GALA DINNER

The American Swiss Foundation’s Annual Gala Dinner is held every spring in New York, continuing the mission to connect and engage American and Swiss citizens through distinguished speakers. The 2023 Gala honored Dr. Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, for his outstanding contributions to strengthening the bilateral relationship between Switzerland and the United States. Over 350 guests gathered in recognition of Dr. Narasimhan’s leadership and to celebrate the Sister Republics. Previous speakers include Hon. Mike Pompeo, 70th U.S. Secretary of State, Silvio Napoli, CEO of Schindler Group, Christian Mumenthaler, CEO, Swiss Re, Christoph Franz, Chairman, Roche and Sergio Ermotti, then CEO, UBS.

Dr. Vas Narasimhan (left) and Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. (right)

AMBASSADOR FAITH WHITTLESEY LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Faith Whittlesey Leadership Award is presented in recognition of the efforts of an individual, or individuals, who promote and strengthen the ties between Switzerland and the United States. The Inaugural award was presented in 2023 to Diana Davis Spencer and Abby Moffat for their tireless efforts promoting the shared values and interests of the two countries. In the presentation, ASF chair Robert J. Giuffra, Jr. noted the close friendship between Ambassador Faith Whittlesey and Ambassador Shelby Cullom Davis, the longest serving U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Mrs. Spencer’s father and Ms. Moffat’s grandfather. Both Ambassador Whittlesey and Ambassador Davis chaired the American Swiss Foundation.

From left: Robert J. Giuffra, Jr., Catharine Whittlesey O'Neill, Diana Davis Spencer, Abby Spencer Moffat

SUMMIT

The inaugural ASF Summit (April 2024) will focus on The State of U.S.-Swiss relations and will bring together a cross-section of leaders from both countries. Sessions will be arranged around interconnected topic areas: emerging technologies, energy, environment and sustainability, foreign policy, U.S. Elections, economic prosperity, and more. The Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogue has been purposefully selected as our venue for dialogue, relationship building, knowledge transfer, and the freedom to come up with new ideas in partnership with one another. Join the ASF for this engaging discussion as we explore avenues for further collaboration and cooperation between the United States and Switzerland.

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GREAT AMERICAN SPEAKERs

The Great American Speaker Series was founded by the late Ambassador Faith Whittlesey to bring American thought leaders to Switzerland. Former speakers have included a Supreme Court Justice, Chairman of the SEC, and U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. The most recent occurrence of this series, Dr. Alex Karp, co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, touched on the correlation between tech innovation and creativity and the conditions necessary for both to thrive, namely, freedom, democracy, and a culture of open discourse. 

Dr. Christoph Eisenring (Young Leader 2003) (left) and Dr. Alex Karp (right)

GALLATIN FORUM

The Gallatin Forum is a series of events for alumni of the American Swiss Foundation's Young Leaders Conference and others interested in U.S.-Swiss relations. Named after the Swiss-born Secretary of the Treasury, Senator, and Representative Albert Gallatin (1761 - 1849), it serves as a forum for discussion of all aspects of the relations between the U.S. and Switzerland. The most recent iteration of this program took place in the fall of 2022 and as generously hosted at the Swiss Ambassador's residence in Washington D.C., entitled 'The Future of the American Moderate'.  

BUILDING BRIDGES

“Building Bridges” is an initiative of the alumni of the American Swiss Foundation’s Young Leaders conference. A triennial event, it brings together many of the 1,400 alumni of the conference and senior leaders from the U.S. and Switzerland for intensive discussions of the most pressing issues of the day in Washington, DC.