Keynote speakers and members of the judging panel

Several keynote presentations enrich the Freshers' Week and an expert judging panel selects the winning group.

Speakers and Members of the Judging Panel
Prof. Dr. oec. Walter Brenner has been Director of the Institute of Information Management (IWI-HSG), Director of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS-HSG) and Professor of Information Systems at the University of St.Gallen since April 2001. Prior to this, he served as Professor of Business Informatics and Business Administration at the University of Essen from 1999 and as Professor of General Business Administration and Information Management at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg in Germany from 1993 to 1999. From 1989 to 1993, he was head of the Information Management 2000 research program at IWI. Walter Brenner previously worked for Alusuisse-Lonza AG in Basel, most recently as head of application development. From 1978 to 1985 he studied and obtained his doctorate at the University of St.Gallen. He also works as a consultant on information management issues and the preparation of companies for the digitally networked world. He has published more than 30 books and 200 articles. His latest work is "Die Autonome Revolution" from FAZ-Buchverlag. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Walter Brenner is an expert on the panel discussion on Wednesday.
Dr. David Bosshart has been CEO of the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute for Economic and Social Studies since 1999. He holds a PhD in philosophy, is the author of numerous publications and a speaker at international events in Europe, America and Asia. His work focuses on the future of consumption, societal transformation, digitisation (human-machine), management and culture, globalisation and political philosophy. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, David Bosshart is a keynote speaker on Monday morning introducing the new students to the topic of this year’s case study.
Jacqueline Gasser-Beck, lic. iur. EMBA HSG is head of the "Teaching Innovation Lab" at the University of St.Gallen. Her team supports the faculty in the development of innovative teaching formats in the digital age. After studying law at the University of Zurich, she worked as a research assistant at the University of St.Gallen and at Harvard Law School before taking over the administrative management of the legal courses at the HSG. Subsequently, she worked for "Swissnex Boston" and designed events and projects in the field of science communication for Swiss universities. Back in Switzerland, she took over the management of the "Institute for Legal Studies and Legal Practice", before she took over as head of the Teaching Innovation Lab. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, she will be serving as an expert on the discussion panel on Wednesday.
Dr. iur. HSG Markus Gemperle has been CEO of Helvetia Europe and a member of the Helvetia Executive Management since 2015. He studied and received his doctorate at the University of St.Gallen. From 1988 to 1990, Markus Gemperle was also a research associate at HSG's Institute for Insurance Studies. In 1990, he joined Helvetia Insurance and was at first actively involved in various senior positions in the non-life business in Switzerland. From 2002, Markus Gemperle was the Head of Corporate Centre of the Helvetia Patria Group. In 2004, he became a member of the Executive Management of Helvetia Switzerland and joined as the Head of IT. Later in 2006, he took over the management of Operation & Partners. In 2008, he became a member of the Executive Management of Helvetia Group and served as Head of Strategy & Operations until 2015. Markus Gemperle holds various mandates as Chairman and as a member of the Board of Directors. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, he is a member of the judging panel.
Susanne Giger, lic. oec. HSG et lic. oec/dipl. studied Economics at the University of St.Gallen (HSG). After completing her studies, she worked in project management at a SME and in the communication department of the Zurich Insurance Group. In 2002, she graduated with a postgraduate degree in Journalism from the Centre for Media Studies (MAZ) in Lucerne. Until 2018, Susanne Giger worked as a business editor and presenter at Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) for various programmes (Echo der Zeit, Rendez-vous, business magazine Trend, Eco and others). In 2009, her book Hans Vontobel – Bankier, Patron, Zeitzeuge was published. Currently, she is Founder & CEO of Susanne Giger GmbH and is a member on the Board of Directors. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Susanne Giger chairs the expert panel discussion on Wednesday, co-hosts the Closing Event and is a keynote speaker.
Fabian Illi, BSc Business Information Technology (HSLU) is a Senior Cyber Security Consultant and deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at InfoGuard AG — located in Baar, Canton of Zug. From 2012-2015, he completed his Bachelor’s studies (Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology) at the Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts (HSLU). Subsequently, Fabian Illi worked for Ernst & Young AG as a Cyber Security Consultant where, apart from consulting projects, he also conducted regulatory and IT audits for clients in the financial sector. Within his current field of work at InfoGuard, Fabian Illi consults Swiss-based national and international clients regarding information security and data protection. His areas of expertise include technical and organisational audits/ assessments against internationally recognised standards (such as ISO 27001/ NIST CSF), education and awareness of employees, as well as the supervision of the ISO 2700-certified Information Security Management System (ISMS) of the InfoGuard. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Fabian Illi is a member of the judging panel.
Dr. oec. HSG Martin Keller has been working at the Institute of Business Education and Educational Management (IWP) at the University of St. Gallen since 2002. He studied Business Administration and Education and received his doctorate in conflict resolution at the University of St.Gallen. Since 2003, Martin Keller has been a lecturer in leadership skills and business education at the University of St.Gallen. From 2005 – 2008, he completed the certificate in 'Konfliktmediation: Klärungshilfe - Konfliktbearbeitung im beruflichen Kontext’ ('Conflict Mediation: Clarification Assistance - Conflict Resolution in a Professional Context'), as well as the additional training in Kommunikationspsychologie für Kommunikationsberatung und -training (Communication Psychology for Communication Counselling and Training) (Organiser: University of Hamburg). Since 2009, Martin Keller has been at the Institute for Business Education and Educational Management as a research associate, project manager and divisional director for school leadership and development. He is responsible for the executive education of upper secondary schools and works as a lecturer in CAS courses, management courses and seminars on issues relevant to school leadership and school development. Martin Keller is also responsible for consulting educational institutions and educational administrations. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, he will give a keynote presentation at the Freshers’ Week seminar I.
Stefan Linder is co-founder and CEO of the Swiss Economic Forum, which he has built up together with Peter Stähli over the past 18 years to become Switzerland's leading economic platform. In 2006, he also founded the Swiss Innovation Forum. After completing his business diploma in Bern, he earned a degree in business administration while working. Later he continued his education in marketing and communications at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago and UCLA. Back in Switzerland, Stefan Linder pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Basel. In 2016, he moved to Palo Alto, California, to pursue postgraduate studies at Stanford University. Stefan Linder works intensively in Silicon Valley on new technologies, market changes, future topics and innovation. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Stefan Linder is an expert on the Wednesday panel discussion.
Dr. oec. HSG Oliver Pabst holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Berlin and a PhD from the University of St.Gallen. He has been CEO of the Mammut Sports Group for three years. Prior to this, he spent nine years with Willy Bogner, based in Munich, where he was responsible for Sales & Marketing. Other previous positions include outdoor activities at Boards & More and Senior Associate at McKinsey. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Oliver Pabst is a guest speaker at the HSG Alumni evening event.
Stephanie Schoss, B.A. HSG studied economics at the University of St.Gallen, the Singapore Management University and Harvard University. She also received her doctorate from RWTH Aachen University. In addition to her academic career, she has founded various companies as an active entrepreneur. Today, she serves as managing partner of C Talks — a top executive community — and as president of her company IPM, which specializes in AI-based psychometric analytics. In addition to economics and academia, Stephanie also has a great passion for aviation, which she has also practiced as a professional pilot for the past four years. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, she is a guest speaker at the HSG Alumni evening event.
Aisha Thüring is a student at the University of St.Gallen, studying Law at the Bachelor’s level. In addition to her studies, she also works for the student magazine prisma as head of the department, where she is primarily responsible for content. Aisha Thüring is also an active member of the St.Gallen Model United Nations (SGMUN). In last year's Freshers’ Week, she has been engaged as a presenter in the Doku-Team TV. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, she is a member of the judging panel.
Martin Tschopp, lic. oec. HSG is member of the extended Group Executive Board at Helvetia Insurance. He is responsible for Strategy, M&A, Business Transformation, Business Innovation, Venture Fund and Eco Systems. Martin Tschopp spent 15 years in management consulting at Accenture and The Boston Consulting Group and 13 years in corporate roles at Swiss Life, UBS and Helvetia. He lived and worked for almost 10 years in Southeast Asia and Luxembourg. Martin Tschopp holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of St.Gallen. He is passionate about photography, astronomy and alpine sports. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, Martin Tschopp is a keynote speaker at the Freshers’ Week.
Prof. Dr. Isabelle Wildhaber has been a full professor of private and commercial law at the University of St.Gallen since 2015, with special emphasis on labour law, and director of the Institute for Work and Employment Research (FAA-HSG). She has been a licensed attorney in Switzerland since 1998 and was admitted to the New York State bar in 2001. After completing her Master's degree at Harvard Law School, Isabelle Wildhaber worked from 2001 to 2006 as a lawyer at the international law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in New York and Frankfurt a.M. She then moved from practice to academia and dedicated herself to an SNF-supported habilitation on "Labour Law in Restructuring", which she wrote at the Humboldt University in Berlin. In 2011, Isabelle Wildhaber received the Venia Legendi for Private and Commercial Law from the University of Zurich and worked from 2010 to 2015 as Assistant Professor for Labour and Liability Law at the University of St.Gallen. She is President of the Committee for the Equality of Women and Men at the University of St.Gallen. For the Freshers’ Week 2019, she is a member of the judging panel.