From Checklist to Catalyst: Elevating Non-Financial Risk in the Eyes of the Board

Summary

In today’s volatile, high-stakes environment, non-financial risk management has become a board-level priority. Yet many Chief Risk Officers and their teams still face a gap between day to day risk work and board-level expectations.

What defines a “mature” non-financial risk function from the board’s perspective? How should risk leaders communicate, challenge, and add value at the strategic level?
This event dives deep into how boards view non-financial risk today: not just as a control function, but as a critical contributor to long-term resilience and decision-making. Through insights, panel discussions, and an interactive exchange with the audience, we will unpack what boards are really looking for: from risk culture and emerging risk readiness to scenario thinking, risk appetite, and transparency.

Topics covered will include:

• What boards expect today from non-financial risk management: insights from directors
• How to communicate non-financial risk effectively at the board level: clarity, credibility, and context
• The board’s expectations in non-financial risk appetite, tolerance, and strategic decision-making
• Addressing emerging risks (AI, ESG, cyber, geopolitics): what boards want to know
• Risk culture and accountability: how boards assess organizational resilience
• Scenario planning and stress testing: bringing foresight into the boardroom
• Navigating regulatory expectations: aligning board governance with compliance
• Closing the gap: building trust and strategic relevance with the board

Designed for senior risk professionals across financial services, this event will equip you with the tools and language to elevate your dialogue with the board and your impact on the business.

Whether you’re reporting to the board, preparing to do so, or looking to sharpen your strategic edge, this is a conversation you should not miss.

Presenters

• Michèle Hess, Independent Board Member | Perpetim AG and hs-consult
  Michèle Hess is an experienced consultant working with hs-consult, focusing on risk and compliance within financial services. Her past experience includes leadership roles at PwC and FINMA. She is a new board member and has been acting as a chairwoman of the startup Fintech Perpetim and as a board member of MBaer Merchant Bank for a few months.
• Claudia Zimmermann, CFA: Independent Board Member | C-Advisory GmbH
  Founder of C-Advisory GmbH and consultant focusing on finance, ESG and corporate development. Board member in banking, international cooperation, real estate, private equity and sustainable energy. Member of several professional networks and start-up communities. Juror/mentor at ETH/EPFL Startup Challenge “venture.ch”. Member of ESG Committee of the CFA Society Switzerland. 20+ years of executive experience in ICT and Private Equity. Long-term consulting experience in Valuations and Strategy at PwC. Setup of organizations and fund structures, transformations, and crisis management. Introducing innovations, financing solutions, and internationalizations as well as public-private partnerships. Leading and coaching M&A-Transactions, including PMI.
• Dr. Jochen Dürr, Independent Board Member | Audax Solutions AG 
  Dr. Jochen Duerr is a Senior Executive Board member and Chief Risk Officer with over 20 years of experience in strategy, risk management, corporate finance, and financial market infrastructure. He has build up and led CRO functions as well as global transformations at McKinsey & Co., State Street Corp., and SIX Swiss Exchange Group/BME. His expertise spans trading, custody, compliance, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs. In addition to executive roles, he has served as a Senior Advisor and non-executive board member, providing strategic direction to financial institutions, DeFi/crypto firms, and non-profits, driving growth, revenue, and operational excellence.

Introduced and moderated by Xavier-Yves Zanota, Non-financial risks Chapter Co-Chair and Global Head of Operational Risk at EFG Bank, and Alexandra Burns, Non-financial risks Chapter Advisor and Head Risk Consulting at PwC.

Agenda

17:45 Arrival & Name Tag Collection
18:00 Welcome and Introduction (Xavier-Yves Zanota and Alexandra Burns)
18:15 Project presentation (Michèle Hess, Claudia Zimmermann and Jochen Dürr)
19:00 Panel with all the speakers and Q&A
19:25 Conclusion (Xavier-Yves Zanota and Alexandra Burns)
19:30 Networking Drinks
20:30 End

Chapter Event

This chapter provides a platform for exchanging developments, best practices and challenges related to non-financial risks (NFR). NFRs are relevant for any industry and inherent in our daily lives. Therefore we take a broad view beyond the financial services industry. Besides pure operational risks, this chapter will also cover reputational as well as strategic risks.