A warm welcome to our new board member Catherine Janssens. She was elected during the General Assembly on May 8, as since the long-term treasurer and former president Bagawathram Maheswaran has stepped down.
Catherine Janssens brings 20+ years of experience in Business development and Fundraising in Switzerland and the UK to Wikimedia CH. She is a builder of new partnerships for national and international charities in London (Royal Academy of Arts, Voluntary Service Overseas, and the London Chamber Orchestra) and is currently working for Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) within the Philanthropy Office.
She writes:
„I have worked for both the profit and not for profit sector. Starting my career as an account manager in the commodity trading business I then became a business analyst and portfolio manager in a family office in Geneva. Ten years ago, I moved to London where I built and managed new and existing partnerships for national and international charities.
In 2018, I moved back to Switzerland to join EPFL where I am currently leading the Philanthropy team. Bringing on board new partners to education initiatives is and has always been a key driver to my job satisfaction.“
Her motivation to join Wikimedia CH:
„I believe that knowledge should be free for all and that no one should be left behind. I stand for a society that praise tolerance, encourages empathy and celebrates diversity. I would be happy to provide expertise in fundraising plans and strategy.“
WMCH’s President Muriel Staub acknowledged Bagawathram Maheswaran’s (called Ram) 12 years of dedication to the team. Ram recapped his great journey with WMCH from a small organization with a few staff members to a sustainable association – a remarkable evolution. Ram will continue to participate as a member of Wikimedia CH’s advisory board.
(Published 19 May 2021)
