Dr. Paola Ghillani

Paola Ghillani & Friends AG, Zurich

Paola Ghillani obtained her university degree in Pharmacy before starting her career in the pharmaceutical industry at Ciba/Novartis.

In 1999, after almost 10 years working in multinational companies, she took over as Managing Director of the Max Havelaar Foundation, a fair-trade organization based in Switzerland. During her time with the foundation, she also worked as a Member of the Board of FLO International (Fair Trade Labelling Organizations) and was elected Chair of the FLO’s Board in 2001, a position which she held until 2004.

Paola Ghillani is a Member of the Board of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She also sits on the committees of various organizations, including for ethical investment funds.

On 1 September 2005, Paola Ghillani founded her own company Paola Ghillani & Friends AG. This company is active in the promotion and implementation of sustainability and ethics in business. Paola Ghillani & Friends AG is more than a company, it is a philosophy with a vision: to engage in sustainable business for a better world.

She completed her further education with qualifications from IMD Lausanne in “International General Management” and in the “Programme for International Board Management”. Apart from many awards, Paola Ghillani was nominated as Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in Davos in the year 2000.