The IIG faculty draw on their passion for teaching and their extensive experience in the public and private sectors providing our students with an outstanding educational experience.
The insights gained from their research contribute to a high standard of education to form future international leaders in business and politics.
Alfred Maturo
Alfred Maturo
amaturo@iig.ch
Mathematics & Statistics
Swiss/American
Certificate of Advanced Studies in Statistics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ)
Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with a focus in Social Studies from Wesleyan University
Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Syracuse University
Bachelor of Arts in Education from Syracuse University
Alfred is a career teacher of Mathematics & Statistics with experience at university levels. Professionally certified to teach in both his home State of Connecticut as well as in the Swiss public school system, he has taught in public and private universities. Working with TCubed, his use of technology in the classroom has led him to provide training to his peers at several conferences across Europe. In Statistics, he provides assistance to researchers and students alike, especially in the design and methodology focused on robust statistical analyses. Programming in R enables Alfred to employ several different packages to work with varied data, even incomplete observations.
Simon Lobach
slobach@iig.ch
Dutch
Geopolitics - Latin America
PhD in International History and Politics, Graduate Institute, Geneva
MA, International Affairs, Graduate Institute, Geneva
BA, History, Leiden University
BA, Latin American Studies, Leiden University
Simon is an environmental historian interested in the development and functioning of extractivist networks, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. His PhD research focused on the supply chain of aluminium in Amazonia, and the sector’s socio-environmental impacts. Currently, he conducts research on the social and environmental implications of the most recent technological developments in the mining sector. He has an academic background in History, Latin American Studies and International Affairs. Apart from his academic work, he has several years of professional experience in international environmental cooperation. Having lived and worked in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Brazil and Cuba, he is fully fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, besides his native Dutch.
Aida Darouichi
adarouichi@iig.ch
Swiss and Moroccan
Strategic Management, Sustainability, and Digital Transition
PhD in Management from the University of Geneva
Master of Science in International Business Development from the University of Neuchâtel
Bachelor of Science in Economic Sciences from the University of Neuchâtel
Aïda is an accomplished academic with a profound background in strategic management, sustainability, and digital transition within organizations and policy-making contexts. Her research and teaching experience encompass key areas such as strategy, governance, sustainability, and the impact of digital transformation on organizational and policy frameworks.
Aïda has contributed significantly to the understanding and development of innovative strategies and frameworks that promote sustainability and effective governance. Her work is characterized by a deep commitment to integrating digital technologies to enhance organizational effectiveness and policy outcomes. Recognized for her ability to analyze complex data, engage diverse stakeholders, and lead impactful initiatives, Aïda brings a wealth of knowledge and a strategic perspective to any academic or professional endeavor.
Adam Shaun
ashaun@iig.ch
Malaysian
Geopolitics - Asia and Pacific
Masters in International Business and Emerging Markets, The University of Edinburgh, UK
Fellow at Geneva Centre for Peace Security, Switzerland
Shaun Adam leads the World Economic Forum’s geopolitical work in fostering regional and global cooperation between governments and businesses in the Asia-Pacific region including the Pacific Islands, focusing on shaping sustainable and inclusive development agendas.
Previously, he worked with the United Nations on trade policy and socio-economic development in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe (Western Balkans). He also headed the trade and advocacy department of the European Union Business Chambers in the ASEAN region, supporting the ASEAN Economic Community's regional integration efforts. Before that, he was with the Malaysian Prime Minister's Office, where he managed international programs to enhance trade, investment, and productivity of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). He is a best-selling author on Southeast Asian colonization and resistance. His book, Acts of Resistance – Dol Said and the Naning War, has been showcased at several leading book fairs and translated into multiple languages.
Foppiani Oreste
ofoppiani@iig.ch
Swiss/Italian
International History & Politics
International Organisations
International Security
Ph.D. in International History & Politics, The Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, Switzerland.
M.A. in Foreign Service and International Careers, Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI), Milan, Italy.
B.A. (Hons) in Political Science, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Italy.
Visiting Fellow and Associate Professor at the European University Institute’s Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. He taught or researched at Webster University Geneva, New York University’s CEMS, Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS in Washington, D.C., Catholic University’s ASERI in Milan, Aoyama Gakuin University’s SIPEC in Tokyo, as well as at the JMSDF Command & Staff College. He published four monographs and a dozen peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Il Politico, Nuova Rivista Storica, Transatlantic Studies Journal and Relations internationales.
From 2008 through 2016, he was also a permanent correspondent accredited to the UN Office at Geneva.
His most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work:
Books:
Fatton, L. and Oreste Foppiani O. (2019) Japan’s Awakening: Moving toward an Autonomous Security Policy, Peter Lang, 2019.
Articles:
Foppiani, O. (2019) ‘An exploratory analysis of cross-country biases in expert wine reviews,’ Journal of Wine Research 30(17).
Book review:
Cameron Rebecca
Swiss Australian
International Commercial Law
Barrister and Solicitor admitted to High and Federal Courts of Australia and the Supreme Court of South Australia
Master of Laws in International Business Law, University of London
Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice, University of South Australia
Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LL.B.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A., Jurisprudence), University of Adelaide
Rebecca is a Swiss Australian dual national with over 20 years of experience as a legal professional working in both private practice and for international organisations. She is currently responsible for Legal and Compliance at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Swiss foundation engaged in preventing and resolving armed conflicts around the world through mediation and discreet diplomacy. Rebecca previously practiced in litigation and corporate law specializing in directors’ duties claims. Subsequent experience includes work in claims and reparations programs at the UNCC and IOM. Rebecca also held a role as Governance Specialist at UNICEF looking at the structure of the network of not-for-profit entities raising funds for international programmes and providing advice and guidance on best practices for local boards. Her experience working for Swiss foundations GARDP (Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership) and HD Centre includes general legal counsel advice and development of compliance programmes.
Catenazzo Giuseppe
Italian & Swiss
Consumers & Market Insights
Doctor of Philosophy in Management, Geneva School of Economics and Management – University of Geneva, Switzerland
Master of Philosophy in Management, IAE – University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
Diploma of Advanced Studies in Business Management, HEC Executive University of Geneva, Switzerland
Master of Science in Management, IAE – University of Savoy Mont-Blanc, Annecy, France
Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Environmental Economics, Imperial College London and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom
Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management, University of Vallée d’Aoste, Aoste-Aosta, Italy
Giuseppe is also a Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE), a Fellow of the Charted Institute of Marketing (FCIM) and a Certified Member of the Market Research Society (CMRS) in the United Kingdom.
An Italian and Swiss citizen, Dr Catenazzo is also an editor of international research books; his research on quality perceptions, service recovery, and complaining behaviour has been published in Production Planning and Control, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction & Complaining Behavior, and Anatolia International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research.
His most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work:
Books:
Catenazzo G. (2023), Cases on Traveler Preferences, Attitudes, and Behaviors: Impact in the Hospitality, IGI Global.
Catenazzo G. (2022) Challenges and Opportunities for Transportation Services in the Post-COVID-19 Era, IGI Global
Articles:
Catenazzo G. (2023) “Travellers’ preferences for high-speed rail services: a kick-off study,” Anatolia, vol. 34 (4).
Catenazzo, G. and Paulssen, M. (2023) ‘Experiencing defects: the moderating role of severity and warranty coverage on quality perceptions,’ International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 40(3).
Catenazzo, G. (2022) ‘Travellers’ preferences for high-speed rail services: a kick-off study,’ Anatolia 34(4)
Catenazzo G. and Paulssen, M. (2019) ‘Product defects are not created equal: prioritizing production process improvements,’ Production Planning & Control 31(4).
Book chapters:
Barbieri S., Catenazzo, G. Fragnière, E. (2020) ‘Service Design and Enterprise Risk Management for Knowledge-Based Services: A Practical Approach for Auditors and Consultants.’ In Handbook of Research on Recent Perspectives on Management, International Trade, and Logistics: IGI Global.
Catenazzo G. (2023) “Choosing a foreign high-speed train service for a domestic route: Early insights from France” Scientific Conference on Economy, Management and Information Technologies, ICEMIT 2023, vol 1 (1).
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Iacopo Adda
Italian
Geopolitics
Ph.D. in Humanities with a specialization in Russian Studies obtained at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Master Russia - East Central Europe at the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Master in Modern Languages for Communication and International Cooperation at the University of Bergamo, Italy.
Iacopo is specialized in the history, geopolitics, and development issues of the Russian Far East, as well as in the relations between the Russian Federation and certain Asian countries, such as China and Japan among others. He formerly conducted several field researches in the historical archives of the Russian Federation and in particular of the Russian Far East. He also previously taught at the Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva, an institution with which he is still collaborating for research and teaching purposes.
Iacoppo Adda has published several contributions in the field of geopolitics and Sino-Russian relations. His most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work:
Articles:
Adda, I. and Lin Y.R. (2022) ‘Geopolitics in Glass Cases: Nationalist Narratives on Sino–Russian Relations in Chinese Border Museums’, Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor &Francis74, 6.
Adda, I. (2021) ‘Sino-Russian relations through the lens of Russian border history museums: the Nerchinsk treaty and its problematic representations’, Eurasian Geography and Economics, Taylor & Francis 62, 5-6.
Parenti F.M., Iacopo Adda, I. (2017) ‘Are we going to live in a post-NATO world? A critical perspective on trends, obstacles and possibilities’, GeoJournal 82.
Other publications :
Adda, I. (2020) ‘Memory Erasure of Trans-Imperial History in the City of Nerchinsk’, Imperial & Global Forum.
Peufly Philippe
French
Financial Management
Master’s degree in finance and Project management, SKEMA Lille, France
Bachelor in Statistic Econometry, University of Lille, France
Philippe is a senior finance professional, with more than 13 years in large corporations like P&G. Today he is working for Becton Dickinson medical device, as Senior Finance Lead in Supply Chain. He had led multiple projects in various finance field, like corporate finance, IT, sales, and operation. He is also consulting to SME around business model, financing, and value creation.
Todisco Claudio
Italian
International Migration and World Politics
PhD in Anthropology and Sociology of Development, Graduate Institute, Geneva
University degree, Sociology, specialization in Anthropology and Development, Unversita degli studi di Milano-Bicocca
Claudio is a long-term scholar of conflict, humanitarian and migration studies with a broad professional experience in the aid sector. He earned his PhD in Anthropology at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva. A specialist of South Sudan, he has conducted fieldwork in East-Africa and across different regions of the world, with an interest in transnational mobility and international bureaucracies.
Previously, he worked for international organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the Global Fund. As a consultant, he has conducted analysis and research on conflict, refugee policies, emergency relief and international development.
Salayme Bilal
Human Rights : from Law to Politics
Turkish
Master of International Relations, at Middle East Technical University
Bilal Salaymeh is a doctoral researcher at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and its Center on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP). He is interested in peace and conflict studies with geographical expertise in the Middle East. Bilal’s doctoral research focuses on conflict dynamics and the re-formation of local political order, particularly in Syria and Libya. He is also part of the research team of the project ‘A Child of its Time, the Impact of World Politics on Peacebuilding’, a multi-year research project that investigates how the shifts from unipolarity influence the UN peace missions.
His most recent publications include:
Articles:
Hellmüller S., Salaymeh B. (2024) “Multiparty mediation in a changing world: the emergence and impact of parallel processes to UN peacemaking in Syria and Libya” International Journal of Conflict Management, 35 (1).
Badache F., Hellmüller S., Salaymeh B. (2022) “Conflict management or conflict resolution: how do major powers conceive the role of the United Nations in peacebuilding?”, Contemporary Security Policy,43(4).
Baltaian Michael
Data Privacy, Protection and Governance
British/Swiss
Masters Degree in Natural Sciences (Physics) from Cambridge University
Executive MBA in Management and Corporate Finance from the University of Lausanne
CIPP/E, CIPM and CIPT certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Michael is an expert in data privacy with over 6 years of senior level experience in building and operating a global privacy program for a major multinational. With a background in IT, program/project management and Information Security, Michael held a full-time privacy role to develop a comprehensive global privacy program based on the GDPR and built a global team of 25 dedicated privacy champions to drive adoption of and compliance with the program. The program addressed all aspects of data privacy compliance for a global organisation with particular focus on consumer and HR data.
His most recent publications include:
Article:
Baltaian, Michael (2024) "A New Data Protection Law in Switzerland. Still the Weakest Privacy Law in Western Europe?" in the Journal of International Business and Diplomacy, 1 (1).
Lenti Paolo
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Italian / Swiss
Doctorate Artificial Intelligence, University of Torino, Italy
Bachelor in Computer Science, University of Torino, Italy
Paolo is working for Philip Morris International as Head of IT Supply
Chain and Logistics. He started his professional career as Telecomm
engineer at Cisco Systems and then he gained more 20 years of IT and
Operations corporate management experience in Switzerland, Belgium,
The Nederland’s and Nordics countries.
Paolo is focused on delivering innovative solutions to enable process
digitalization, enhancing data analytics capabilities and adopting stateof-
the-art AI/ML technologies.
Cavinato Alessandro
Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
Italian
Master degree in Bioengineering, EPFL, Switzerland
Bachelor in Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
Alessandro is working for Procter and Gamble as Advanced Data and Analytics Lead. Entrepreneur and advanced analytics professional he has expertise both in the large corporations and start-ups as well as managing teams and working on large scale projects in the Biomedical, Consumers and Fashion industries.
Lee Juneyoung
International Trade Law
Korean
Ph.D. in International Law, Graduate Institute, Switzerland
Masters in International Law, Korea University, Republic of Korea
Masters in International Law and Economics, World Trade Institute, Switzerland
Dr. Lee, from the Republic of Korea, is currently serving the Committee on Trade and Environment at the World Trade Organization. Prior to joining the WTO Secretariat in 2007, she worked at the United Nations Development Programme in Slovakia and Korea International Cooperation Agency, among others. She holds a PhD in international law from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Her most recent publication includes "Promoting Good Governance: From Encouraging a Principle to Taking Concrete Action – Example from WTO Accession Protocols and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement"(Cambridge University Press). She is frequently engaging with students at BA and Master's level as an adjunct professor.
June Lee has been involved since September 2023 in a research project funded by the IIG faculty grant exploring trade and environment and focusing on East Asian WTO Members' performance.She has also authored a book on the relationship between culture and the international Trade Law. Her most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work:
Books:
Lee, J. (2023). Culture and International Trade Law, Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill | Nijhoff.
Book chapters :
Lee J., Neufeld N. and Varyanik A. (2017) ‘Promoting Good Governance: From Encouraging a Principle to Taking Concrete Action - Examples from WTO Accession Protocols and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.’ In Kireyev A. and Osakwe C. (eds.) Trade Multilateralism in the 21st Century: Building the Upper Floors of the Trading System through WTO Accessions, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Article:
Juneyoung Lee (2024) "Culture and International Trade Law: from Conflict to Coordination," Journal of International Business and Diplomacy, (1) 1.
Debbich Yazid
Department Head, Management & Marketing
French / Tunisian
DBA, Audencia and Toulouse Business school
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified
Master in International economics, University Paris X Nanterre and Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Cachan
Master in Strategic Intelligence, Institut des Relations Internationales et Stratégiques, Paris
Bachelor in Economics, University Paris X Nanterre
Dr. Debbich has worked several years as consultant and project manager before holding global positions in the fields of quality and continuous improvement within FMCG companies such as Nestlé and Givaudan.
Yu Vicente Paolo
International Environmental Law and Policy
Filipino/Swiss
LLM in International and Comparative Law, Georgetown University, USA Bachelor of Laws, University of the Philippines, Philippines
BA Political Science, University of the Philippines, Philippines
Vicente is currently a Senior Legal Adviser at the Third World Network (Malaysia), a Visiting Fellow at the UN Research Institute for Social Development (Switzerland), and an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Center for Security Policy (Switzerland). Previously, he served as the Deputy Executive Director of the South Centre, the intergovernmental policy research institution of developing countries based in Geneva. His substantive policy work covers policy and legal advice and capacity building on, inter alia, the right to development, international environmental law, international trade policy, international climate change policy, and South-South cooperation. He has been a technical adviser and negotiator for various developing countries and their groups in the UN climate change negotiations since 2007 to the present. He has taught law at the University of the Philippines, the University of Tulsa College of Law’s Geneva Summer Semester Program and Duke University’s Terry Sanford School of Public Policy’s Geneva Summer Program and lectured on international environmental diplomacy with the School for International Training-Geneva.
Vincente Paolo Yu has authored numerous policy papers in the field of international environmental law, international trade policy, international climate change policy, and South-South cooperation.
His most recent publications are listed below.
Articles :
Yu V.P. (2021) Loss and Damage Fight at COP26, (TWN Glasgow Climate News Update, 19 November
Kohler Grof Melinda
Marketing and Communications
Hungarian
Master’s and bachelor’s degree in Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
DBA candidate, University of Plymouth
Currently Project Manager - Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions at WIPO, Melinda has had 14 years of international experience in the industries of FMCG and lifestyle across global, regional and end-market roles. As marketing executive of leading multinational companies (L’Oréal Group, Ralph Lauren, Procter & Gamble) her areas of expertise include product and portfolio management, brand equity & architecture, consumer insight and market research, business intelligence, campaign and content development incl. Comms toolkit, growth strategy and business model innovation.
Saïd Ibrahim
Peace & Conflict Studies
Human Rights: Between Law and Politics
PhD Anthropology and Sociology of Development, Graduate Institute, Geneva
M.Sc. Evidence Based Interventions and Policy Evaluations, University of Oxford
Ibrahim Saïd is a research associate at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peace building (CCDP) in Geneva and the co-founder of think ahead, a non-profit research organisation that specialises in the analysis of humanitarian and development policies and practices.
Dr Saïd has a diverse professional and research experience in the development and humanitarian fields. He worked with various UN agencies and consulted with several national and international organisations. His research interests span across the fields of legal and political anthropology, anthropology of human rights, anthropology of policy and governance, and colonial governmentality studies, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region.
His most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work
Books :
Article :
Saïd, I. (2020) ‘Some Are More Equal Than Others: Palestinian Citizens in the Settler Colonial Jewish State.’ Settler Colonial Studies Journal. 10:4.
Kaukab Rashid
International Negotiations / International Trade, Environment and Development
Pakistani / Swiss
M.B.A, Yale University, USA
M.A. Economics, Karachi University, Pakistan
B.A. Economics and English Literature, GC / Punjab University, Pakistan
Rashid has over 25 years’ experience of international negotiations: as a negotiator (delegate of Pakistan to the WTO, UNCTAD and WIPO), as a senior level staff of a developing country think tank (South Centre) and an international organization (UNCTAD), and as Geneva head of a global NGO from the South (CUTS International). He has participated and closely followed international negotiations in the WTO, UNCTAD, WIPO, UNFCCC, FAO, as well as some regional trade and investment agreements. He has widely published and also taught at the Grenoble University, France, Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa, Arusha, Tanzania, and GC University, Pakistan.
Mahfouz Mohamad Ali
International Business Negotiations
Swiss/Lebanese
B.Sc. Computer Science. American University of Beirut, Lebanon
M.Sc. Computer Science. University of Washington, WA, USA
MBA. Management & Corporate Finance, HEC Lausanne, Switzerland
Ali joined Microsoft in 1999 in their Redmond headquarters as a Software Engineer in Microsoft Office product group. Since then, he moved throughout different Microsoft Subsidiaries in different digital leadership roles. He is currently leading Microsoft’s Data & AI business in Microsoft Switzerland, in which he establishes strategic partnerships with leading enterprises, including the negotiation of large cloud platform agreements.
Mesquita Sandro
Marketing, Communication
Swiss/Portuguese
General Management Programme “Orchestrating Winning Performance”, IMD Business School, Lausanne
Leadership Programme “Mobilising People”, IMD Business School, Lausanne
Executive M.Sc. of Science in Communications Management, University of Lugano
Advanced Strategic Management Session, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Since 2020, Sandro Mesquita is Chief Executive Officer of the Geneva International Motor Show. Previously, he worked 7 years at Publicis Groupe. First as Managing Director of the branding agency MetaDesign and then as Managing Director of Publicis Communications, following more than 20 years’ executive experience in Telecommunications and Energy sectors. Sandro graduated from the University of Lugano with an Executive Master of Science in Communications Management completed with an advanced management program at UCLA and a leadership program at IMD business school in Lausanne.
Pallotta Vincenzo
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology
Italian/Swiss
PhD in Computer Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
MSc in Information Science, University of Pisa, Italy.
PMI-PMP, ITIL v.3 and PRINCE2 certified.
Currently, Professor in Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Applied Science University of Canton Vaud (HEIG-VD - HES-SO). Adjoint faculty at the Master of International Business, University “Cattolica” in Milano, Italy. InnoSuisse Expert, Trainer and Coach since 2012.
Founder and former CTO of interAnalytics Sàrl. Visiting scholar at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. 30+ years of professional experience in ICT. Worked in the past as Software Engineer at IBM and Apple Italy and as researcher at EPFL, University of Fribourg and University of Geneva. Author of 100+ publications in international journals and conferences. Member of several advisory boards of Swiss startups. Jury member and mentor in several Swiss startup acceleration programs (e.g. MassChallenge, Seedstars World, Venture, Impact Hub).
His most recent publications include:
Book:
Srikanta Patnaik & Vincenzo Pallotta & Kayhan Tajeddini (ed.), 2023. Global Trends in Technology Startup Project Development and Management. Innovation, Technology, and Knowledge Management, Springer.
Article:
Vincenzo Pallota (et al.) "Use cases for blockchain in the energy industry opportunities of emerging business models and related risks" Computers & Industrial Engineering, 2019.
Hernandez Reta Javier
International Marketing
Mexican
Master of Business Administration in Sales & Marketing, International Institute in Geneva, Switzerland
Bachelor of Business Administration & Management, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico
Javier is currently the President of Duracell Europe & Africa – Berkshire Hathaway Company. Further experience with Procter & Gamble for over 13 years as marketing director and senior brand manager in the UK & Ireland. Javier has had more than 18 years of international experience in Business Management, Strategy, Marketing, Brand Management, and Market Research as an executive for Procter & Gamble in Mexico, Belgium, Switzerland, and the UK. He couples his extensive business management acumen with more than 20 years as teacher, lecturer, and recognized top trainer on diverse marketing and organizational topics.
Katchamakov Vesna
General education - French
French
Masters Degree in Russian (French as a Foreign Language option) from Nancy, and graduate of the Italian Chambre of Commerce for France.
Vesna has been a Teacher of French as a Foreign Language for more than 10 years, and was the Officer in charge of rare languages at an International School in Geneva before taking over Arnie's Language School. She now teaches French in Arnie's adult department, RL Learning.
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Dyakonova Daria
Head of Research
Comparative Politics
Russian and Canadian
Ph.D. History, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
M.A. History, Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne, Paris, France
B.A. Linguistics and Cross-cultural Communication, Moscow State Linguistic University, Moscow, Russia
Daria Dyakonova was a visiting fellow at the department of International History of the Graduate History of International and Development Studies, Geneva. She taught contemporary history in Montreal and Geneva and participated in a number of research projects funded by Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She studied transnational social movements and international relations and authored books and articles in the field of transnational networks, foreign policy, global labour politics and social rights as well as gender history.
Since February 2024 Daria Dyakonova has been working in collaboration with University of Sapienza and University of Glasgow on a research project exploring radical left-wing feminism from a historical perspective. This project is funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
Her most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work
Books and edited volumes:
Taber, Mike and Daria Dyakonova, eds. (2022) The Communist Women's Movement, 1920-1922. Proceedings, Resolutions, and Reports. Leiden: Brill.
Shelekpayev, N., Dorais, F-O., Dyakonova, D. and Mai, S. eds. (2016) Empires, Nations and Private Lives: Essays on the Social and Cultural History of the Great War, Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Articles :
Dyakonova, D. (2023) “ ‘Through The Dictatorship Of The Proletariat In All Countries, Onward To The Complete Emancipation Of Women!”: The Transnational Networks of Communist Women’s Movement in the Early 1920s” Journal of Women’s History, 35, 1.
Dyakonova, D. (2021) « La morale sexuelle, la famille et les droits reproductifs vus par le réseau transnational des femmes communistes dans les années 1920s » (Sexual Morality, the Family and Reproductive Rights Seen by the Transnational Network of Communist Women in the 1920s), Cahiers d’histoire. Revue d’histoire critique 151.
Book chapters:
Dyakonova, D. (2023) “ ‘Approached as a Force for Labour’ ”: Communist Women’s Fight for Women Workers’ Rights in the Comintern, the Profintern, and Eastern Europe in the 1920s.” In Zimmermann, Susan et al., eds. Through the Prism of Gender and Work. Women’s Labour Struggles in Central and Eastern Europe and Beyond, 19th and 20th Centuries, Brill: Leiden-Boston.
Dyakonova, D. (2020) “ ‘Young’ and ‘Adult’ Canadian Communists: the Question of Nationhood and Ethnicity in the 1920s.” In Drachewych, O. and McKay I. Left Transnationalism: The Communist International and the National, Colonial, and Racial Questions, McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Redaelli Chiara
International Law
Italian
PhD. International Law, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
MA, BA Law, University of Milan
Chiara is a Research Fellow at the Geneva Academy, where she works for the Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC). In 2019 she was a visiting Research Fellow at Harvard Law School, where she conducted a postdoctoral research on peace in international law. Her areas of expertise include international humanitarian law, the use of force, and international human rights law. She formerly worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh) and Beijing (China). She defended her PhD (summa cum laude avec felicitations du jury) in public international law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in 2018. Her doctoral research investigated how the human rights paradigm has affected the international legal regulation of interventions in non-international armed conflicts.
Chiara Redaelli has published articles and books in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law. Her most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work
Books:
Redaelli C. (2021) Intervention in Civil Wars: Effectiveness, Legitimacy, and Human Rights, Hart Publishing.
Articles:
Redaelli C. (2023) ‘Targeting Drug Lords: Challenges the IHL between Lege Lata and Lege Ferenda’ Co-authored with Carlos Arevalo International Review of the Red Cross 923.
Redaelli C. (2022) ‘Military Intervention on Request in Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello and the Question of Recognition of Governments’, Goettingen Journal of International Law 12 (1).
Mégret, F. and Redaelli, C. (2022) ‘The Crime of Aggression as a Violation of the Rights of One’s Own Population’ Journal on the Use of Force and International Law 9.
Redaelli C. (2022) ‘Revolution’, Max Planck Encyclopedia of Comparative Constitutional Law, Oxford University Press.
Redaelli C. (2020) ‘The Human Dimension of Peace and Aggression’ 96 International Law Studies 603.
Other publications:
Redaelli C. (2020)‘The US Elections, Alleged Fraud, and International Law’ Opinio Juris
Redaelli C. (2019) ‘Venezuela and the Role of Domestic Constitutional Order in International Law’ Opinio Juris
Rekik Yassin Aziz
Information Technology
Belgian/Tunisian
Ph.D. Computer Sciences, Federal Institute of Technologies in Lausanne - EPFL / Switzerland
Master in Computer Sciences, École Nationale des Sciences de l’Informatique - ENSI / Tunisia
From 2001 to 2005, Yassin Rekik worked as Senior Researcher at EPFL in the field of eLearning and Online Experimentation. Since 2006, he has been an associate professor in computer sciences at HES-SO. He is a specialist in Software Engineering and IT project management. He has led various research projects in the fields of Human Computer Interaction, Serious Gaming, and AR-VR Technologies.
Alcorta Arianne
Communication
Venezuelan/Spanish
M. Sc. Journalism, Columbia University
B. Sc. Communication, University of Miami
Arianne is an award-winning multimedia journalist, media trainer and lecturer. She has numerous experiences presenting on live television, writing scripts, producing news, videos and documentaries internationally in English, Spanish and French. Her work has appeared on CNN Money Switzerland, Telemundo and NBC News in the United States.
Ducret Vincent
Information Systems Innovation, Digital Transformation
Swiss
BSc and MSc in Computer Engineering, EPFL, Switzerland
After a career as Software Architect and Project Manager in System Integrators and Hardware/Software companies (incl. Sun Microsystems), Vincent joined Philip Morris International (PMI) in 2005 where he occupied over the past year different positions with growing accountabilities within the Information Services (IS) organization (cumulating to Head of IS Innovation). Since April 2017, Vincent is part of PMI Transformation team acting as Founder and Head of Competency Center for Design Thinking and Lean Enterprise with the mission of deeply and sustainability anchor those new way of working across the company.
Klepova Oksana
Marketing Strategy / International Brand Management / Innovation
Russian
Professional Diploma in Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK
M.Sc. Education in Social Science and Economy, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Russia
B.Sc. Social Science, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Russia
DBA candidate, University of Plymouth
Oksana is a marketing executive with 20 years of experience in portfolio strategy, brand building, consumer insights and product innovation in FMCG multinational companies (Philip Morris International, Nestle). She has been in a global marketing leadership position for the last 10 years. The area of her expertise marries both existing brand portfolio management and new brand creation. She also brings diverse product & packaging development experience and true consumer centricity. In 2019, Mrs. Klepova founded a young company “Grow & Glow Sàrl” specializing in complementary education mainly for children.
Sernova Elena
Finance
Russian
PhD in Management, Finance, University of California in Los Angeles, USA
Diploma in Banking, London School of Economics, UK
BA, MSc in Math with Distinction, PhD in Math (incomplete), Moscow State University, Russia
Elena worked in JPMorgan (UK) fixed income trading desk, was doing portfolio optimization and equity research for asset management funds, and developed online MBA and postgraduate classes in Finance. She teaches multiple courses in Finance, Business Math and Statistics on graduate and undergraduate level, along with preparation for CFA, CIIA, CAIA and FRM certifications. Elena’s research interests include commodity trading, alternative investments and portfolio allocation, and machine learning.
Rehfeld Katharina-Maria
Human Resources Management
German
Ph.D. and M.A., University of Heidelberg, Germany.
Senior Scientist at EPFL - École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.
Katharina has over 14 years of professional experience in international corporations as well as academic institutions. She currently holds a research position at EPFL and joined IIG in spring 2018. From 2004 until 2016 Katharina lived in China and worked for organizations such as the German Delegation of Industry & Commerce, Allianz Insurance and Tongji University Shanghai.
She is an accredited Coach (Int. Coaching Federation) and a Hogan Assessment Practitioner.
Her most recent publications are listed below.
Peer-reviewed work
Book chapters:
Rehfeld, K.M., Moser, M., Günther, M. (2023). ‘Nutzen von People Analytics im Personalmarketing.’ In Lucas, C., Schuster, G. (eds) Innovatives und digitales Marketing in der Praxis. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler.
Günther, M., Moser, M., Rehfeld, K.M. (2022). ‘Optimierung des Workforce Managements durch den Einsatz von People Analytics.’ In: Hastenteufel, J., Weber, S., Röhm, T. (eds) Digitale Transformation im Controlling. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler.
Articles :
Moser, M. / Rehfeld, K. (2022): ‘KI im Rekruiting – Breitenbefragung zu Emotionen, Ansichten und Erwartungen.’ IU Internationale Hochschule 2022.
Rehfeld. K. (2022) ‘What is new about New Work?’ IUG Business Review 2022.
Tarazi Nawal
Department Head, Bachelor's Programs
Finance & Economics
Swiss and Jordanian
Doctor of Business, University of Plymouth (UK)
MMB Master of Money & Banking, American University of Beirut (AUB)- Lebanon
B.Sc. Economics & Accounting, University of Jordan
Nawal has over fifteen years’ experience handling senior executive positions at local & international financial institutions; and seven years teaching and training experience in Swiss universities. She is the Founder and Director of NWNT Consulting Sàrl, Geneva.
Her most recent publications include:
Article:
Tarazi Nawal (2024) "What Factors Influence the Level of Engagement of Individuals in a Banking Relationship in Jordan?" Journal of International Business and Diplomacy, (1) 1.
Tsourakis Nikolaos
Information Technology
Greek
Ph.D. in Informatics, University of Geneva, Switzerland
M.Sc. in Engineering Management, Greece
B.Sc. in Electronic and Computer Engineering, Greece
Nikos has more than 20 years of experience in designing, building, and evaluating intelligent systems using speech and language technologies. In the past, he worked as a Software Engineer developing products for major telecommunication vendors. In the context of various projects, he performed user studies for addressing the factors that influence the success and failure of human-machine interfaces. Currently, he is employed as a Research Associate at the University of Geneva, where he co-authored more than 50 research publications. He also served as an Expert Reviewer for the European Commission. At IIG he is involved in teaching activities in the area of Computer Science.
His most recent publications are listed below:
Peer-reviewed work
Books:
Tsourakis, N. (2022). Machine Learning Techniques for Text: Apply modern techniques with Python for text processing, dimensionality reduction, classification, and evaluation. Packt Publishing.
Articles:
Tsourakis Nikos (2024) “Setting Educational Objectives for the Book: Machine Learning Techniques for Text” Journal of International Business and Diplomacy, (1) 1.
L. Ormaechea, N. Tsourakis, P. Bouillon, D. Schwab and B. Lecouteux (2023) “Simple, simpler and beyond: A fine-tuning BERT-based approach to enhance sentence complexity assessment for text simplification,” Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Natural Language and Speech Processing (ICNLSP), Trento. Italy.
Ormaechea Grijalba, L., Tsourakis, N. (2023) ‘Extracting sentence simplification pairs from French comparable corpora using a two-step filtering method.’ In: Proceedings of the 8th Swiss Text Analytics Conference 2023 (SwissText). Neuchâtel.
Tsourakis, N., Baur, C., & Rayner, M. (2020). ‘Constructing Knowledge-Based Feedback in the Context of an Interactive Spoken CALL Application.’ International Journal of Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Teaching 7(3).
Chapters in edited volumes and articles in conference proceedings:
Akhlaghi, E., Auðunardóttir, I. I., Bączkowska, A., Bédi, B., Beedar, ..., Tsourakis, N. & Yao, C. (2022). ‘Using the LARA Little Prince to compare human and TTS audio quality.’ In Proceedings of the 13th Language Resources and Evaluation Conference.
Akhlaghi, E., Bączkowska, A., Berthelsen, H., Bédi, B., Chua, C., Cucchiarini, C., ..., Tsourakis, N. & Yao15, C. (2021). ‘Assessing the quality of TTS audio in the LARA learning-by-reading platform.’ CALL and professionalisation: short papers from EUROCALL 2021.
Bouillon, P., Gerlach, J., Mutal, J., Tsourakis, N., & Spechbach, H. (2021). ‘A speech-enabled fixed-phrase translator for healthcare accessibility. ’ In Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on NLP for Positive Impact.
Tsourakis, N., Troqe, R., Gerlach, J., Bouillon, P., & Spechbach, H. (2020). ‘An albanian text-to-speech system for the Babeldr medical speech translator.’ In Digital Personalized Health and Medicine. IOS Press.
Yan Jessie
Director, Global Partnership Development, Asia Pacific
International Business
Chinese
M.Sc. in Business Enterprise, Oxford Brookes University, England
M.B.A, Oxford Brookes University, England, Executive Master in
Global Leadership, World Economic Forum (Switzerland) in
collaboration with Columbia University/ INSEAD/Wharton-
University of Pennsylvania/London Business School
Executive Phd candidate: Dauphine University, Paris
Jessie is a mission-oriented professional with over 15 years of Fortune 500 and global non-profit experience. She held leadership roles in multi-national businesses and private enterprises, was responsible for Public Private Partnership (C-suite) and government relations; increased thought leadership among partners; and sustainability-focused corporate strategy. She taught and served as a member of the Dean's Advisory Board at Oxford Brookes University, and is the Founder and Managing Director of an educational consulting company.
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Benain Pierre-Yves
Business Policy
French
M.Sc. Engineering, National Institute of Applied Sciences, France
E.M.B.A. International Institute in Geneva
Marketing and Strategic Planning with multinationals such as Siemens and SITA
Pierre-Yves holds a master degree in Telecommunications & IT engineering and an Executive MBA from International Institute in Geneva. He worked for international corporations like Siemens, Equant, SITA, SITAONAIR and accumulated over 20 years international experience in air transport IT & Communications in various management position from strategic technical planning, product management, product marketing, business development, program management and innovation.
Aggarwal Surabhi
Academic Dean
Social Psychology / Communications
Indian
Ph.D. Social Work, University of Delhi, India
M.A. Media, Communications and Advertising, University of Leicester, UK
M.A. Social Work, University of Delhi, India
B.A. Psychology, University of Delhi, India
Surabhi has over 30 years of experience in teaching at Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral level in the areas of psychology, gender studies, communication, culture and social research. She has served in different capacities as a research coordinator at University of Delhi and IIG. She has extensive experience of supervising research at both MPhil and Phd level in diverse fields ranging from health, education, gender empowerment, income generation and poverty alleviation. She has worked as Director of a rural based project initiated by Delhi University on women’s development which aimed at providing preventive health care services, reproductive health care services and services for HIV/AIDS.
Baillat Aline
Department Head, International Relations Programs
International Relations
French
Ph.D. Political Science, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
Master in International Relations & Political Science, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva
B.A Sciences Po, Lyon, France
Aline held research positions in various institutions such as the Global Policy Forum, New York City; WaterLex, Geneva; IUHEID; Institute Kurt Bösch, Sion, Switzerland. Author in the field of global environmental governance, international water law and policy, hydropolitics, water markets and climate change.
Her most recent publications are listed below:
Peer reviewed work
Books :
Baillat, A. (2010). International Trade in Water Rights: The Next Step? IAW Publishing, London.
Book chapters:
Baillat, A. (2017). ‘International Investment Agreements and Water Resources Management.’ In J. Chaisse (Ed.), The Regulation of the Global Water Services Market. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Articles :
Baillat, A (2013). ‘Le Forum Mondial de l’eau face aux enjeux de la gouvernance mondiale de l’eau.’ Annuaire Français des Relations Internationales, Volume XIV. Centre Thucydide : Paris.
Baillat, A. (2005). ‘Power Asymmetries Along International Watercourses - Hydropolitics in the Himalayan Kingdoms’ Journal of Political Science, Vol VIII. Prithwi Narayan Campus, Tribhuvan University: Pokhara, Nepal.
Savitch Pavel
Financial and Managerial Accounting, Auditing
Russian
M.Sc. (DES), University of Geneva, Switzerland
B.A. Economics, Higher School of Economics (HSE) - National Research University, Russia
Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) - Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) - Institute of Internal Auditors
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) - Information Systems Audit and Control Association
Pavel Savitch has over 20 years of professional experience in Finance and Accounting, Audit and Risk Management, IT and Project Management; most of which were gained in the Air Transport Industry (ATI). In his prior academic role as “Accounting, Economics and Finance” Unit Coordinator Mr. Savitch drove the Unit preparation towards ACBSP accreditation, ensured the operational management of the Unit and coordination of the academic programs.
Apostolov Mario
International Relations
Bulgarian/Swiss
Ph.D. International Relations, University of Geneva
D.E.S. International Relations, University of Geneva
M.A. International Relations, Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Mr. Apostolov works for an International Organization in Geneva.
Guven Dogan
Director of Doctorate Programs
Information Technology
Turkish
Leadership Executive program, IMD, Switzerland
Ph.D. Computer Science, EGE University, Turkey
M.Sc. Computer Science, EGE University, Turkey
B.Sc. Computer Science and Engineering, Hacettepe University, Turkey
Before joining IIG in 2011, Dogan spent nearly two decades at a major FMCG company where he had progressed through several roles as Head of IT in two markets and Global Head of Enterprise IT Architecture. He developed data strategies, initiated and implemented digital transformations, data driven solutions, and managed IT analysts, programmers, architects, and data engineering teams. He had started his career in academia as an adjunct faculty and research associate at universities in Turkey and USA specialized in databases and object-oriented software engineering platforms. In addition to teaching courses at IIG, he provides mentoring for several startups.
Dogan Guven has recently authored several press publications on the importance of data analysis.
Guven D. (2022) ‘The new world of work: Rising importance of Data’ International School Parent Magazine, Spring 2022 edition.
Guven D. (2022) ‘Upskilling your career with a professional doctorate degree’ UN Today magazine – September 2022 edition. https://untoday.org/upskilling-your-career-with-a-professional-doctorate-degree/
Guven D. (2022) ‘The new world of work: Rising importance of Data’ DIVA International Diplomat Magazine – 2022 edition.
Cellich Claude
Vice-President for External Relations
Chair of Research
Negotiation
American
D.B.A. h.c. Davenport University, USA
M.A., M.B.A., University of Detroit, USA
B.A. Detroit Institute of Technology, USA
Harvard trained negotiator.
Former UN senior administrator.
Co-author of Global Business Negotiations and International Trade Promotion.
Claude is currently Vice President for external relations at IIG. Over the years, he has lectured at the Institut International d’Administration Publique, Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA), Paris School of Management, the University in Prague and Anahuac University in Mexico and carried out consultancies to trade promotion organisations. He has co-authored textbooks on business negotiations, global tradew, and trade promotion strategies. He holds graduate degrees in economics and business administration from the university of Detroit, recipient of honorary degrees and the 75th Medal of Excellence from the Helsinki School of Economics.
Dr. Cellich’s most recent publications are listed below:
Books
Cellich, C. (2021) Creative Solutions to Global Business Negotiations, Third Edition, BEP.
Borgeon, M. and Cellich, C. (2020) Global Trade Strategies: Interacting with Trade Institutions and Businesses, BEP
Emeritus Faculty
Borgeon Michel
International Relations / E-Commerce
French
M.A., Ph.D., University of La Sorbonne, France
Michel Borgeon is a Professor Emeritus at International Institute in Geneva. Prior to joining ITC (International Trade Centre, a UN Trade Promotion Center), he worked as an Advisor in the field of international trade statistics in the French Trade Promotion Center (Trade Promotion Body, Ministry of Finance) for 8 years, then Chief, developing countries trade promotion Section and Professor at the International Relations Institute in Paris. He was a Senior Trade Promotion Officer over three decades, with extensive missions in Africa and Asia. He co-authored two textbooks on Trade Promotion Strategies with Claude Cellich. He also holds a PHD in economics, Paris Pantheon Sorbonne and a Diploma of the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris (Sciences Po).
Catliota Donna
Law
American
Juris Doctor in Law (magna cum laude), Cleveland State University Law School
LL.M. in International and Comparative Law (with distinction), Georgetown University Law Center
B.A. English Literature and Language (cum laude), Barat College
Ms Catliota was engaged in private practice for over 10 years with law firms in the United States, before moving to the public sector, where she has served as legal counsel with the US Department of State (Office of the Legal Advisor); the United Nations Compensation Commission; and the World Health Organization and as General Counsel for the Millennium Foundation.
Santantoniou John
Marketing, Strategy
Swiss/Greek
Senior Executive programs at Stanford, INSEAD, and London Business School
DiplM, MCIM, The Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK
B.Sc., Economics, Athens University, Greece
John has been for over 20 years in senior Marketing positions with Colgate-Palmolive and Hewlett Packard, for over 10 years the CEO-Europe for Energizer and Invensys Controls, and is currently advising Private Equities and Investment Banks (TowerBrooks Capital).
Visiting Faculty
LIM Wai Mun
Director of Professional Doctorates
Associate Professor of Service Management, University of Plymouth, UK
Singaporean
PhD Business Management, University of Plymouth, UK
MBA, University of Leicester, UK
BA Economics and Sociology, National University of Singapore
EdD, Cambridge University, UK
As an Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth, Wai Mun lectures in Business Strategy, Research Methods and e-Strategies. While she is widely published, her primary research interests lie in the fields of service quality and technology use/adoption. To keep up with the rapid advancement in the field, she has recently completed a Professional Certificate in Data Science: Data into Insights, awarded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
White John
Communications
British
B.A. Psychology, University of Nottingham
M.Sc. Psychology, London School of Economics
Ph.D. Psychology, London School of Economics
Trainer with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, UK, offering training in all aspects of communication, public affairs and measurement and evaluation in communication practice