Sustainability – Still Relevant for the Board’s Strategic Agenda?

25 August 2026
Kongresshaus Zürich (Seezimmer 1)

Content

This exclusive, peer-to-peer session is designed specifically for board members of all sectors, including financial services, and focuses on the strategic, financial and governance implications of sustainability at board level.

We are extremely pleased to welcome as speakers:

  • Monika Ribar, Chairwoman of the Board, SBB (until April 2026)

  • Peter Voser, Chairman of the Board, ABB

  • Markus Neuhaus, Chairman of the Board, Galenica, member of the Board, Helvetia Baloise

Isabelle Amschwand (President, swissVR), Patrick Odier (President, SSF), Gilbert Probst (President, SBI+) and Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen (Board member, Helvetia Baloise and Implenia, Vice Chairwoman, Banco Santander) will also contribute to the event.

Purpose of the session

The objective is to equip board members with a practical framework enabling them to:

  • Assess the financial relevance of sustainability aspects on the organisation

  • Understand if and how sustainability topics may affect competitive positioning and act as a lever for innovation

  • Understand how sustainability information is relevant for investors/lenders

  • Evaluate stakeholder expectations, e.g. regulators, customers and employees

  • Identify most material risks

The session is deliberately structured as an open exchange between peers.

Moderation with be done by Sabine Döbeli (CEO, SSF) and Romain Leroy-Castillo (Director Education, SSF).

Find the detailed speaker profiles here.

Speakers

Markus Neuhaus

Chairman of the Board, Galenica

Monika Ribar

Chairwoman of the Board, SBB (until April 2026)

Peter Voser

Chairman of the Board, ABB

Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen

Board member, Helvetia Baloise and Implenia, Vice Chairwoman, Banco Santander International

Gilbert Probst

President, Swiss Board Institute, Board member, Amritex Biotech

Isabelle Amschwand

President, swissVR

Patrick Odier

President, Swiss Sustainable Finance

Sabine Döbeli

CEO, Swiss Sustainable Finance

Romain Leroy-Castillo

Director Education & AI, Swiss Sustainable Finance

Schedule

Welcome and Introduction

Does Sustainability Matter on the Board's Agenda?

Markus Neuhaus
Monika Ribar
Peter Voser

Panel Discussion and Exchange with Participants

Moderated by Patrick Odier

Coffee Break

Breakout Discussions

Markus Neuhaus
Monika Ribar
Peter Voser
Marie-Noëlle Zen-Ruffinen
Patrick Odier

Key Takeaways and Closing Remarks

Networking Apéro

Registration

Participation fee of 300 CHF per person

Location

Kongresshaus Zürich (Seezimmer 1)

Claridenstrasse 5, 8002 Zürich, Switzerland
8002 Zürich