CHRISTINA KITSOS
President of the General Assembly
Christina Kitsos is the Deputy Mayor and member of the Executive Council of Geneva (Administrative Council). Since her election, she is in charge of the Department of Social Cohesion and Solidarity. On 1 June 2024 she became Mayor of the City of Geneva. On 13 April 2025, she is reelected to the Executive Council of Geneva.
She began her political involvement as a member of the Youth Parliament. Her convictions in favor of equality, social and climate justice; and for an open society based on solidarity, led her to join the Socialist Party 20 years ago. She was member of the Parliament of Neuchâtel from 2005 to 2008 and of the Parliament of the City of Geneva from 2015 to 2020.
BEATRICE FERRARI
President of the Board & Vice President of the General Assembly
Beatrice Ferrari is the Director of International Affairs for the Canton of Geneva. She holds a doctorate in science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where she specialized in urban development issues related to innovation and globalization.
She has extensive experience in international relations, acquired in particular at the State Secretariat for Training, Research and Innovation (SEFRI) where she was head of bilateral relations.
PASCAL RAPILLARD
Board member
Pascal Rapillard heads the Office for External Affairs and Communications of the City of Geneva.
Before joining the City of Geneva, he worked for the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining as Head of Division for External Relations, Governance, Policy and Cooperation.
He started his career at the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the Humanitarian Policy Section. He holds a Master in International Relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International Studies, and a Master in Public International Law from the University Panthéon-Sorbonne.
OLIVIER COUTAU
Board member
After joining the Government of Geneva in 2005, Olivier Coutau became the Delegate to International Geneva in 2008. Prior to this, he spent 15 years as an ICRC delegate, working both in the field (Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East) and at headquarters (operations in Latin America and diplomatic adviser).
He holds a Diploma in Advanced European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges, and a Diploma in Art Market Studies from the University of Zurich.
GUILLAUME ZUFFEREY
Board member
Guillaume Zufferey is currently personal advisor to Christina Kitsos, Member of the Executive Council of the City of Geneva (Administrative Council). Before joining the team of Christina Kitsos, he worked as the personal advisor to Liliane Maury Pasquier during her term as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Prior to that, he worked for the Socialist party of Geneva.
He holds a master degree in communication from the University of Geneva and a bachelor degree in political sciences from the University of Geneva.
CHRISTINA WANDELER
Board member
Christina Wandeler has been working in the Foreign Affairs Section of the City of Zürich for about 15 years, which she is heading since April 2021. The Foreign Affairs Section is part of the Urban Development Office in the Mayors Department of Zürich. Before, she has worked for several years at the Swiss Federal Administration, first at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and then at the State Secretariat for Research and Education (multilateral research cooperation). She holds a diploma in History, Sociology and Political Sciences from the Humboldt University in Berlin and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the University of Bern.
ANDREA AEBY
Partner invited to the Board
Andrea Aeby is currently Counselor for Peace and Security at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN Office at Geneva. She is also in charge of issues relating to cities and other local and regional governments.
As a human rights, peace and global governance expert, she has worked for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the universities of Geneva and Bern, the OSCE, and the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police. She has extensive experience in political analysis and strategy, as well as in developing diplomatic initiatives and building partnerships with State and civil society actors. She played a key role in developing the Swiss Government’s strategy as Host State of International Geneva. Andrea holds a degree in Law from the University of Fribourg, and a Master degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.