Award Night 2025
Diversity. Exchange. Gala.
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Kursaal Bern once again shone with the brilliance of the Swiss Diversity Awards. For the seventh time, individuals, projects, and organizations were honored for their outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. It was an evening full of emotion, exciting encounters, and inspiring speeches.
On this evening, the stage belonged exclusively to projects, organizations, and individuals who advocate for visibility, inclusion, and diversity. Every year, the Swiss Diversity Award Night demonstrates anew what the power of diversity can achieve. “We are proud that we can contribute to bringing these issues into the spotlight and provide guests with valuable insights that inspire action,” said Michel Rudin, founder of the Swiss Diversity Association, as he welcomed the nearly 300 guests.
To further promote dialogue on equality and acceptance in Switzerland, nine awards were presented in various categories.
Winners 2025
Genderbox / Pride Tour BaselLGBTQIA+ Inclusion
„In Her Chair“ Claire Garwacki FrogetGender Equality
NSNS – Neurodiversity Support NetworkDisability
Women Who Master - Logitech/Grace LokakoEducation & Social Background
About us! Nationality & Ethnicity
Jedes Alter ZähltAge Diversity
Offene Kirche ElisabethenReligion & Spirituality
Aids Hilfe SchweizAllianz Lifetime Award
Autismus SchweizSwisscom Entrepreneurship Award
Impressions from the Award Night 2025
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)
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!’.
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.
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.
Acharya Vidyabhaskar
Acharya Vidyabhaskar is the Secretary General of the Swiss Umbrella Association for Hinduism and a Sanskrit scholar from the non-dual tradition of India. Raised in Switzerland, England, and India, he was trained in Sanskrit, the Shastras, and classical Hindu philosophy at the traditional Kailas Ashram. He also studied Comparative Religion and Theology, thereby building a bridge between Eastern and Western intellectual traditions. He teaches Sanskrit, Maitri meditation, and Atiyoga at the Sarvamangala Foundation and is involved in educational projects in India and Nepal.
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).
Laila Sheikh© Ramon Lehmann
Laila Sheikh is the Executive Director of the House of Religions – Dialogue of Cultures in Bern, a unique institution where eight religious communities come together under one roof to actively engage in interreligious dialogue. Previously, she served for over twenty years as a diplomat in the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – including postings in the Middle East, Kenya, and Mozambique, as well as serving as Regional Head of International Cooperation for the Horn of Africa. Today, she brings her broad international experience to the service of an open, diverse, and dialogue-oriented society in Switzerland.
Sabine Stalder
Sabine Stalder is 53 years old and originally comes from Augsburg in Bavaria. After studying architecture, she moved to Switzerland 23 years ago. After 21 years as a building consultant in a large engineering firm, she decided to change careers - partly because she expanded her knowledge a few years ago by studying theology. As a result, she has now taken up her new role as Deputy General Secretary. She is looking forward to the challenges ahead and the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the church. Sabine Stalder lives with her family in the canton of Aargau.
Catherine Berger
Catherine Berger is an SAV-certified specialist lawyer in family law, a mediator, and has been working as an independent attorney in Rheinfelden (AG) for over two decades. She is actively involved in church affairs at both the cantonal and national levels: Since 2023, she has been Vice President of the Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Switzerland (EKS), where she is responsible, among other things, for the areas of diaconal work and pastoral care. At the cantonal level, she serves as President of the Pension Fund of the Reformed Church of Aargau and as Vice President of the Church Council of the Reformed Church of Aargau, overseeing the portfolios of parishes, palliative care and support, pastoral care (in hospitals, clinics, prisons, and with the police), as well as personnel development. Her commitment is characterised by a deep understanding of social responsibility and a strong dedication to actively shaping the church in a contemporary way.
Judith Pörksen Roder
Judith Pörksen Roder is a Protestant Reformed pastor and President of the Synodal Council of the Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn. She sees the national church as a people's church that is there for everyone, regardless of their lifestyle, background or social status. Its commitment is to a church that is part of the social dialogue and is committed to cohesion, justice and diversity. The Reformed Churches of Bern-Jura-Solothurn actively support social diversity with ‘marriage for all’ and programmes such as queer church services.
The Organising Committee 2025
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.
Achim Schäpper, Live-Regie
Marketing & Communications Specialist
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