We are excited to announce that Anne-Catherine Sutermeister has joined the team as Head of Community Engagement, Arts & Training Programmes for Switzerland.

Anne-Catherine brings a wealth of experience and expertise in arts management and cultural policy, coupled with a dedication to enriching educational initiatives in these fields.

Her work in cultural organisations (Théâtre de Vidy-Lausanne, Bibliothèque cantonale universitaire de Lausanne, Théâtre du Jorat), in higher education (La Manufacture in Lausanne and HEAD-Genève), in cultural policy (Canton of Berne, Pro Helvetia Foundation Board, State of Valais), and as a consultant and trainer (MAS in cultural management at the University of Lausanne/Geneva, University of Basel and University of applied sciences Winterthur), reflects her deep commitment to the strategic realignment of cultural institutions, ensuring that internal values, both organizational and artistic, fortify the overall operational frameworks.

Her dedication heritage appreciation demonstrates her innovative perspectives, emphasizing the importance of incorporating living traditions and intangible heritage into contemporary strategies for building a sustainable and solidarity-based world that prioritises artists working conditions, ecological sustainability and mental health.

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Anne-Catherine, What motivated you to join the Caux Initiatives of Change team?

After devoting my professional career to culture in various forms, working in government departments, cultural organisations and training institutions, I felt I'd come full circle. Plus, these last years, and especially since COVID-19, I realised how new agendas emerged : climate change, migration, shaky democracy, and wars create a context of insecurity, inviting us to strengthen our resilience in a number of ways. I'm really looking forward to discovering a professional field dedicated to these issues.

Could you tell us a little about your new position and your priorities?

In my role, I address three key areas: Community Engagement, Arts, and Training Programmes. I am focused on revitalizing and expanding a community network in Caux and will be collaborating with cultural circles to create a research and skills interface to tackle these issues through art, developing artistic projects that resonate with the history of the Foundation. I am currently setting up an artist residency project that delves into the organization's archives and elevates the significance of this truly extraordinary place.

Finally, I am also actively engaging with local skilled individuals to strengthen the training offerings. This involves working closely with the community to identify and tap into their expertise, thereby enriching the training programmes and ensuring their relevance to the local context.

Can you share an interesting fact about yourself?

In 2019, I took a sabbatical in South-East Asia and Australia, meeting artists and cultural managers and interviewing them to learn more about their realities and best practices. At the same time, I completed my yoga practice by training to become a yoga teacher. I am strongly interested in mental health issues and took classes in first aid before completing the following summer the certification as Mental Health Instructor.

What is your favourite part or room at the Caux Palace?

Given my background, the theater! I didn't know there was a magnificent neo-baroque theater in the Caux Palace, seating 385. Then, I recently spent my first night in the Caux Palace, and the view of the Leman is simply mind-blowing.

Welcome to Caux Initiatives of Change, Anne-Catherine!

Photo teaser: Olivier Lovey

On 25 - 28 January, Initiatives of Change for Business, a programme affiliated with Initiatives of Change India, organised its 9th Biennial International Conference on "Sustaining Business through Integrity and Trust" at Asia Plateau, the Indian IofC centre located 1,300 meters above sea level in the hills of Panchgani.

Our Executive Director and President, Ignacio Packer and Jacqueline Coté, were part of the experience:

A sustainable future requires us to explore ways of creating real and ethical values in our businesses - values for our customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and all other stakeholders.

Unfortunately, existing business growth models have contributed to the deterioration of our planet, eco-systems, relationships and, possibly most importantly, our core values. Many of us are recognising the urgency to address these issues, including placing energy transition high up on the agenda.

To help find some of the answers, Initiatives of Change for Business, in cooperation with  Initiatives of Change India, dedicated its focus to this issue during an international converence on "Sustaining Business through Integrity and Trust" which took place in Asia Plateau, the Indian IofC centre located in Panchgani.

On 25 - 28 January, some 60 CEOs and other senior staff came together under Chatham House Rules to share personal experiences on how to balance a sustainable business with integrity and trust.  

From Japan, India, Malaysia, Germany, Switzerland, France, UK, Spain, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Canada and Kenya, we learned about successful businesses that make a positive impact on society by deciding to prioritize fairness, integrity, social responsibility and thus contribute to building a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.

In his keynote address, T V Narendran, CEO and MD of Tata Steel Ltd, spoke about the the importance of building trust between management and employees, challenges along the process and the solutions his company has implemented to create a culture of trust. But the decarbonisation of operations within a company can also be a major challenge, impacting the supply chain for the construction and manufacturing sectors where  thousands of jobs are at stake.

 

 

 

 

In the inspiring environment at Asia Plateau, we heard testimonies, experiences and best practices for an ethical leadership, mainly from the manufacturing sector, sparking honest conversations on how to achieve a delicate balance. Together, we explored the main reasons why business ethics are important for companies, how to "walk the talk" and live ethical values in order to create trust with employees, consumers, suppliers and the communities. For budding business professionals it was an inspiring and catalytic moment.

 

Already in full preparations for the hosting of this summer's Caux Democracy Forum (15-19 July 2024) which will take place at the Caux Palace, and its workstream on Human Rights Economy, I return with inspiring stories about the “high integrity and honesty” of CEOs who know and have experienced that it is more important than ever for companies to carry out work the right way.

I am grateful for what I have learned from these men and women, demonstrating and sharing a high level of ethical conduct, honesty, and principled behaviour in their leadership roles. 

Thank you, Vivek, David, Rashida, Ashish, Rahul, Shas, Deepika, Mike, Norma, Zacharia, Kenichiro, Nobuaki, Rishi Sher, Yukoko, Yuko, Hiroshi, Luis, Neha, Damko, Gordon, Mounir, Margaret, Ahmet, Yano, Jacqueline, Kanika, T V, Folker and many more.

By Ignacio Packer

READ THE FULL CONFERENCE REPORT

The conversation around sustainable business through integrity and trust will be brought to the four-day residential Caux Democracy Forum (15-19 July 2024) as a specific workstream on Human Rights Economy, exploring “The Role of Europe in Promoting Democracy".

You would like to know more and stay in touch? Watch this space and register to our newsletter.

Photos: IofC India & Ignacio Packer