CRO Circle Dinner Zurich | How Politicians deal with Risks — and why it doesn’t always turn out well

Summary

In an increasingly interconnected and unpredictable world, decision-making has never been more complex. Leaders are constantly required to balance competing priorities, respond to uncertainty, and make choices that can have far-reaching consequences. While risk is often associated with financial markets or corporate environments, it is equally present in the political sphere, where every decision is shaped by multiple perspectives, limited information, and evolving circumstances.

This exclusive event invites participants to reflect on the nature of leadership, uncertainty, and strategic decision-making through the lens of public governance. Rather than offering simple answers, the discussion will encourage new ways of thinking about how risks are perceived, evaluated, and managed in highly complex environments.

What you will take away from this session:

• A broader perspective on how risk and uncertainty influence decision-making.
• New insights into leadership under pressure and in rapidly changing contexts.
• Reflections on the relationship between strategy, responsibility, and public decision-making.
• Practical inspiration for approaching complex challenges from different angles.
• Thought-provoking ideas to enrich your own leadership and risk management perspective.

Keynote

• Walter Thurnherr, Former Federal Chancellor of Switzerland 
  Walter Thurnherr served as the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland from 2016 to 2023, acting as the Chief of Staff to the Swiss Federal Council. A native of the Canton of Aargau, he joined the Swiss diplomatic service in 1989 and went on to serve as personal advisor to Federal Councillor Flavio Cotti. During his career, he held diplomatic postings in Moscow and New York and led the General Secretariat of several federal departments.Widely recognised as a skilled mediator between politics, public administration, and society, Walter Thurnherr is also known as a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of societal and technological transformation and its impact on governance. Since 2024, he has been strengthening the dialogue between science and politics at ETH Zurich, while supporting the development of its School of Public Policy. Through his vision and leadership, he continues to play an influential role in shaping both Swiss public policy and academic discourse.

Agenda

18:30  Welcome cocktail
19:15  Take seat at dinner table
19:30  Welcome speech (5 min) by Bruno Meyer
19:40  Appetizers
20:00  Keynote speech (30-40 min)
20:40  Main Course and Dessert
21:30  End of event

About CRO circle

The CRO Circle institutionalizes the need to debate thoughts and ideas with your C- and Board level colleagues informally. It helps you to identify risk topics that you didn’t think of yet. It provides you with very exclusive networking opportunities and surely new friendships. The “CRO Circle” targets the most senior risk managers, the leaders who are responsible to identify and manage the risk for a company comprehensively. A CRO Circle seat is available as a part of our Corporate Packages.