The impact of a growing polarised geopolitical environment on business and cyber security

Professor of Geopolitics • IMD Business School

Simon Evenett is a globally-recognised expert on trade, investment, and geopolitical dynamics who can relate these developments to companies and governments. Simon works closely with companies (managements and boards) as well as governments and international organisations to make sense of this fast-changing and complex world. Although university-based, where he is an economics and strategy professor, Simon has engaged actively with decision-makers, analysts, and the media. A distinctive feature of Simon's approach is that he has established--with fantastic colleagues and supporters, initiatives that collect up-to-date information on policy, legal, and regulatory developments affecting the cross-border flows of trade, investment, capital, and data.

General Manager • ELCASecurity

Christophe Gerber is a passionate manager and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the IT, defense, and security sectors. He places exceptional service quality at the core of his work and continuously strives to deliver value to his clients. As an engaged citizen at multiple levels, he lives his passion for (digital) sovereignty every day, advocating for the interests of citizens, companies, and the state. His mission is to help build a strong and sustainable Swiss industrial ecosystem capable of securing both private and professional environments against ever-growing threats.

President • Club Diplomatique de Genève

Raymond Loretan is the Executive Chairman of Swiss Medical Network and the Diplomatic Club of Geneva. A former Swiss diplomat and ambassador, he served in Singapore, Brunei and New York before moving into the private sector. He later co-founded the Geneva-based consultancy FBL Associés and joined Swiss Medical Network in 2007, where he has since played a key role in shaping the group’s strategic development in Swiss private healthcare. With a background in law and extensive international experience, he brings a unique combination of diplomatic, legal and leadership expertise.

Head of Global and Emerging Risks • Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)

Dr. Jean-Marc Rickli is the head of global and emerging risks at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) in Geneva, Switzerland. He is also the co-chair of the NATO Partnership for Peace Consortium's Emerging Security Challenges Working Groupa and a senior advisor for the Artificial Intelligence Initiative at the Future Society. Prior to these appointments, Dr. Rickli was an assistant professor at the Department of Defence Studies of King’s College London. Dr. Rickli received his PhD in International Relations from Oxford University. His latest book published by Georgetown University is entitled Surrogate Warfare: The Transformation of War in the Twenty-first Century.

Global Head of Digital Ventures & Innovation • SGS

Martin Schaffer is Global Head of Digital Innovation & Ventures at SGS, the world’s leading Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) company. He drives digital growth through innovation, M&A, and startup engagement in emerging fields like Cybersecurity, AI, IoT, and Extended Realities. At SGS, he launched the first Digital Trust Services, establishing SGS as a leader in cybersecurity testing and certification. Martin holds a doctorate in Computer Science with a focus on System Security & Cryptography. He began his career in research and academia before moving to NXP Semiconductors, where he held several R&D roles spanning firmware engineering, security architecture, cryptography, and R&D management, ultimately leading a global security team across 12 locations. Martin was the first chair of the European Cybersecurity Organisation’s Working Group 1 (ECSO WG1), preparing input towards the creation of the EU Cybersecurity Act. He has advised ENISA, the European Parliament, and the European Commission and remains active in the European Commission’s Stakeholder Cybersecurity Certification Group. Since late 2023, he has chaired the TIC Council’s Digitalization Working Group, leading the TIC industry’s global digital transformation strategy.

Vice-rectrice à l'Université de Genève - Dicastère Numérique et Intelligence Artificielle • UNIGE

CEO • Modirum

Tero Silvola is an experienced Finnish technology leader and entrepreneur, known for steering companies in sectors such as healthcare, financial technology, and deep tech. Currently the Chairman and CEO of Modirum, he brings more than 25 years of leadership experience, having founded and scaled several companies. His expertise spans strategic growth, the transformation of regulated industries, and the development of global partnerships.