Governance

Alexandra Bilak joined the Foundation in November 2025 as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, she participates in the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategy, advises private and institutional donors, oversees governance, fund development and the team, while maintaining links with the Foundation Board.

Alexandra has nearly 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including 15 years in management positions at organisations in Switzerland and abroad. Having worked for NGOs in Africa and Europe on issues of sustainable development, migration and displacement, she has supported numerous organisations in their strategy, governance and impact. Since arriving in Geneva in 2014, she has been active in institutional representation and establishing partnerships with governments and diplomatic missions, public and private donors, UN agencies and the academic sector.

Alexandra holds a Master’s degree in International Politics from SOAS University in London and a DEA (Master’s degree) in African Studies in Political Science from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

Catherine joined the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation (SPF) in June 2026 as an Executive Assistant.

Before joining SPF, Catherine worked for several years for the City of Geneva as an adviser to an administrative councillor. Prior to that, she spent over 20 years working in Geneva’s associative sector as a communications and fundraising officer. She set up and ran several organisations active in the fields of culture and environmental protection.

Having also served as a local councillor for over 10 years, the common thread running through her career has always been a commitment to the common good and the community.

In her spare time, she is a keen hiker and explores Switzerland on foot.

Jeanne Collin holds a Master’s degree in European Studies (Political Science) from the University of Paris Sorbonne and has over ten years’ experience in coordinating international projects and managing public and private funding.

Before joining the Foundation, she worked as Head of Operations at the Lyon Place Financière association, where she led a community of finance professionals and coordinated several working groups focusing on responsible finance issues.

Drawing on her experience in the field of European public funding, she has developed expertise in fundraising and the management of research and innovation projects, notably in France at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the International Centre for Pedagogical Studies (CIEP) and a consultancy firm.

She has extensive experience in project administration, financial monitoring and the coordination of partnerships, and is enthusiastically committed to initiatives that promote equality, sustainability and social responsibility. She is fluent in French and English.

Aïda holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Management and Governance Excellence from the University of Geneva and brings extensive experience across the public and private sectors, as well as international organizations, including the United Nations system. Prior to joining Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, Aïda held positions combining strategic advisory roles with operational responsibilities giving her a comprehensive understanding of governance and social impact. She has successfully led complex projects at the intersection of governance, strategy, and sustainability, supporting institutions in adopting best practices and delivering meaningful impact.

Aïda is fluent in French, English, Italian, and Arabic, and is deeply committed to philanthropic initiatives, driven by a strong desire to contribute to a better world.

Valérie Denouvilliez Dujardin is currently an independent board member serving several asset management companies and alternative funds specializing in impact finance. 

Before establishing her independent practice, she spent ten years at Symbiotics, an investment company based in Geneva, where she notably led the portfolio management team. Her professional experience also includes two years within the MSCI equity index management team and seven years at PROPARCO. 

As a member of the Finance Committee, Valérie Denouvilliez Dujardin brings recognized expertise in the governance of financial institutions, as well as a strong command of sustainable finance issues. 

Anna Devine joined the Foundation in 2025 and serves as Head of Legal, overseeing the Foundation’s legal matters. With several years of experience as a lawyer in Switzerland and abroad, including with international organizations and NGOs, she brings solid expertise in legal strategy and governance. Anna is also responsible for the legal and administrative management of testamentary funds, working closely with various stakeholders and ensuring that the wishes of testators are fully respected.

A graduate of the Universities of St Gallen and Middlesex in London, Laurent Douek has over 25 years of experience in the IT services and software industry.

He began his career as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM Global Services, a global information technology services provider. Since joining SAP in 2006, he has managed large national and international accounts and sales of services and software in various industries in Switzerland and in Europe.

He is currently responsible for software sales in the public sector at SAP. Laurent also volunteers with several nonprofits in climate change, intercommunity dialogue and arts.

Etienne Eichenberger co-founded WISE-philanthropy advisors, the first company in Europe to provide philanthropy advisory services to entrepreneurs and their families, helping them define and implement charitable projects.

He previously worked for Fondation Avina for social entrepreneurship and the World Economic Forum. A graduate of the University of St Gallen, Etienne is also a Member of the Board of Fondation Hahnloser and a co-founder and former Vice President of Sustainable Finance Geneva.

He served as a Member of the Board of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation since 2006 and is currently its Chairman.

Anne-Cathrine Frogg is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Hugo Fund Services SA in Geneva, a firm focused on providing fund representation and distribution services in Switzerland. Prior to Hugo, Anne-Cathrine was a hedge fund portfolio manager at Mirabaud & Cie’s. Before joining Mirabaud in 2004, she was active in hedge funds analysis at Agora Capital Services, Banque Franck S.A. and Commodities Corporation/Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Anne-Cathrine is an independent board director for several hedge funds and investment management companies. She holds a Masters degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

As Chair of the Finance Committee, Anne-Cathrine Frogg’s know-how and experience strengthens its governance.

Silvia Albertoli Gagnebin began her career in 1996 as a broker at Schroeder Securities, where she developed a solid foundation in financial markets and securities trading. 

In 2001, she joined Quaker Securities SA as Director. In this role, she oversaw securities trading activities and advised on the structuring and placement of capital for hedge funds and private equity transactions, with a particular focus on the technology and biotechnology sectors. 

Since 2016, she has been working at Rasoira SA. She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors, contributing to corporate governance and board matters, while continuing to draw on her extensive experience in financial markets, investment structuring, and capital advisory. 

Léa Gillabert joined Swiss Philanthropy Foundation as a communications officer in June 2026.

She holds a master’s degree in communication and journalism from the University of Geneva and a specialist diploma in digital strategy from SAWI. She has eight years’ experience in the field of communications. 

With a particular interest in issues relating to the common good, she worked for five years in Geneva in the non-profit sector, before spending more than three years in the field in Chad, Ukraine, Burundi and Poland. Her experience spans strategic communications, content production, media relations, and fundraising. In particular, she has helped raise awareness of humanitarian crises and development projects amongst international audiences. 

Now back in Switzerland, she is delighted to be putting her expertise to good use at the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. 

Bénédicte holds a Master’s degree in Management from Toulouse Business School and a DAS in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Geneva.

Prior to joining Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, she served as a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Resource Mobilization team at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. She also worked as an Executive Coordinator within the Strategy and Impact team at the WHO Foundation.

Bénédicte also has experience working with private equity investment firms in Geneva.

A native French speaker, she is proficient in English and possesses a strong command of German.

In her free time, she enjoys running and cross-country skiing.

Laurent Hostettler joined the Foundation in 2020, as Finance Manager.

With a 30-year career in commodities trading, he brings a wealth of experience in accounting management and financial analysis. As part of his activities with a major multinational, he was actively involved in setting up control and monitoring systems for entities based in China, India, Mexico, Egypt and the USA. He contributed to the creation of a joint venture with a major player in the agricultural sector in Brazil. A graduate of the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Genève, he has also worked as a volunteer accountant for local associations.

Laurent oversees the financial aspects of the funds, liaises with the Finance Committee and monitors administrative files.

Originally from Belgium, Xavier graduated magna cum laude in law from the Université catholique de Louvain. He served as the inaugural Vice President of the Swiss Association of Trust Companies (SATC) and remained active for many years as a committee member. He is currently Chief Executive Officer at Accuro. Xavier had over 20 years’ experience in management positions with ABN AMRO Bank and Trust in Luxembourg, Geneva and Jersey, before joining Investec Trust in 2005 as Managing Director of the Geneva branch and CEO as of 2009.

He is Treasurer of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.

Having obtained his Federal Certificate of Proficiency (CFC) in Commercial Business in 2017, Jonathan Kidane has nearly seven years of experience in accounting with a Geneva-based company. 

Throughout his career, he has completed a range of professional training courses to further strengthen his expertise in accounting, finance, and taxation. These have enabled him to develop strong technical skills and a solid understanding of the challenges associated with financial and accounting management. 

Passionate about numbers, meticulous and highly organised, Jonathan is committed to ensuring accurate, efficient and reliable financial management.

 Michael Levy is the founder of EC Management providing advisory works on European real estate in particular in Germany.

Before shifting to real estate investments, he started his career in an international bank and joined afterwards a single family office based in Geneva. He graduated from HEC Lausanne with a major in finance.

Between 2010 and 2015, he was member of the Board of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation as Treasurer and from 2015 until 2019 he was an external member of the Financial Commission. In 2025, Michael Levy re-joined the Financial Commission of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation as external member. In addition, he is personally active with several philanthropic initiatives.

Martial Paris is Managing Partner of WISE Philanthropy Advisors, which he joined in 2008. He advises individuals and foundations on project identification, strategic planning, fund management and impact assessment. He also lectures at training courses in Switzerland, drawing on his diverse field experience in particular.

Sonia Perrenoud holds a Higher Technical Diploma in Accounting and Business Management. She has supplemented her education with courses in the management of international organisations at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and in project management, and has held IPMA Level D certification since 2025.

She joined the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation in May 2018 as a Project Administrator. She is responsible for the management and monitoring of hosted philanthropic funds, as well as supporting donors and coordinating with the various partners involved in the projects supported. She also contributes to the development and coordination of training programmes, notably the Masterclass in Philanthropy.

With over twenty years’ experience in international, non-profit and philanthropic settings, she has worked and lived in the Central African Republic, Mali, Cameroon, Burundi and Colombia.

A native speaker of French and Sango, she is also fluent in English and Spanish.

Jonathan began his career in impact finance after completing a Master’s degree in Finance & Strategy at Sciences Po Paris. First a financial analyst, then an impact analyst, he later transitioned into philanthropy, where he helped small humanitarian organizations raise funds and develop their projects. Always involved in the nonprofit sector, he joined the Foundation in October 2025 to contribute to innovative initiatives and high-impact projects.

Olivier Ratel joined the Foundation team in October 2023 as Director of Administration and Finance. In this position, he plays an active role in the Foundation’s strategic choices. He oversees accounting management, draws up the budget and carries out the financial analyses and projections essential to the Foundation’s equilibrium. He also oversees the administrative management of human resources.

Holder of a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Management in the service industry, he worked for nearly 15 years in the luxury hotel sector within several international groups in France, the United States and Switzerland. Today, he has decided to join the world of philanthropy, to put his expertise at the service of the Foundation’s initiatives.

Muriel Reboh Serero runs the Institut Maïeutique Foundation in Lausanne, providing care for adolescents and young adults suffering from psychological disorders.

She trained as an FSP psychologist-psychotherapist in Switzerland and Canada, and in hospital management at HEC Geneva. She has been interested in philanthropy for several years, and has developed skills in strategic planning and fundraising. She is Vice-President of the Groupement des hôpitaux de jour psychiatrique (Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg).

Fanny joined the Foundation in January 2025 as Project Administrator.

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from EDHEC business school, and specialised in supply chain management during a university exchange in Bath (UK) and in international relations during a semester of study in Seoul (South Korea).

With 18 years’ experience in the international transport and logistics sector, she decided to leave her management position to embark on a career in philanthropy, in the hope of contributing to a better world.

Of Hungarian origin and having been schooled in German in her youth, she is always very enthusiastic about the idea of working on projects rich in cultural diversity.

Shauna joined the Foundation in August 2025 as a Junior Project Coordinator as part of the Young Talent program. She is mainly responsible for the administration and coordination of activities related to the Transnational Giving Europe cross-border giving network.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management, as well as a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences. Between the two degrees, she completed an internship at an NGO in Geneva, which marked her first steps in the non-profit sector and helped her develop an awareness of climate issues and their impact on society.

She was also involved as a volunteer in a student association during her studies. Before joining the Foundation, she gained international experience through an internship in Cuba, as well as two academic exchange programs in Berlin and Bogotá.

Aïssata Traoré first joined the Foundation in January 2020 for an internship as part of her Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Geneva. Today, as a senior project administrator, she manages several funds, including named, collaborative, and institutional funds, and oversees the Foundation’s processes, which she knows inside out. During her years at the Foundation, Aïssata has also administered and coordinated all activities related to the Transnational Giving Europe network, participated actively in the development and implementation of new digital tools within the Foundation, and managed and monitored sheltered funds. 

During her university studies, Aïssata was keen to combine multidisciplinary studies, work, and volunteer work, while also completing an Erasmus exchange in Sweden and an internship in the United States, thereby strengthening her diverse approach to issues and their solutions, as well as her critical analysis of problems, while appreciating cultural diversity and a high degree of autonomy. 

True to her radiant personality, Aïssata also enjoys leading the Genva Christmas Cup team, which has been jumping into the winter lake since 2021. She also looks after the office candy box, which you are welcome to sample when you visit our offices. 

Expert in communication, public relations and public affairs, Elisabeth Tripod-Fatio is at the head of De Facto, the agency she created in 2017. With a long-stanging experience in both the private and public sector, she worked for various communication agencies as Senior Account Manager and Director, but also as head of communications and relations with the press of the Head office of the economic development, the search and the innovation of the State of Geneva.

Passionate about governance standards and strongly involved in numerous causes in Geneva, the know-how and the experience of Elisabeth Tripod-Fatio strengthens Swiss Philanthropy Foundation’s good governance.

Bernard Vischer is an attorney admitted to the Geneva Bar, partner with Schellenberg Wittmer of which he was managing partner from 2000 to 2007 and now heads the “private clients” department. He is especially active in estate and wealth planning and advises regularly on family business governance and succession. He is also involved in various sustainable finance and charitable projects.

He is currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Swiss Philanthropy Foundation.

Lucile Yersin is Director of Operations at the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, where she oversees donors’ hosted funds and the Foundation’s development. She works closely with senior management, the Foundation Board and the finance department to translate strategic directions into operational priorities.

In her current role, Lucile leads a multidisciplinary team and helps to develop partnerships and support complex philanthropic structures, both in Switzerland and internationally.
Before joining the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation in 2020, she worked in the fields of philanthropy, social issues and human rights, notably in Switzerland and Lebanon.

Lucile holds a Master’s degree in Migration and Citizenship from the University of Neuchâtel and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Lausanne. She has also completed the Foundation Board Academy programme run by Board for Good.