Financial Innovation – Accelerating the Change

Wednesday, September 13, 2023 – Wednesday, September 13, 2023
13:15 – 17:00

The Swiss Finance Institute (SFI) in partnership with the Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF) and Building Bridges are holding a high-profile conference on the role of financial innovation in accelerating the change towards a more sustainable world in Zurich, on Wednesday, 13 September 2023.

While sustainability has become part of our everyday life, the need for rapid change is becoming increasingly evident. And financial innovation has a key role to play in accelerating this change. The conference will focus on current issues in sustainable finance. Ways of accelerating this transition will be sought, and discussion will range from climate risk for banks and whether CO2 should be considered a rare resource, to the challenges of scalability.

Join us on September 13 to explore ways to make a positive impact on sustainability!

More information and registration

Speakers:

Sabine Döbeli

CEO - Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF)

Sabine Döbeli has worked in the field of sustainable finance for over 25 years in different roles. After establishing Swiss Sustainable Finance (SSF), she took over the role as CEO of SSF in 2014. Previously, she was Head of Corporate Sustainability Management at Vontobel where she was responsible for coordinating sustainability topics at group level and for preparing sustainable investment services. At Zürcher Kantonalbank she built up the sustainability research unit within the financial analysis department and was involved in the launch of various sustainable investment products.

François Degeorge

Managing Director - Swiss Finance Institute

François Degeorge is the Managing Director and Senior Chair of the Swiss Finance Institute (SFI).

François Degeorge is Professor of Finance at the Università della Svizzera italiana, specialized in Behavioral Finance and Neurofinance. He is a former Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Università and a former president of the European Finance Association. He has taught at HEC Paris, where he also served as Associate Dean for Research. He has been a visiting professor at the Tuck School of Business, at Université Paris-Dauphine, and at the Saïd Business School. He has received numerous teaching and research awards.

Marie-Laure Schaufelberger

Head of ESG and Stewardship - Pictet

Marie-Laure Schaufelberger is Head of ESG and Stewardship for the Pictet Group where she drives corporate strategy for the Pictet Group’s Responsible Vision across investments and its own assets. She is also President of Sustainable Finance Geneva. Ms. Schaufelberger began her career at Pictet in 2007 in the media relations and public affairs team where she was also responsible for Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. In 2014, she joined Pictet Asset Management’s Thematic Equities team as a Product Specialist, covering business development and client portfolio management across several environmental and social thematic impact strategies. Ms. Schaufelberger holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute and is a CFA charter holder.

Alfred Ledermann moderator,

Crew Product Lead Financing and Co-Head of the Center of Excellence for Sustainability - UBS Switzerland

Alfred Ledermann is Crew Product Lead Financing and Co-Head of the Center of Excellence for Sustainability in UBS Switzerland. Together with his team he drives innovation, digitization and the sustainability roadmap for mortgages and corporate lending at UBS Switzerland. He is also part of the SBA working group “AG Hypothekenfinanzierung”.

Alfred Ledermann has been with UBS since 2007. Prior to his present role, Mr. Ledermann headed the product management for lending & deposit products and successfully led the LIBOR transition within UBS. In the context of the LIBOR transition, he also chaired the “Loan & Deposit” working Group in the National Working Group for CHF Reference Rates. Alfred Ledermann graduated as Diplom-Kaufmann from the University of Augsburg.

Johanna Preisig

Member of the Executive Board, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA

Johanna Preisig is member of the Executive Board at the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and Head of the Strategic Services division. This division includes i.a. the Sustainable Finance unit, which coordinates and provides technical support for FINMA's various activities in the area of sustainability.