Registration: Careers in Sustainability, Global Development and Humanitarian Action

Lisa Falco has been working in the interface between medicine and technology for almost 20 years. She was previously Director of Data Science at Ava, a Swiss FemTech startup, where she led a team developing AI to help women get pregnant faster by using their physiological data. She was also head of product at the startup Pipra, where she played a pivotal role in bringing their AI based prediction tool for post-operative delirium to market as a medical device. Furthermore, she is the author of: “Go Figure! The astonishing science of the female body.” and a Forbes contributor on the topics of women’s health and FemTech. She is also a member of the BRIDGE program (SNSF-InnoSuisse) expert panel. She currently works at Zühlke as a consultant for Data & AI within healthcare and especially FemTech, where she also drives initiatives on Responsible and ethical AI.

Owen Frazer is a conflict resolution researcher, practitioner and trainer with over 20 years of experience working in and on conflict. He is currently Senior Advisor Conflict Transformation with Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, where hHe advises projects and programmes working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. He previously worked as a negotiation and mediation advisor with the Berghof Foundation, as a Senior Programme Officer in the Mediation Support Team of the Center for Security Studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, and as a delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross. A certified mediator with an MA in conflict resolution and a PhD on the topic of peace mediation, he is an experienced consultant, trainer and facilitator. Author of several practitioner-focused publications, his latest book Reframing Peace Mediation: Overcoming Impasses in El Salvador was published by Routledge in 2024.

Angela Honegger is the VP Innovation at UE LifeSciences, where she brings accessible cancer screening technologies to women in underserved regions. She holds a PhD from the University of St. Gallen, where she researched the role of non-profit organizations in accelerating frugal innovations. She is an alumna of the Mercator Fellowship for International Affairs and part of the WEF Global Shapers Community Advisory Council.

Stephan Lienin is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Sustainserv, a Zurich and Boston based management consultancy. Sustainserv's vision is to redefine how companies plan, achieve and communicate sustainable performance. Stephan’s work includes a wide variety of sustainability strategy, data and communications focused projects across many sectors. He acted from 2010-2013 as Managing Director of the Forum “Future of Urban Mobility” and coordinated a vision and goal development process on urban mobility integrating 50 stakeholders. Stephan received his doctorate in Natural Sciences from ETH Zurich. He gives lectures on sustainability strategy and communication, is a board member of Kamboo Project, a NGO focused on social projects in Cambodia, and has an education in improvisational theater.

Mirjam Macchi Howell is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in project management, policy advising, and leadership in sustainable development. She has held key roles in government agencies, including as section head at the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Her international experience includes working with multilateral organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Her expertise spans climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity management, circular economy, and gender equality. Mirjam holds an MSc in Geography (University of Bern) and a CAS in Development and Cooperation (ETH Zurich).

Sarah Sabry, Global Lead – Urban, Save the Children and the founding  chair of the Global Alliance – Cities 4 Children. Sarah has over 25 years of experience in development practice and research.  She worked and consulted for various organisations including the Ford Foundation, IIED, IDRC, the American University in Cairo, and the Arab human rights fund. She has managed an NGO working on poverty reduction in Cairo, been a grant maker, a researcher, lecturer and project manager. Her work, research and writing has mostly focused on urban poverty with a focus on slums/informal settlements. She holds a PhD in development studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, a BSc in Computer Science from the American University in Cairo and has taught at SOAS and at the University of Zurich.