News
20/05/2026
ICC Annual Conference 2026
On Tuesday, ICC Switzerland held its Annual Conference at the Quai Zurich Campus.
A highlight of the evening was the keynote speech “Global Security and Swiss Economic Resilience” delivered by Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud, Head of the Mission of Switzerland to NATO and Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kingdom of Belgium.
Drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience, Ambassador Pitteloud shared highly valuable reflections on today’s geopolitical challenges and the increasing complexity of the global environment. Particularly compelling was his perspective that while some aspects of international affairs are changing rapidly, certain principles remain constant. As he explained, in order to truly understand what the other side is doing, one must first assess its potential, then the intentions, and finally the timing.
His reflections on Switzerland’s position, the Swiss military tradition, the war in Ukraine, and NATO cooperation provided the audience with unique and thought-provoking insights. The depth of his experience, combined with his engaging and authentic way of presenting, made the keynote especially impactful and inspiring for participants, encouraging many to reflect and draw their own conclusions from his remarks. However, it was a clear call for action. To wait and hope is not an option. Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud’s reputation as one of Switzerland’s most experienced diplomats was clearly reflected throughout the evening.
Following the keynote, participants had the opportunity to continue the discussion during an interactive Q&A session with Ambassador Pitteloud.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Ambassador Pitteloud for his valuable contribution and for sharing his outstanding expertise and perspectives with our practitioners and members.
We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to our retiring Board Members, Urs Leimbacher and Matthias Leuenberger. It has been a great privilege to work alongside them, and we sincerely thank them for their dedication, commitment, and outstanding service to ICC Switzerland over the years. Dear Urs and Matthias, we wish you all the very best for the future and thank you once again for everything you have contributed to ICC Switzerland.
At the same time, we are delighted to introduce two new members of the ICC Switzerland Board:
- Marilyn Blattner-Hoyle, Head Public Sector Solutions and Managing Director at Swiss Re
- Martin Oesch, Member of the Executive Committee and Chief Legal Officer at SGS
We are honoured to welcome them to the Board and look forward to working together on future initiatives, meaningful collaboration, and shared goals.
The evening combined valuable insights with a positive and engaging atmosphere. Our special thanks go to Zurich Insurance Company for hosting us in such a professional setting and to all participants for contributing to an open and engaging dialogue on global security, resilience, and international cooperation.
