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Introduction

With the oikos history reaching back more than 25 years, there is a vast group of alumni who have shaped our organization during the last two decades. The diversity among them is significant – ranging from former oikos members who have just graduated and started their first job to alumni who have more than two decades of working experience in business, politics, NGO and academia. And yet, their common history and interest in sustainability provides a bond that lasts long beyond their university years.

Alumni Debates is a platform to bring these generations together to discuss topics that they are passionate about. If you are interested to bring this event to your city, please contact us at alumni@oikos-international.org.

Learn more about the oikos Alumni Network.

Alumni Debates is a platform to bring these generations together to discuss topics that they are passionate about. If you are interested to bring this event to your city, please contact us at alumni@oikos-international.org.

Learn more about the oikos Alumni Network.

Alumni Debate Online: Renewable Energy

We’re happy to announce that the next Alumni Debate Online will take place on February 22nd 2017 at 6pm CET. Register below!

Renewing Global Energy

Revolution or Evolution?

February 22nd 2017 at 6pm CET


Four experts from Finance, Research, Policy, and Application will guide you through a 90-minutes debate, exploring the roadblocks to implementing sustainable and renewable solutions for energy, not only in Europe, but globally.

Moderator

Benedikt Lemke, SCHÜTZ GmbH & Co. KGaA

Benedikt works in the German wind industry as a mechanical designer. In his first full time job, the young engineer finds technical solutions to improve the quality of a multi-MW wind turbine. Graduated with a Master in mechanical engineering – renewable energy from Beuth University of Applied Sciences and a Bachelor in general mechanical engineering from Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences, Benedikt has taken in a solid education in order to shape future technologies of the energy sector. Moreover, he is a skilled industrial mechanic with passion for material fatigue. A personal enrichment was his in total 11 month stay in China working for a German truck manufacturer, respectively supplier of welding parts.

Benedikt is the moderator of the second oikos Alumni debate and very proud of connecting oikos Alumni with motivations similar to his. In 2012, he co-founded the oikos Reutlingen chapter and became co-manager of the Energy Learning Circle in 2014 and 2016.

Benedikt loves dancing Cuban Salsa as much as swimming and playing keyboard.

He is Alumnus of the oikos Reutlingen Chapter.

Panelists

Nils Bennemann, Greencoat Capital

Nils is based in London, and leads Greencoat Capital’s investment activities in the DACH region and Scandinavia.

He joined Greencoat in 2010 after four years as Investment Manager at Candover Partners where he co-led the company’s efforts to originate and execute private equity transactions in the Resource Efficiency sector. During his time at Candover, he executed large buy-outs across Europe and served on the board of directors on behalf of Candover through to the successful realisation of investments.

Prior to Candover, Nils spent 3 years in investment banking, arranging several leveraged financings in support of private equity transactions at CIBC World Markets and advising Media and Telecoms companies as part of the M&A team at Lehman Brothers.

Nils holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSc in Philosophy and Economics from the London School of Economics.

He is Alumnus of oikos in London.

Aanal Patwari, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

As an Environmental Planner by qualification, my love for nature is evident from my work such as CEPT Clean Initiative, oikos International, while I was studying Environmental Planning. Currently I am working with the Government of Dubai in the business support section, focusing on implementing smart & sustainable initiatives. My endeavor in the realm of sustainability cuts across several segments of academic and professional experiences.  I am very passionate about my work towards the environment, which is why I usually find myself digging into different activities with several organizations, often at times far stretching myself a bit too much.

Currently I am involved with the Rotaract as Secretary General, Carboun, as UAE Ambassador, ISF Education Specialist, UN volunteer on education, Sadhana Forest as UAE representative/Ambassador, etc. I love connecting with people across the world and to travel to new places, trying to understand different cultures and traditions.

I have an undying love for animals for which I was involved in SPCA, an organization formed to protect the animals against cruelty, and I would love to engage myself into the wildlife conservation at some stage of my life.

Apart from the academics, I love to read (mainly fiction books, the likes of Paulo Coelho, Amitav Ghosh, Arundhati Roy, etc.), adventure activities, etc. I am also very passionate about dancing, and usually find myself tumbling across various international dance forms.

She is Alumna of the oikos Chapter in Ahmedabad.

Ralph Ripken, E4Tech

Ralph has conducted a variety of projects in the sustainable energy sector, providing strategic support and policy impact analysis for private and public organizations operating along various sustainable energy value chains. He has been leading numerous bioenergy projects and gained experience on the sustainability of renewable energy projects in a development context. Ralph also has project experience in low carbon transport, wind energy, sustainable buildings, and the water-energy-nexus. He is a cycle explorer, project discoverer and holds a degree in International Business from ESB Business School (Germany) and Reims Management School (France), and a jointly-awarded MSc in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management with a focus on Energy Policy from Lund University (Sweden), Manchester University (UK), and Central European University (Hungary). Ralph is fluent in German, English, and French and has intermediate Spanish.

He joined oikos in Reims and went on to co-found oikos Budapest and becoming an international Executive Board Member.

Register now

Fill in the required fields and you will get the details to join the “ZOOM” call into your email inbox on the morning of the debate. For questions contact adrian.jagow@oikos-international.org

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We thank the three panelists and, especially, Benedikt Lemke and Clémentine Robert, whose initiative and dedication led to the organization of this debate.

Past Debates

Latest Alumni Debate Online

“Entrepreneurship – answer for today’s challenges”

April 11 2020 at 4pm CET

Francesca Stocco and Yoon-Joo, representing two generations of oikos Lille Alumni, gave different perspectives on the topic, based on their experience.
You can find more information about Francesca’s ethical fashion business here. And if you want to learn more about social business solutions to spread, read more about the Snowball effect, Yoon-Joo’s organization.
The final conclusion was that oikos shapes entrepreneurs and changemakers, with further discussion on why and how this is happening.

Fifth Alumni Debate: Smart Cities – Really Smart or Just Digital?

The way we live in cities is drastically changing. Under the rubric Smart City innovative technologies rebuild the foundations of housing, mobility and energy. Together with Annette Kern-Ulmer of ewz, Zurich’s main energy provider; José Ibarra, an independent consultant in the field; and Ronny Kaufmann, CEO of SwissPower, the questions of the drawbacks and the bright sides of an integrated smart city were discussed. The oikos Associate on Digital Econom, Christoph Rappitsch, moderated the debate. Find a more detailed account here.

First Alumni Debate Online: Sustainability Consulting for Value Creation

Our first Alumni Debate Online took place on September 27th 2016. This first success, combined with valuable feedback from the participants, has made us certain that this format has much potential.Two panelists led the discussion on Sustainability Consulting for Value Creation: Katharina Beck (Manager, Accenture Strategy Sustainability Services) and Thomas Petruschke (Managing Director, BSD Consulting). Greg Ives (IMKM Design) moderated the panel. Find a full account of the debate here.

Fourth Alumni Debate: The Future of Food

The third oikos Alumni Debates was held on October 12, 2015 in Zurich. Three panelists led the discussion on the Future of Food: Benjamin Gräub (FAO); Christian Bärtsch (Essento) and Richard Kaegi (Globus). Harriet Jackson was the moderator.

Third Alumni Debate: Panel Discussion on What is a Sustainable Bank?

The third oikos Alumni Debates was held on May 8, 2014 in Zurich. Three panelists led the discussion on What is a Sustainable Bank: Oliver Schmid-Schönbein (e2 Management Consulting); Amandine Favier (WWF Schweiz); Mathias Weis (Volksbank Karlsruhe). Alex Barkawi was the moderator.

Second Alumni Debate: Panel Discussion on Energy and Sustainability

The second oikos Alumni Debates was held on January 21, 2014 in Zurich. Three panelists will led the discussion on energy and sustainability: Armin Eberle (Energieagentur der Wirtschaft); Luca Pedretti (Axpo Trading) and Tilmann Liebert (International Institute for Sustainable Development).

First Alumni Debate: Panel Discussion on Growth and Sustainability

The oikos alumni met on 19 September 2013 for an apéro and panel discussion on growth and sustainability. The event took place in Zurich. Three alumni led the discussion: Jan Amrit Poser (Bank J. Safra Sarasin); Irmi Seidl (Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL) and Christian Busch (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs)

Click here for more information

Panelists

Smart Cities – Really Smart or Just Digital? (15 November 2016 – Zurich)

Annette Kern-Ulmer

annette-kern-ulmerAnnette Kern-Ulmer is heading the business development for Energy Solutions at the City of Zurich’s utility ewz. She is also part of ewz’s internal Smart Home Initiative. Annette has a doctorate in business administration from the University of St. Gallen and a professional background in aviation and airport management, as well as international business development.

José Ibarra

jose_ibarraJosé graduated in Management from HEC Lausanne. He was a research assistant in Urban Studies at the EPFL and conducted a study for Geneva Airport on the effects of transport multimodality. In the two last years, he has worked as a consultant in the field of Smart Cities and has managed the Smart City Days 2015 and 2016 in Lausanne and Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Ronny Kaufmann

ronnyRonny Kaufmann is CEO of Swisspower AG. Prior to that he was the Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility at the Swiss Post and worked as a Partner in a Economic and Communication Consultancy. He studied political science at the University of St. Gallen, and is now a lecturer for public affairs management at several renowned Swiss universities as well as publisher of the book “Innen- und Aussenpolitik von Unternehmen”. He is interested in philosophy and a passionate mountain biker.

Christoph Rappitsch

S1480003_2Christoph is an oikos Associate in the field of Digital Economy. His research focuses particularly on how digitalisation effects the economy, social and work life and the environment. He was also charge of logistics as part of the FutureLab Team 2016. Christoph studied Economics in the master program at the WU Vienna, where he also joined the local oikos Chapter in 2014 and quickly became a board member. His desire to change society and to working with people, who have the same goal, is his main motivation. Christoph loves to sing and play his guitar, a Gibson Les Paul.

Sustainability Consulting for Value Creation (27 September 2016 – Online)

Katharina Beck

Katharina Beck

Alumna oikos Cologne

Manager, Accenture Strategy Sustainability Services

Katharina Beck works as Manager at Accenture Strategy – Sustainability Services and lives in Hamburg, Germany. Katharina’s focus is on helping companies to identify sustainability as a strategic driver to create business value, future-proof companies’ business models and to positively impact societies’ development. She has recently worked with 40 of the world’s largest Information & Communications Technology (ICT) companies, e.g., Microsoft, British Telecommunications and Deutsche Telekom, on how digital solutions can drive progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See the publicly available #SystemTransformation report and interactive website at www.systemtransformation.gesi.org.

Prior to joining Accenture, Katharina was department head at a research institute for financial services and consumer protection, worked in a consultancy specialized in Corporate Responsibility (CR), and served two international NGOs on sustainable economics and management: as director at the Institute for Social Banking and as the president of oikos International (in 2008).

Thomas Petruschke

Thomas_Petruschke_large

Thomas Petruschke

Alumnus oikos Bayreuth

Managing Director, BSD Consulting

Thomas is the Managing Director of BSD Germany. Thomas is passionate about supporting clients in reaching the next level of their sustainability management and reporting practices. Before joining the BSD Group he served in the sustainability reporting department of the Volkswagen Group as well as at the UNEP Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production. At the latter he delivered applied research projects to variety of customers from the policy and corporate area in an international setting.

Greg Ives

week2-1

Greg Ives

Alumnus oikos Penn

IMKM Design

Greg is a sustainability professional working at the nexus of environmental research and analysis and design, planning and project implementation. His work is focused on restoration and conservation of tropical dry forest, the world’s most endangered tropical ecosystem. He simultaneously manages the sustainability services for IMKM Design and oversees conservation, research and analysis planning and management for the Reserva Ecologica Panamaes, a tropical dry forest restoration project in Panama. In addition, he is in the process of developing a non-profit research institute to drive applied research on adaptive landscape restoration solutions aimed at productivity and resiliency to climate change and exotic species invasion. Greg graduated from the University of Pennsylvania where he was on the board of oikos Penn and studied environmental management, completing his thesis entitled, “Embedded Sustainability as a Competitive Advantage: A Case Study of Stonyfield Farm.”

Panel Discussion on the Future of Food (12 October 2015 – Zurich)

Benjamin Gräub

Benjamin GräubBenjamin Gräub

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Agricultural Officer (Ecological Intensification), FAO

Benjamin Graeub is an Agricultural Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. He has been working on  policies for sustainable agriculture over the last five years in various global and national fora and has been involved in developing a tool to enable farmers and pastoralists to self-assess their resilience to climate change. He is passionate about sustainability, participatory approaches to development and social entrepreneurship. He holds a CEMS MSc in Intl. Management and an M.A. in International Affairs and Governance from the University of St. Gallen.

Christian Bärtsch


Christian_Bärtsch_small

Christian Bärtsch

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Co-founder, Essento

Christian is co-founder of essento, a Swiss start-up focusing on the opportunity edible insects have in human nutrition. Before starting essento he contributed to launch UrbanFarmers, a start-up focusing on bringing aquaponic solutions (fish and vegetable cultivation) to urban environements. He has a background in economics from the University St. Gallen. He loves to eat and enjoys good, clean and fair food.

Richard Kaegi

trüffelschweinRichard Kaegi

Senior Buyer Delicatessa Globus & foodscout

1958 born

1974 -1978 apprenticeship in mechanics

1979 -1991 running own businesses (nightclub, bars, winemerchant, consulting)

1991 -1994 travelled the world

1994 – today senior buyer delicatessa globus & foodscout

Moderator

Harriet Jackson

Harriet Jackso_6x4

Harriet Jackson

Alumna oikos London

Analyst at the Global Climate Partnership Fund, responsAbility Investments AG

Harriet is an Analyst at the Global Climate Partnership Fund at responsAbility Investments AG, where she works on developing partnerships with financial institutions to introduce energy efficiency and renewable energy financing. She was President of oikos International in 2011 and previously led the oikos London chapter. Harriet has a BSc in Government and Economics from the London School of Economics and an MSc from HEC Paris.

Panel Discussion on What is a Sustainable Bank? (8 May 2014 – Zurich)

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Amandine Favier

AmandineAmandine Favier

Manager Finance Sector Engagement and Education, WWF Switzerland

Amandine Favier is Manager Finance Sector Engagement and Education for WWF Switzerland. She works on projects to improve the environmental performance of financial institutions and the integration of sustainability in finance curriculums. Before joining WWF in 2012, she worked several years for the financial industry in Geneva and Zürich. In her last role she was a FX and Commodity sales trader for Deutsche Bank Switzerland. After her studies, she gathered experienced in international policy and advocacy in Paris and Brussels focusing on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Amandine holds a master in business administration and economics from the Copenhagen Business School and a master in Management from EM-LYON business school. She wrote her master thesis on the link between strategic corporate reactions and environmental regulations.

Mathias Weis

MathiasMathias Weis

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Advisor to the Board of Directors, Volksbank Karlsruhe

Dr. Mathias Weis has studied business at the University of St. Gallen. He wrote his PhD thesis about sustainability in the Swiss cantonal banking sector and he was on of the organizer of the oikos conference in 2006. Since 2012 he is Advisor to the Board of Directors at Volksbank Karlsruhe eG. Before he worked as a Consultant at Genossenschaftsverband Bayern e.V. in Munich.

Oliver Schmid-Schönbein

Schmid-SchoenbeinOliver Schmid-Schönbein

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Managing Partner, e2 Management Consulting

Oliver Schmid-Schönbein was a member of oikos St. Gallen from 1987 to 1990 and, among others in the board, responsible for responsible for projects. Since 1995 he has been co-founder and managing partner of E2 Management Consulting, Management Consultants focusing on sustainability in Management based in Zurich. He currently supports oikos consulting in the strategic development of the organization and in coaching its members.

Moderator

Alexander Barkawi

AB_Photo_220pxAlexander Barkawi

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Founder and Director, Council on Economic Policies (CEP); President, oikos Foundation

Alexander Barkawi is founder and director of the Council on Economic Policies (CEP). Prior to his decision to build up CEP, he was the managing director of SAM Indexes and thus responsible for developing the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) into a key reference point for sustainability investing. In that capacity, he drove worldwide marketing, sales and licensing as well as media and public relations for the DJSI family and other indexes compiled by SAM for more than nine years. Before joining SAM, Alex took the lead in internationalizing the activities of oikos – an organization that promotes sustainability issues in teaching and research at faculties for economics and management worldwide. Originally started as an initiative in St. Gallen, Switzerland, oikos today comprises more than 30 chapters on four continents. Alex continues to be engaged in the organization as president of the board of trustees of the oikos foundation.

Alex is a graduate in economics (M.A.) of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where he also wrote his PhD thesis on “Social Change in Egypt in the 1990s”. He grew up in Germany and Egypt and today lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Energy and Sustainability Alumni Debates (21 January 2014 – Zurich)

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Armin Eberle

Armin

Armin Eberle

Alumnus Institute for Economy and the Environment University of St. Gallen 1994-1996

Managing Director Swiss Private Sector Energy Agency

Since 2009 Armin Eberle is managing director of the Swiss Private Sector Energy Agency (EnAW) and in that function responsible for the implementation of the Swiss CO2 bill in the economic sector. Guiding almost 3000 companies towards energy management and reduction of energy consumption the EnAW plays an important role in CO2-abatement in Switzerland.

Before he worked in a Swiss energy utility in the development of renewable energies and between 1998 and 2003 he was head of sustainability at Migros, the largest retailer in the country. After his studies he worked as a consultant in the fields of infrastructure, environment and economics. He is co-author of „Mut zum ökologischen Umbau“ (Eberle, Meier, Minsch, Schneidewind, 1996).

Armin is a graduate in economics of the University of St. Gallen and Civil Engineer of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ) Switzerland. He wrote his PhD thesis on “least-cost principle (Minimalkostenprinzip) in public infrastructure” University of Oldenburg, Germany. He lives with his family in Zurich, Switzerland.

Luca Pedretti

Luca

Luca Pedretti

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Head Structured Origination CEE, Axpo Trading

Luca Pedretti works for Axpo Trading (formerly known as EGL AG) since 2007 where he manages all energy origination and green trading activities in Eastern Europe. Most of the energy commodities transactions pursued by his team are focused on hedging and managing energy risks on behalf of investors in on-shore wind, biogas and biomass sectors but also on procurement of green energy for large industrial and retail customers.

Before he worked for two years as Project Advisor at Swisscontact AG on development projects in Indonesia to finance environmental projects and measures to improve air quality in Jakarta.

Luca studied at the University of St. Gallen, where he also joined Oikos St. Gallen, and finished his Master of International Affairs in 2005

Tilmann Liebert

Tilmann Liebert portrait iisd compressed

Tilmann Liebert

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Program Officer, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Tilmann Liebert, an oikos St. Gallen alumnus, co-leads projects on the Sustainable Procurement & Infrastructure Programme at IISD. He provides governments with technical assistance on public procurement and Public-Private-Partnership arrangements, low-carbon development and master planning for sustainable industrial zones. He has also researched and published on renewable and fossil fuel energy policy, including subsidies, and sustainable consumption and production. Mr. Liebert coordinates the Partnership for Procurement and Green Growth and represents IISD on the Green Growth Knowledge Platform and the UNECE Team of Specialists on PPPs.

Before joining IISD, Mr. Liebert worked at UNEP-DTIE, where he co-drafted the Renewable Energy Chapter of the Green Economy Report and researched on international competitiveness of renewables industries. Previously he also worked with a Member of the European Parliament on EU Budget design and EU-China affairs. Mr. Liebert has worked in China, India, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Morocco, Costa Rica, USA, Switzerland and various EU Member States.

Mr. Liebert holds an M.A. in International Affairs & Governance of the University of St. Gallen where he also received his B.A. degree. He is a M.A.L.D. graduate of the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy in Boston, where he focused on sustainability and climate change & energy policy. Mr. Liebert is a member of the Emerging Leaders in Environmental and Energy Policy Network.

Moderator

Alexander Barkawi

AB_Photo_220pxAlexander Barkawi

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Founder and Director, Council on Economic Policies (CEP); President, oikos Foundation

Alexander Barkawi is founder and director of the Council on Economic Policies (CEP). Prior to his decision to build up CEP, he was the managing director of SAM Indexes and thus responsible for developing the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) into a key reference point for sustainability investing. In that capacity, he drove worldwide marketing, sales and licensing as well as media and public relations for the DJSI family and other indexes compiled by SAM for more than nine years. Before joining SAM, Alex took the lead in internationalizing the activities of oikos – an organization that promotes sustainability issues in teaching and research at faculties for economics and management worldwide. Originally started as an initiative in St. Gallen, Switzerland, oikos today comprises more than 30 chapters on four continents. Alex continues to be engaged in the organization as president of the board of trustees of the oikos foundation.

Alex is a graduate in economics (M.A.) of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where he also wrote his PhD thesis on “Social Change in Egypt in the 1990s”. He grew up in Germany and Egypt and today lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Growth and Sustainability Alumni Debates (19 September 2013 – Zurich)

Panelists Photo

Christian Busch

Christian BuschChristian Busch

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Growth and Competition Policy, Economic Policy Department – State Secretariat for Economic Affairs

Christian is responsible for questions addressing innovation policy and sectoral structural change in the Growth and Competition Policy unit at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, where he works since January 2012. Besides, he is also in charge of the external research programs conducted by SECO.

From 2007 to 2011 he has worked and researched at the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at the ETH Zurich where he has focused on the analysis of emerging market economies. In this position, he has also represented KOF in international bodies related to business cycle analysis and headed the KOF Economic Forum.

Christian holds a Master in International Relations from the University of St. Gallen where he has also earned his PhD degree in development economics. In parallel with his studies, he has been a major force in the creation of a renowned e-learning platform at the chair of Macroeconomics.

Irmi Seidl

ISeidl_2011

Irmi Seidl

Alumna oikos St. Gallen (1988 – 2002)

Head of Economics and Social Sciences Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute

Check some of Irmi Seidl’s points of view regarding growth (alas, only in German/French).

Handelzeitung

Wachstumsgrenze: Übergang neue Ära ist zwingend

Neue Zürcker Zeitung

Die Wachstumsgesellschaft ist ein Auslaufmodell

Le Monde

Comment guérir de notre dépendance à la croissance?

Academic Education
April 2003 Venia legendi by the Faculty of Sciences, University Zürich, in environmental sciences with focus on environmental economics; Title: “Biological and conservationist perspectives on economics”
Oct. 1993 PhD in business economics, University St. Gallen, Title: “Environment and Innovations: The Role of Organisational Culture in the Agro-Chemical Industry”
June 1987 Maîtrise ès Sciences Economiques (Master), University of Paris I Sorbonne
June 1986 Licence ès Sciences Economiques (Bachelor), University of Aix-Marseille
July 1985 Vordiplom in Economic Sciences, University of Munich
Professional Experience
Since July 2006 Head of the Research Unit “Economics and Social Sciences”, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf
Sept. 2002-2006 Co-Head of the Economics Section, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf
Jan. 1995-April 2002 Research Fellow at the Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Zürich
Since many years Lecturer at University of Zürich and ETH Zürich
1994 (Febr.–Dez.) Independent Research, Munich
1993–1994 (May–Jan.) Research Fellow at the Umweltforschungszentrum Leipzig-Halle
1989-1992 Working student at CIBA AG
1988–1990 Teacher for Economics in adult education, St. Gallen (part time)
1988–1992 Honorary activities with oikos – Environmental economic student initiative, University of St. Gallen
Research Periods Abroad
2011/2012 (Dec.-Febr.) Department of Economics, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
1998 (Jan.–May) Visiting Fellow at the Department of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
1997 (June to Sept.) Visiting Fellow at the Department of Economics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, USA
Recent Research Projects (Selection)
2013-16 Controlling urban sprawl to limit soil consumption, Swiss Science Foundation
2010–13 Early recognition of critical drought conditions in Switzerland – coping with shortages in soil moisture, groundwater and runoff (DROUGHT-CH), Swiss Science Foundation
2009- Post-growth-society
2007-2013 AlpFUTUR – Future of Swiss alpine pastures, Joint Research Project (member of program management), Federal and Cantonal Offices, Foundations, www.alpfutur.ch
2009-2012 Transferable development rights for reducing land consumption and sprawl in Switzerland, Swiss Science Foundation
2008-2011 Entrepreneurship in Swiss rural regions – a spatial analysis Swiss Science Foundation
2008-2009 Cost of biotope conservation in Switzerland, MAVA-Foundation
Present Research Topics
Economics of land use and settlement development, Development of peripheral areas of Switzerland, Economics of nature conservation and biodiversity, Management of Droughts; Post-growth-society

Jan Amrit Poser


Jan PoserJan Amrit Poser

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen (1989 – 1991)

Head of Asset Management and Sustainability, Bank J. Safra Sarasin

Born in Bonn, Germany. Attended high school in Bonn and Geneva. After studying economics in St. Gall, Switzerland, and Freiburg, Germany, he moved to the ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich. After completing his PhD in 1998, he joined the Russia Division of the International Monetary Fund in Washington. Returning to Switzerland in 1999 he worked in the Country Risk Department of one of Switzerland’s large banks, where he was responsible for Russia and Eastern Europe. Jan Amrit Poser joined Bank Sarasin in 2001 as a foreign exchange strategist. He became Chief Economist in 2004. From 2008 until 2013 Jan Poser was responsible for the Research department. In 2013 he became Head of Asset Management and Sustainability of Bank J. Safra Sarasin. Jan Poser is a renowned commentator of economic and financial market developments in the media.

Moderator

Alexander Barkawi

AB_Photo_220pxAlexander Barkawi

Alumnus oikos St. Gallen

Founder and Director, Council on Economic Policies (CEP); President, oikos Foundation

Alexander Barkawi is founder and director of the Council on Economic Policies (CEP). Prior to his decision to build up CEP, he was the managing director of SAM Indexes and thus responsible for developing the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) into a key reference point for sustainability investing. In that capacity, he drove worldwide marketing, sales and licensing as well as media and public relations for the DJSI family and other indexes compiled by SAM for more than nine years. Before joining SAM, Alex took the lead in internationalizing the activities of oikos – an organization that promotes sustainability issues in teaching and research at faculties for economics and management worldwide. Originally started as an initiative in St. Gallen, Switzerland, oikos today comprises more than 30 chapters on four continents. Alex continues to be engaged in the organization as president of the board of trustees of the oikos foundation.

Alex is a graduate in economics (M.A.) of the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, where he also wrote his PhD thesis on “Social Change in Egypt in the 1990s”. He grew up in Germany and Egypt and today lives in Zurich, Switzerland.

Contact

If you have any questions, please email alumni@oikos-international.org