Benjamin Bollmann is CEO of Swissnex in Brazil since January 2025. He was previously CEO of Swissnex in Boston and New York, and Consul of Switzerland in Boston. He is the Chair of Swissnex’s CEO Committee, which coordinates strategic priorities across the global Swissnex network. Under his leadership, Swissnex has launched several long-term initiatives such as Project Quantum, Climate Collider, and more recently Planetary Embassy. Until 2020, Benjamin was Deputy CEO at Swissnex in San Francisco, where he led interdisciplinary programs ranging from science communication to humanitarian technologies and human rights in the digital age. Before joining Swissnex in 2015, he worked as a journalist and communications consultant at the interface of science and design in Switzerland. He is a graduate of ETH Zurich and has conducted research in neuroscience and artificial intelligence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

As Chief of Staff at Swissnex in Brazil, Larissa Hess provides strategic leadership and operational oversight, ensuring the alignment of the organization’s initiatives with its mission to foster innovation and collaboration between Switzerland and Brazil. Drawing from her experience as Finance & Program Manager at Swissnex in Brazil, she continues to drive the organization’s success through effective management and strategic planning. Larissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva and a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Lausanne. Her career spans roles in project management and diplomacy, with a focus on the Latin American region, equipping her with a deep understanding of international relations and cross-cultural collaboration.

As Head of Programs, Vincent leads the strategic development and execution of Swissnex in Brazil's initiatives, driving collaborations between the Swiss and Brazilian innovation ecosystems. He oversees projects in biodiversity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, advancing international partnerships that contribute to the SDGs through joint efforts in innovation, academia, and education. Vincent holds a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the University of St.Gallen. Brazil became the epicenter of his personal and professional journey when he began working for a local NGO in 2019, later writing his final thesis in and about the country.

As Academic Relations Program Lead, Pedro helps connect universities, think tanks, research institutions, professors and researchers to establish, and further develop, science and technology partnerships. He holds a PhD in Political Science from UNICAMP and spent time as Visiting Researcher first at the University of Zurich and later at the University of Fribourg. Since then he has been working closely with Latin Americanists from Switzerland and abroad.

As Arts and Creative Industries Program Lead at Swissnex in Brazil, Gabriela works to integrate architecture, design, and art with innovation, technology, and science, creating possibilities for transdisciplinary projects. In parallel, she is involved in the internationalization of programs in an art Gallery. Previously, she worked as a Project Manager for the organizing committee of the Rio2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where she gained extensive experience in major events' management and production. Gabriela holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Urbanism from ETH, Zürich, and in Project Management in Art and Culture from Rome Business School.

As Communications Lead at Swissnex in Brazil, Karoline is responsible for shaping and guiding the organization’s communications, branding and marketing strategy. She works collaboratively with the local team, the global Swissnex network and strategic partners to expand the visibility and impact of Swissnex’s mission in Brazil, Switzerland and beyond.
A graduate in Advertising with over 12 years of experience, Karoline believes in the power of active listening and well-crafted storytelling to build lasting bridges between people, ideas and organizations. She has led projects in multicultural environments and collaborated with diverse teams worldwide. She has held leadership positions such as Head of Branding, Marketing Manager and Internal Communications Manager, especially within the tech industry. This background has strengthened her ability to design strategic, context-aware and impact-driven communication solutions.

As a Program Manager, Isabela facilitates connection and cooperation between Switzerland and Brazil, with a focus on innovation and startups. A Brazilian national, she holds Bachelor's degrees in both International Relations and in Science and Humanities from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations at Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). Isabela contributes to strengthening innovation and sustainability ecosystems through her experience in supporting the internationalization of startups, developing public-private partnerships, organizing international business delegations, conducting market studies, and building strategic alliances. She has previously led innovation and sustainability initiatives between Germany and Brazil, reflecting her commitment to international cooperation and to creating impactful opportunities for her home country.

As Program Manager, Vicenzzo works to strengthen bilateral cooperation in innovation, research, and the arts, with a particular interest in energy and interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering connections among startups, scientists, and creatives across Switzerland and Brazil. He holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Strategic Foresight and Futures Design from ESPM/Italian Institute for the Future and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Governance and Formulation of International Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP). He is also an alumnus of the Summer Programme on International Affairs of the Geneva Graduate Institute. Before joining Swissnex, he contributed to open innovation and sustainability initiatives between Germany and Brazil and led international digital government projects across the Baltic and Nordic regions.

As Program Manager for Nature and Bioeconomy at Swissnex in Brazil, Vinicius Laguardia works at the intersection of Brazil's and Switzerland's nature and bioeconomy ecosystems, developing initiatives that strengthen bilateral cooperation. He helps expand strategic partnerships between the two countries, bringing together science, innovation, industry, and academia in projects that generate concrete impact for biodiversity and the transition to a green economy. Before joining Swissnex, Vinicius built a track record in sustainability within the corporate sector, coordinating agendas related to biodiversity and climate strategy at large industrial organizations. His path combines his background as an engineer with his strategic work in sustainability, giving him a practical, multidisciplinary perspective on the challenges of the ecological transition.

As Operations Coordinator, Emilie Sena focuses on ensuring the effective functioning of Swissnex in Brazil’s operations. She supports all departments with administrative and logistical tasks, helps coordinate events, contributes to streamlining internal processes, and increases workflow efficiency. Emilie holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), with a thesis focused on the political causes of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. She has experience in government relations and business internationalization, having worked at the British Consulate in São Paulo. Passionate about sustainability, public policy, and global collaboration, Emilie thrives in multicultural environments and is driven by initiatives that create positive social impact.

Leila Pinto Marinho holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Geneva. She has experience in project management, communications, international cooperation, and event organisation.

Luciano Staub holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva. He has a background in communications, journalism, and event organisation.