gordana lives with her husband in Grižane (Crikvenica), Croatia, but she still spends much of her time travelling and giving workshops in London, Dubai, and other cities.

Former Group President, GIC; Former Head of Singapore Civil Service; Member, stars International Board, Singapore

Siong Guan Lim was Group President of GIC from 2007 until the end of 2016, after which he was Advisor to GIC's Group Executive Committee until March 2019. The GIC manages the financial reserves of the Singapore Government. He was Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board from October 2006 to June 2009. The Board is the Singapore government’s lead agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. Much of its work is attracting international corporations to set up manufacturing and services activities in Singapore as critical links in the global supply chain.

Siong Guan was Professor in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore from 2005–2023, instructing on leadership and change management, as well as a Senior Fellow of the Civil Service College from 2006–2023.

He was the Head of the Singapore Civil Service from September 1999 to March 2005. Siong Guan was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense (1981-1994), the Prime Minister’s Office (1994-1998), the Ministry of Education (1997-1999) and the Ministry of Finance (1999-2006). In every appointment he introduced innovative policies and practices which enhanced the drive, capacity, capability and performance of the organization. Siong Guan has chaired the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (2004-2006), the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (2004-2006) and the Central Provident Fund Board (1986-1994), and was a board member of many companies including Temasek, the other sovereign wealth fund manager of Singapore.

President, Basel Institute on Governance; Former President, International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC; Member, stars Global Advisory Panel, Berne, Switzerland

Peter Maurer is President of the Board of the Basel Institute on Governance and a leading voice internationally on humanitarian and related issues. He joined the Basel Institute in October 2022, following over 10 years as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Born in Thun, Switzerland, Peter Maurer has had a distinguished career in the Swiss diplomatic service. Among various positions he served for five years as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, where he worked to integrate Switzerland into multilateral networks. Prior to joining the ICRC, Peter Maurer was the Swiss Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in charge of five directorates and around 150 diplomatic missions around the world.

In recognition of his long humanitarian and diplomatic service, Peter Maurer has received the prestigious awards of Commander of the Order of the Oak Crown by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and of Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit by Germany.

Among other engagements, he is Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Future of Good Governance, a Member of the Advisory Council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and a Member of the Board of Directors of Zurich Insurance.

Peter Maurer holds a PhD in History and International Law from the University of Bern. He has been awarded honorary PhDs from the University of Basel and Waseda University.

Executive Director, SAB Foundation; stars Alumna, Johannesburg, South Africa

The South African Breweries (SAB) is proud to announce the appointment of Sarah Mthintso as the new Executive Director of the SAB Foundation. Sarah brings more than 20 years of experience at the intersection of social impact, transformation, and public policy. Her journey began in the NGO sector and has since spanned government and corporate South Africa—anchored by a lifelong commitment to inclusive development and the empowerment of marginalised communities.

Most recently, Sarah held executive roles at Telkom, Old Mutual and Vodacom where she led high-impact work across transformation, social impact, financial and digital inclusion, and public policy.

At Telkom, she was instrumental in repositioning the Telkom Foundation to adopt a shared value approach—bridging social and commercial objectives. She spearheaded strategic programmes that advanced inclusion and economic participation, leveraging technology as a key enabler, while also driving BBBEE transformation through robust policy leadership and stakeholder engagement.

At Old Mutual, Sarah held overall responsibility for the organisation’s social impact, financial inclusion, public policy, and transformation portfolios. She championed integrated strategies to support underserved communities, scale development solutions, and embed sustainability into core business practices—mobilising resources and partnerships to unlock opportunity for marginalised groups.

In her most recent role as Head of Public Affairs at Vodacom South Africa, Sarah was responsible for facilitating strategic stakeholder engagements and leading policy advocacy on issues such as digital inclusion and equitable growth

“We are pleased to welcome Sarah as the new Executive Director of the SAB Foundation,” said Zoleka Lisa, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at SAB.

“Her deep expertise, values-driven leadership, and passion for meaningful impact make her the ideal person to lead the Foundation into its next chapter. As we continue to build a legacy of purpose and progress, Sarah will play a critical role in advancing our mission to create lasting change in the communities we serve.”

Senior Advisor, German Institute for International and Security Affairs; Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations; Member, stars Scientific Board, Berlin, Germany

10/2023-03/2024 UN Under-Secretary-General, Head of Independent Strategic Review Team for UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq)

02/2021-10/2023 UN Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative for Sudan and head of UNITAMS (United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan)

10/2005-09/2020 Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs and Executive Chairman of the Board of SWP

2015-2018 Senior Advisor to the UN Special Envoy for Syria; Chairperson of the Ceasefire Task Force (CTF) of the International Syria Support Group

2006-2019 Professor, Humboldt University Berlin

1992-2005 Senior Research Associate at SWP, Head of Middle East and Africa Division up to March 2005

1999 Habilitation, Duisburg University

1991-1993, Assistant Professor, American University of Beirut

1990 PhD, Duisburg University

CEO, Helvetia, Basel, Switzerland

CEO, Turtle Venture; stars Alumna, Dhaka, Bangladesh 

CEO, Circle Economy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Hilde van Duijn, based in Rotterdam, ZH, NL, is currently a Managing Director Circle Economy Foundation at Circle Economy. Hilde van Duijn brings experience from previous roles at Circle Economy. Hilde van Duijn holds a 2001 - 2007 Ir. in Technology, Policy and Management @ Technische Universiteit Delft. Hilde van Duijn has 2 emails on RocketReach.

Partner and AI Leader, PwC Switzerland, Zurich, Switzerland