Resourceful, imaginative & connected.

Philippe Roesle is the CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, and Consul of Switzerland in Boston since August 2025. He previously served as CEO of Swissnex in China and as Head of the Science, Technology and Education Office at the Swiss Embassy in Beijing. Philippe joined the Swissnex network in in London supporting startup internationalization, and has served in several roles since, including as Head of Swissnex at Expo 2017 Astana, and Acting Head of Bilateral Relations at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. Philippe holds a Bachelors from University of Basel and a Masters and PhD from King's College London.

Probing, precise & witty.

Brendan is the Head of Programs and Deputy CEO at Swissnex in Boston and New York. Serving in this role and as Head of Research, he connects the Swiss higher education and research ecosystems to partners on the East Coast, driving forward programs at the intersection of science, technology, society, and university innovation. Before joining Swissnex in 2021, he worked as a tenured professor after earning his PhD in European history from Harvard University.

Entrepreneurial, collaborative, & driven.

As Global Communications Lead and member of the Leadership Team, Nathalie drives strategic communications and oversees global storytelling efforts for the Swissnex network. Previously, she served as Head of Innovation, leading Swissnex's startup and innovation programs on the East Coast. Nathalie brings a diverse background in communication and strategic project management from roles at Warner Music Switzerland and STARTUP CAMPUS, as well as hands-on experience running her own tech startups in Sweden and Switzerland. She holds an MS in Business & Management from the Stockholm School of Economics and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Bern.

People oriented, enterprising, & intuitive.

As Head of Arts and Creative Industries based in New York City, Marc is responsible for Swissnex's activities at the interface of art and the fields of education, research, and innovation. He sees the arts as an opportunity to engage diverse communities around Swissnex's thematic focus areas in a tangible, playful, and accessible way. Marc is the former Deputy Artistic Director of the contemporary dance center Tanzhaus Zürich and founder of the zürich moves! festival for contemporary practice in the performing arts. He studied curating at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).

Perceptive, resourceful & reliable.

As our New York-based Innovation Lead, Josephine develops and executes various startup and entrepreneurship programs. Before joining Swissnex, Josephine worked at the Swiss Business Hub USA, helping Swiss startups enter the US market. Josephine holds a BA in Business and Economics from the University of Basel and an MSc in International Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In her free time, Josephine enjoys exploring New York and picking up new hobbies such as sailing and painting.

Enthusiastic, adventurous, & passionate.

As part of the Innovation Team, Oriane implements and expands entrepreneurship programs. Prior to joining Swissnex, Oriane worked in hotel and events management, as well as in the financial sector. She holds a BSc in International Hospitality Management from the EHL Hospitality Business School as well as an MSc in International Strategic Management from the University of Lund. In her spare time, Oriane enjoys hiking, traveling, photography, and playing volleyball.

Thorough, dependable & creative.

As the Startup Manager, Ahmet makes sure that all startup activities at Swissnex in Boston and New York run successfully from initiation through execution to closure. In addition to Swiss entrepreneurs, he works with investors, governmental partners, service providers, and all types of incubation and acceleration platforms, both in Switzerland and the US. Before joining Swissnex, Ahmet gained experience in early-stage investing and advising startups through roles at Engine Ventures and Bouken Capital. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Bonn in Germany. Outside of work, Ahmet enjoys cooking and checking out new cafes in the area.

Tenacious, proactive, & nerdy lore-keeper.

As Startup Manager at Swissnex in New York, Sirine designs and leads programs that help Swiss startups and innovators gain visibility, validate their technologies, and connect with key partners in the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Before joining Swissnex, Sirine gained experience in diplomacy and international development, working with the Science & Technology Office at the Swiss Embassy in Washington, DC, the UN’s International Telecommunication Union, and Africa Collective, where she supported Swiss, pan-African and international collaborations in innovation and entrepreneurship. She holds an MSc in Human Rights and Democracy in Stockholm, exploring the intersection of technology, governance and migration as well as a BA in International Relations in Geneva. A lifelong science fiction, fantasy, literature, and cinema enthusiast, she is always down to dive into new worlds—on the page or on the screen—and bring a touch of imagination into everything she does.

Considerate, inventive, & engaged.

As Academia & Arts Program Manager, Zohra operates at the intersection of research, education, and the arts – designing and facilitating partnerships, projects, and events that connect creative and intellectual communities. Zohra holds an MA in History and Philosophy of Knowledge from ETH Zurich and a BA in German Language and Literature as well as Media Studies from the University of Basel. During her studies she was also part of an academic publishing collective. Zohra’s passion for all things arts and culture extends beyond her work, with classical music and modern dance playing a central role in her free time – alongside her fondness for extensive train travel.

Curious, creative, & collaborative.

As Academia and Arts Manager, Lisa operates at the intersection of research, education, and the arts – designing and facilitating partnerships, projects, and events that connect creative and intellectual ecosystems. She holds a Master of Law from the University of Bern and a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development from NADEL at ETH Zurich. Before joining Swissnex, she gained experience in international cooperation and cultural programming. Across her pursuits, she is committed to bringing people together and fostering dialogue that sparks new ideas. Beyond her academic and professional work, she has directed a documentary film and enjoys playing vinyl disco sets.

Curious, attentive, & reliable.

As Content and Public Diplomacy Manager, Frederic is involved in many aspects of communication and programming at Swissnex. He holds an MA in international relations from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a BA in history from the University of Chicago. Before joining Swissnex, Frederic worked in transatlantic public diplomacy in his native Washington, DC. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, playing music, and riding his bike.

Approachable, engaged & creative.

As Communications Manager, Caterina leads storytelling, content strategy, and communication efforts for Swissnex in Boston and New York. She works across teams to highlight Swiss innovation and strengthen connections between academic, scientific, and creative communities in the U.S. and Switzerland.
Before joining Swissnex, Caterina gained experience in strategic communication and marketing across academic, nonprofit, and international settings giving her a broad approach to communicating across cultures and audiences. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Marketing Management from Boston University and a Bachelor’s in Economics and Management from Universita' della Svizzera italiana (USI).
Outside of work, Caterina is an avid traveler who loves discovering new cultures and experiencing them through local food. She’s also happiest when she’s active, whether she’s running, at the gym, or wandering through a new city.

Organized, dependable, & adventurous.

As Operations and Events Coordinator, Izzy oversees all of the building operations at the Swissnex office in Boston and at the consular residence. Additionally, she partners with program managers to coordinate onsite and offsite events and activities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Queen's University, where she was also involved in planning climate-focused events. In her free time Izzy enjoys cooking, crocheting, and exploring new cities.

Thoughtful, ambitious, & quitely funny.

Loris is a Programs Associate based in Boston, where he supports the development and execution of various startup and entrepreneurship programs, as well as initiatives in the Academia & Arts space. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Zurich and brings prior experience in consulting, where he worked at the intersection of strategy and innovation. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors — running, climbing, or indulging his passion for aviation by watching airplanes.

Olivia is the Head of the Science and Technology Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in the United States. In this role, she is responsible for reporting on education, research, and innovation policy developments and trends in the US. Before joining the Embassy in 2022, Olivia was a project manager at Presence Switzerland, where she was responsible for the Americas and was strongly involved in promoting Swiss innovation abroad, particularly in the field of cleantech and environmental protection. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Fribourg, and has studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She nerds out about sporting events and the mechanics of communication campaigns.

Katie Stebbins is the Executive Director of the Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute at Tufts University and was previously the Vice President for Economic Development at the University of Massachusetts President’s Office. Katie proudly played a leadership role as the inaugural Secretary for Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for Governor Baker in Massachusetts, where she led state investment efforts in clean energy, cybersecurity, health-tech, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Katie continues her work in cybersecurity as President of Global Epic, an international consortium of cyber economic leaders. She is formally trained in economic development and environmental planning and has worked for twenty years designing and implementing technology driven projects for ecological and economic sustainability. Katie has launched three of her own companies, is an Innovator in Residence at MIT Sloan School’s Innovation Institute, and earned a master’s in regional planning from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and her BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.