Trade Councillor Luncheon

The Trade Councillor Luncheons organized by the Center for Geopolitics and Competitiveness (CGC) are a curated lunch series featuring a keynote from leaders in business or academia on current trade and geopolitical issues. The moderated format encourages discussion, giving invited economic diplomats the opportunity to ask questions, explore different perspectives, and engage with one another.

Organized in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union in Bern, the series regularly brings together a diverse group of diplomats in an engaging and inspiring setting.

Keynote speakers at the Trade Councillor Luncheon:

• State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda (2025)
• Rahul Sahgal, CEO, Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce (2025)
• Simon Michel, CEO of Ypsomed and National Councilor (2025)
• Dr. Stefan Brupbacher, Director of Swissmem (2024)
• Markus Herrmann Chen, Co-Founder and Managing Director of China Macro Group (CMG) (2024)
•  Gery Balmer, Deputy Director of the Federal Office of Transport (2023)
• Olivier Straub, Group Government Affairs Officer, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (2023)
• Dr. Beat Habegger, Independent consultant at the interface of geopolitics, business and strategic foresight (2023)
• Bettina Schaller Bossert, Head Group Public Affairs at the Adecco Group (2023)
• Steffen Klatt, Journalist, Founder and Managing Director Café Europe, Nachrichtenagentur AG. (2023)
• Prof. Dr. iur. Martin Beyeler, President of the Swiss Association for Public Procurement and Chair of Infrastructure Law & New Technologies at the University of Freiburg (2022)
• Prof. Dr. Florian Keller, Head of Center for Global Competitiveness at ZHAW School of Management and Law (2022)
• Kaspar Engeli, Director, Legal Adviser and Association Manager of Swiss Trade (2022)
• Beat Egli, Managing Director EMEA HQ Zug at Zimmer Biomet & Senior Director Government Affairs EMEA. (2022)
• Dr. Giulio Haas, Head Government Affairs & Public Relations, SCIPA SA (2021)
• Martin Hirzel, President, Swissmem (2021)
• Dr. Christian Frey, Deputy Head, Finances and Taxes at Economiesuisse (2021)
• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Monika Bütler, Director SEW-HSG, Full Professor of Economics, Vice Rector Institutes & Continuing Education, Vice-chair Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force (2020)
• Dr. Thomas Dünser, Director, Office for Financial Market Innovation, Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein (2020)
• Dr. Patrick Dümmler, Senior Fellow and Head of Research "Open Switzerland" at Avenir Suisse. (2020)
• Mr. Roland Mayer, Secretary General and Head of Foreign Policy of the Conference of Cantonal Governments (CdC). (2019)
• Mr. Beda Viviani, Project Leader Logistics of Cargo Sous Terrain AG (2019)
• Roberto Battegay, Member of Senior Management and Head of Europe & Private Banking of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) (2019)
• Matthias Leuenberger, Novartis Country president Switzerland (2019)
• Dr. Catherine Chammartin, Director General, Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (2018)
• Matthias Michel, Regierungsrat, Member of the Government of the Canton of Zug (2018)
• Benjamin Gentsch, former CEO of SCOR Switzerland & deputy CEO of SCOR global P&C (2018)
• Simon Jäggi, Head of Growth and Competition Policy, SECO (2018)
• Dr Stéphane Graber, Secretary General Swiss Trading & Shipping Association (STSA) (2017)
• Adrian Steiner, CEO Thermoplan AG (2017)
• Daniel Küng, CEO Switzerland Global Enterprise (2017)
• Peter Dietrich, CEO Swissmem (2017)