Award Night 2025

Diversity. Exchange. Gala.

Reserve your spot now!

On September 6, 2025, the Kursaal Bern will host the 7th Swiss Diversity Award ceremony, honoring Swiss individuals, organizations, and projects for their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The categories in which the winners will be recognized include: «LGBTQIA+», «Gender+», «Age», «Disability», «Education & Social Background», «Nationality & Ethnicity», and «Religion & Spirituality». Additionally, two special awards will be presented: the «Allianz Lifetime Award» to honor a personality for their lifetime achievements, and the «Swisscom Entrepreneurship Award» for a DE&I business idea with potential and scalability.

5:00 PM: Red Carpet & Apéro
6:00 PM: Award Ceremony with Gala Dinner
from 10:00 PM: After Show Party

Further impressions of the Award Night 2024

Jury 2025

Two independent juries select the winners of the Swiss Diversity Awards from the projects submitted to Swiss Diversity in the categories «LGBTQIA+», «Gender+», «Age», «Disability», «Education & Social Background», «Nationality & Ethnicity», and «Religion & Spirituality». Download detailed document (PDF)

Bruno Barth

Bruno Barth has been Managing Director/National Director of Special Olympics Switzerland since 2011. Special Olympics creates space for encounters and conveys the values of diversity and inclusion.

Aleks Damchevski

Aleks Damchevski has made it his mission to make the world a better place. The world we live in, the world we work in. The way we lead and the way we are led. As a Diversity & Inclusion leader with more than 10 years of international experience in digital and HR, Aleks brings a unique, human perspective to create a more inclusive society.

Prof. Dr. Gudrun Sander

Gudrun Sander is a titular professor of business administration with a special focus on diversity management. She completed her PhD (Dr. oec. HSG) at the University of St. Gallen in 1997 and received the recognition award of the Swiss Society for Organisation and Management (SGO) for her dissertation in 1998. Gudrun Sander is Director of the Competence Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) and Director of the Research Centre for International Management at the University of St. Gallen. She has been committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in research, practice, teaching and further education for three decades.

Vanessa Grand

Vanessa Grand, a name that has long since found its place in the folk music and pop scene. Born with a handicap, it is now normal for the singer to be on stage in a wheelchair. Her musical CV is well worth reading and includes successes such as Countless live performances at home and abroad, open airs, winning the title of Musikantenkönigin and producing 6 successful albums.

Ellen Kocher, Präsidentin

Ellen Kocher is an economist and certified workplace wellness counsellor with a Master's degree in Health & Wellness Coaching. Ellen has been dedicated to workplace wellness for over 20 years. Most recently, Ellen's work has focussed on the 50+ age group and the 5-generation workforce, advocating the slogan ‘Don't grow old waiting!’.

Hans-Peter Nehmer

Hans-Peter Nehmer is Head of Corporate Communications & Sustainability at Allianz Suisse. Communication defines his life: ‘It is the link between us humans and allows us to understand each other,’ says Hans-Peter Nehmer. His motto: ‘Use every communication as an opportunity!’

Jury Religion 2025

In today’s global context, religious conflicts remain a pressing challenge, underscoring the need for meaningful action in this area. At Swiss Diversity, we deeply respect freedom of religion and rely on the expertise of religious leaders in selecting nominees for this category.

We believe that religion and spirituality possess a profound unifying force, capable of fostering understanding and breaking down barriers. To honor the significance of this dimension, we have established a dedicated jury for the 'Religion & Spirituality' category, ensuring it receives the attention and recognition it deserves in the broader conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Marc Blumenfeld

Marc Blumenfeld is the founder and Managing Director of Alithis and has worked in the field of ethics, compliance and governance for many years. He is also passionately involved as President of the association ‘Sportler:innen für Offenheit und Vielfalt’ (VSOV), which campaigns against racism and discrimination in sport, and is a member of the Zurich Centre Committee at STEP, the professional organisation for family counselling experts across generations.

Omar Kassab

Dr Omar Kassab works for Swisscontact, the Swiss Foundation for Technical Development Cooperation. He previously worked as a lecturer and sustainability officer at ETH Zurich. He is co-founder of the NGO ‘recollect Syria’, which supports the past and future work of Syrian people who have experienced war, violence and flight. As a member of the Board of Trustees, he is also involved in the Zurich Institute for Interreligious Dialogue (ZIID).

Das OK 2025

Sabina Brägger, Geschäftsführerin

As a designer, I often find myself in an uncomfortable dilemma. On the one hand, I want to realise my visions of new products, on the other hand, I am bothered by the lack of consumer awareness regarding the origin and the often questionable nature of production. It's a difficult balancing act for me to expand the market with my ideas while at the same time avoiding the wasteful use of resources. How can I still survive in the market as a designer? And what contribution can I make to sustainability? For this reason, I see the solution for me in working with leftover materials. I want to localise unused materials that would otherwise no longer be used, develop them further and make them usable for product design.

Simone Müller-Staubli, Food & Beverage

Entrepreneur in the catering industry and hotel and communications expert

Fernanda Wüthrich, Swiss Diversity Ambassador Lateinamerika

Communication scientist, accredited business mediator and expert in intercultural communication.

Michel Rudin, Gründer Swiss Diversity

Programme, ideas, network and contacts

Thomas Thomen

‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ by Mahatma Gandhi An apt saying that perfectly describes my life to date. My career has been as colourful and turbulent as this earth is. From confectioner to dramaturge (Basel Theatre) and a few more, I quickly slipped through the family business into self-employment, from qualified medical masseuse to successful founder and managing director of rainbowshop.ch. Private life: Married for years to my husband, with whom I enjoy love and life to the full despite my physical limitations and remain curious and open to new things. Live and respect your life. It's short and precious.

Yvonne Apiyo Brändle Amolo, Präsidentin

Intercultural mediator, local councillor SP Switzerland Contacts, ideas, network

Simone Aemmer, Allrounderin & Hotels

With my commitment and my work, I want to contribute to ensuring that every person in our society has a place where they are respected and can develop. I pursue this goal both in my free time for Swiss Diversity and in my aspired professional field of diversity management and internal communication. I believe that diversity is not only a value in itself, but also a key success factor for companies and organisations. I strive to ensure that we all have the opportunity to realise our full potential in our society and especially in the workplace, regardless of gender, origin, age, sexual orientation or other characteristics.’

Reyn Ffoulkes, Entertainment

Born showman Reyn hails from the sunny shores of South Africa and lights up the stage as a singer and actor, combining his passion for music with his love of entertainment. In 2012, he followed his heart to Switzerland and quickly established himself in the arts and culture industry. Before coming to Switzerland, Reyn performed in several professional musical theatre productions and was an official artist at international events. During his career in Switzerland, he has appeared in several television commercials and local musicals, and was recently a contestant on The Voice of Switzerland.