ICT4S 2026 - Industry and Policy Leaders Day 8 June 2026

Digitalization «has a profound impact on all economic, social, and societal systems and is developing an ever-increasing transformative force that is fundamentally influencing people, societies, and the planet and must therefore be shaped.»

«Our Shared Digital Future, WGBU Report»

At the Industry & Policy Leaders Day of the international ICT for Sustainability Conference, visionary thought leaders come together to explore ways shape a sustainable digital future that empowers people and protects the environment.

Realizing this vision requires cross-sector collaboration. This is exactly where this special conference day comes in: it brings together pioneers from industry, politics, public administration, academia, and civil society, building bridges between their perspectives. Current challenges are clearly identified, forward-looking ideas are presented, and concrete, practical solutions are showcased and discussed.

Join us, be inspired, and take part in this vital dialogue to help shape a sustainable digital future! Together, we can create a digital future that empowers people and ensures environmental sustainability.

The Industry & Policy Leaders Day marks the opening of the five-day ICT for Sustainability Conference. During the following three days, research takes center stage — featuring interactive ConverStations from Tuesday to Thursday, workshops, and a doctoral symposium on Friday. The Policy Leaders Day can be attended independently of the rest of the conference. All events take place in English.

Organizing Committee

• Prof. Dr. Jan Bieser (Bern University of Applied Sciences)
• Prof. Dr. Rika Koch (Bern University of Applied Sciences)
• Dr. Cristina Pereira (Digital for Planet)

Entire Organizing Committee

University College London (UCL)

Associate Professor in Economics, Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

Research Profile

Cecilia Rikap is Associate Professor in Economics and Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), University College London (UCL). She researches the international political economy of science and technology and the economics of innovation, including how digital and knowledge‑based industries shape markets and policy. She just published her third book on “The Rulers: Corporate Power in the Age of AI and the Cloud”. She has also authored the award-winning book "Capitalism, Power and Innovation: Intellectual Monopoly Capitalism Uncovered" and co-authored the book "The Digital Innovation Race". Cecilia’s work analyses corporate concentration of intangible assets (science, technology, data, narratives) leading to the emergence of intellectual monopolies. Her most recent work focuses on AI, the cloud, Big Tech dominance, AI-driven geopolitical tensions and digital sovereignty. Cecilia has also been invited as an expert by UNCTAD, UNESCO, the OECD, the EU's SAPEA, the European Commission's DG Competition and regularly collaborates with civil society organizations.

Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE)

Delegate Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda

LinkedIn

Daniel Dubas is the Delegate of the Federal Council for the 2030 Agenda and Head of the Sustainable Development Section at the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), Switzerland. He coordinates the national implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and leads the 2030 Agenda Steering Committee. With a background in political science and urban planning, Daniel has been with ARE since 2009, driving sustainability across federal policies.

Lancaster University

Professor of Computing and Sustainability

LinkedIn

Professor Adrian Friday is Professor of Computing and Sustainability at Lancaster University (UK). For nearly 20 years he has studied how digital technologies and data affect energy use and carbon emissions — and how they can help people and organisations make more sustainable choices in everyday life, from homes and buildings to transport and logistics. He helped steer the Royal Society "Digital Technology and the Planet" working group on policy for ICT toward sustainable digital society. His influential work includes “The real climate and transformative impact of ICT” exploring narratives and growth concerning ICT's global footprint,
which has appeared in over 80 policy documents internationally.

International Telecommunication Union

Program Lead Green Digital Action

LinkedIn

Robin Zuercher is Programme Lead for Green Digital Action at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialized agency for ICT. She coordinates ITU’s climate and environmental sustainability work, building partnerships that reduce the footprint of digital technologies while accelerating climate action. Robin also contributes to the Coalition for Digital Environmental Sustainability (CODES) and regularly moderates high-level dialogues on sustainable digital transformation at international events.

Resilio Solutions

Head of R&D

LinkedIn

Louise Aubet is Head of R&D at Resilio, an EPFL-linked startup focused on reducing the environmental footprint of digital technologies. Trained as an engineer at EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne), she contributes to research and practical methods for evaluating and lowering the impacts of digital services and devices, from network infrastructure to generative AI tools and satellites. This includes work on Life Cycle Assessmemt (LCA) methodology and standards as well as data creation.

Digital Reality Switzerland

CEO and 

Swiss Data Center Association

Vice President

LinkedIn

Yves Zischek is Managing Director of Digital Realty Switzerland and Austria, where he leads the company's operations in the Swiss and Austrian market. He joined Digital Realty in May 2022, bringing over 20 years of experience in senior roles at SBB AG, Sunrise Communications, and Colt Technology Services. Yves holds a Master of Arts from the University of Zurich, an MBA from the University of Strathclyde, and has studied digital transformation and high performance leadership at IMD Lausanne. He is memeber of several boards, such as the Swiss Datacenter Association SDCA or at the ICT Board of the Flughafenregion FRZ.

Roegen Center for Sustainability

Founder

LinkedIn

Dr. Vlad C. Coroamă is the founder of the Roegen Centre for Sustainability, a Zurich-based consultancy specializing in the intersection of digitalization and environmental impact. A computer scientist by training, Vlad is a leading expert on 'digital rebound'—the phenomenon where efficiency gains from technology lead to unintended increases in overall resource consumption. With his extensive experience in research and advisory, he now focuses on helping organizations navigate the climate crisis through digital sobriety and sustainable ICT practices. His work is widely recognized for bridging the gap between technical innovation and environmental policy, particularly regarding the carbon footprint of the Internet and smart energy systems.

Swisscom

Delegate, Sustainable Digitalization

LinkedIn

Res Witschi is Delegate for Sustainable Digitalisation at Swisscom, supporting the sustainability team in using digital solutions to accelerate the transition to net zero and advising organisations and municipalities on the topic. Trained as an environmental scientist at ETH Zurich, he has worked in sustainability for over 30 years across sectors and within Swisscom, including roles focused on energy efficiency, sustainable products and corporate responsibility. He also serves on selected startup boards.

Amag

Head Group Sustainability

LinkedIn

Ina Maria Walthert‑Kaufmann is Head of Group Sustainability at AMAG Group, where she leads corporate sustainability strategy and reporting. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a PhD in Philosophy and Ethics, with extensive experience in sustainability management, ethical business practices, and Sustainable Development Goals implementation. Ina’s work spans research and practice in sustainability strategy, decent work, and digital ethics.

Lidl Switzerland

Senior Manager, CSR Buying

LinkedIn

Nora Meier is a Senior Manager for CSR Buying at Lidl Schweiz, where she leads sustainability initiatives across upstream supply chains. She is responsible for developing human rights strategies, child labor due diligence processes, and the company’s Scope 3 climate strategy. As a key representative within Lidl International’s CSR strategy team, Nora plays a central role in shaping global sustainability standards. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and Law from the University of Zurich.

Bern University of Applied Sciences

Director of the Business School

BFH Profile

The economist and political scientist Prof. Dr. Ingrid Kissling-Näf is Director of the Business School at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). Previously, she headed the Humanities and Social Sciences division at the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for five years.

Kissling-Näf studied Theology and Economics at the University of Fribourg and earned a Master of Public Administration in Lausanne. She received her doctorate in Economics from the University of St. Gallen and subsequently held an assistant professorship at ETH Zurich (ETHZ).

Bern University of Applied Sciences

Professor for Public Procurement and Law

LinkedIn

Prof. Dr. Rika Koch is Professor at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), where she leads the Research Group on Public Procurement and Law (PPL). She holds a PhD from the University of Zurich on "Green Public Procurement under WTO Law." Prior to her current position, she also worked at two Federal Offices as a legal counsel. Rika's research focuses on public procurement, international economic law, sustainability, and digitalization.

Axa

Project Manager Digital Sustainability

LinkedIn

Dr. Jakob Knauf works in digital sustainability at AXA Switzerland, integrating sustainability into business and IT practices by building awareness, embedding it in development, measuring emissions and driving action. He holds advanced academic credentials from the University of St. Gallen and brings both research and professional experience across energy transition, sustainability, and the circular economy, including work on ICT circularity and sustainable IT systems.

SWICO

Board Member

LinkedIn

Dr. Alain Gut is a Board Member of Swico and President of ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz. A PhD graduate in Business Informatics from the University of Zurich, he previously served as Director of Public Affairs at IBM Switzerland and held key roles at Microsoft and UBS. He further contributes his expertise as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Impact2go, a President of Swiss Cyber Experts, and a Board Member of Jugendwohnnetz (JUWO). His work focuses on advancing digital competencies, cybersecurity, and social responsibility. Alain Gut was a member of the Swico delegation for the ICT industry dialogue with the federal government on the topic of procurement (2019-2025). He is a core team member of the Swiss Climate Action Initiative and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the Swiss Green Economy Symposium. 

Federal Office for the Environment

Head of Sustainable Procurement

LinkedIn

Daniel Peter is a Swiss sustainability expert, consultant, and academic. He is the founder and Managing Director of Peter Sustainability Consulting GmbH, drawing on over three decades of experience in sustainability management systems, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable public procurement. A long-standing lecturer in sustainable development and corporate ethics, he taught for twenty years at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), specializing in bridging the gap between sustainable policy and practical application.

Digital for Planet

President

Martel Innovate

CEO

LinkedIn

Dr. Monique Calisti is CEO of Martel Innovate, a Swiss consultancy specialising in digital innovation and research‑driven projects. She is also Founder and President of Digital for Planet and has over 20 years of experience in ICT, innovation funding, and strategic consulting. Monique holds two PhDs — in Artificial Intelligence (EPFL) and Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications (University of Bologna) — and works to advance human‑centric, sustainable digital technologies.

Bern University of Applied Sciences

Professor for Digitalization & Sustainability

LinkedIn

Jan Bieser is a tenure-track Professor for Digitalization and Sustainability and Head of the Data and Infrastructure Group at Bern University of Applied Sciences. His research focuses on the societal and environmental opportunities and risks of digitalization.

Before joining BFH, he researched and taught at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute, the University of Zurich, and KTH Stockholm. He served as a Fellow of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cities of Tomorrow and is currently a member of the advisory board of the European Green Digital Coalition as well as General Co-Chair of the ICT for Sustainability Conference 2026.

Digital for Planet

Director

LinkedIn

Dr. Cristina S. Pereira is Director of Digital for Planet (D4P), a nonprofit focused on advancing digital technologies for a sustainable future. With over 20 years of experience in scientific research, EU cooperation, and nonprofit management she previously led international programs at the Paul Scherrer Institute and served as Executive Director of Informatics Europe. Cristina holds a PhD in Natural Sciences and is passionate about driving innovation that can help solving our most pressing societal and environmental challenges.