Talking Philanthropy Geneva Summit
Ten years of convening the people who shape global giving.
In November 2026, Talking Philanthropy marks a decade of dialogue by culminating in its first Summit in Geneva.
Geneva 2026
A Global Summit in the World’s Humanitarian Capital
The first of an annual Global Summit, hosted in Geneva, Switzerland.
Talking Philanthropy brings together philanthropic leaders, family offices, foundations and institutions to examine the changing global order, the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history, and the future of humanitarian action.
Speakers
Announced For Geneva
HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium
Journalist, author and activist
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium is a journalist, author and activist for the environment and human rights, particularly those of women and indigenous peoples. She is President of the Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation, Chair of Friendship Belgium, and an ambassador for WWF and Stop Ecocide International.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein
Member of The Elders
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is a member of The Elders, the independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela. He was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2014 to 2018, speaking out against populism, xenophobia and extremism. He played a central role in establishing the International Criminal Court and served as Jordan’s Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the UN.
Christoph Courth
Global Head of Philanthropy Services, Pictet Wealth Management
Christoph Courth is Global Head of Philanthropy Services at Pictet Wealth Management, helping families, foundations and family offices mobilise their wealth for positive change. With 20+ years' experience across business, international development and philanthropy, and earlier roles with UNICEF and The King’s Trust, he is a regular writer and speaker on strategic philanthropy.
Lady Mary Dinah
Founder & CEO, Mary Dinah Foundation
Mary Dinah, Lady of Ellington, is a philanthropist, hotelier and CEO of Mary Dinah Foundation, an international NGO advancing nutrition, maternal and child health among refugees and displaced communities across Africa. For over two decades, she has championed locally led solutions, delivering more than 125 million specialised meals. She is a Special Envoy for Child Protection and was recently featured on the cover of Forbes Africa’s first-ever philanthropy edition.
Cindy Forde
Founder at Planetari and author
Cindy Forde is an author and systems change leader named in The Independent’s Climate 100 2026. She founded Planetari, whose Earth-led education won the Climate Positive Award at COP28, and wrote the acclaimed children’s book Bright New World. She is also the co-founder of the Centre for Systemic Change at Homerton College, Cambridge.
Chris Jochnick
CEO, Landesa
Chris Jochnick, CEO of Landesa, is a global land rights expert and social entrepreneur with decades of experience in international development. He is Co-Founder and former director of the Center for Economic and Social Rights and the Ecuador-based Centros de Derechos Económicos y Sociales, and previously led Oxfam America’s corporate engagement work.
Pooya Kamvari
Founder & CEO, HomeRun
Pooya Kamvari is a technology entrepreneur and social innovator with over two decades’ experience in business transformation and venture building. He founded HomeRun, advancing sustainable school travel, and is an Associate Fellow at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. He advises mission-driven startups and is helping establish the Centre for Systemic Change.
Kirsty Lang
Anchor
Kirsty Lang is a journalist and broadcaster with a career spanning 35 years across TV, radio, print and online. A former foreign correspondent and presenter at Channel 4 News and the BBC, she presented BBC Radio’s flagship arts programme Front Row for almost 20 years. She chairs the boards of Global Witness and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, and writes for The Sunday Times and the FT.
Jojo Mehta
Co-Founder & CEO, Stop Ecocide International
Jojo Mehta is Co-Founder and CEO of Stop Ecocide International, established in 2017 with the late legal pioneer Polly Higgins to support recognition of ecocide as an international crime. She convened the 2021 Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide, catalysing legislative progress at national, regional and international levels.
Trish Newport
Head of the Emergency Program, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland
Trish Newport is the Head of the Emergency Program for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Switzerland. A nurse with a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Trish has worked with MSF since 2008, responding to humanitarian crises, conflicts and disease outbreaks across Africa and the Middle East.
Marie-Laure Salles
Director, Geneva Graduate Institute
Marie-Laure Salles (Harvard PhD'96) has been Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute since September 2020. She previously was Professeur des Universités at Sciences Po Paris, where she was the founding Dean of the School of Management and Innovation, and before that Professor at ESSEC Business School, where she held senior roles including Dean of the Faculty.
Read On…
She has published broadly on the historic transformation of capitalism and national political institutions, the dynamics of transnational governance, the transnational diffusion of ideas and institutions, the ethics and philosophy of international relations.
Jean K. Sung
Non-Executive Director, Global Philanthropic
Jean K. Sung founded J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s Philanthropy Centre in Asia, building cross-sector partnerships and developing philanthropic initiatives and impact investing solutions. Previously, she led J.P. Morgan’s corporate philanthropy across 13 Asian markets from 2006 to 2013.
Read On…
Jean is on the Board of Global Philanthropic as of December 2025. She is also on the Advisory Board of Audacy Partners alongside governance and advisory roles with Bai Xian Asia Institute and The McCain Global Leaders Institute.
Dato Dr Kim Tan
Chairman of SpringHill Management
Dato Dr Kim Tan is Chairman of SpringHill Management, a private fund specialising in biotech and social venture capital. A pioneer of social impact investing for over 25 years, he is Co-Founder of the Transformational Business Network Alliance, inventor of sheep monoclonal antibodies, and founder of NCI Cancer Hospital in Malaysia.
Matt Thompson
Global VP Philanthropy, Education & Healthcare, Altrata
Matt Thompson is Vice President of Philanthropy, Education and Healthcare at Altrata, the global wealth intelligence and data provider. He leads Altrata’s work with universities, hospitals and healthcare institutions, helping their philanthropy and advancement teams identify and understand major donor prospects. He brings over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector and has spent the past seven years at Altrata.
Dr Achim Wennmann
Geneva Graduate Institute
Dr Achim Wennmann is a Professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, where he holds the Nagulendran Chair in Peace Mediation. He specialises in peace processes, political transitions and the political economy of conflict. He is also the Institute’s Director for Strategic Partnerships, with extensive experience connecting research, diplomacy and policy practice to enable strategic collaboration across institutions and sectors.
Lord Simon Woolley
Principal of Homerton College
Lord Simon Woolley, Principal of Homerton College, is the first black man to head an Oxbridge college. Founding director of Operation Black Vote, he created and led the UK Government’s Race Disparity Unit. Knighted in 2019 and now a crossbench peer, he is a leading campaigner for equality and representation.
Talking Philanthropy Geneva 2026
With the support of
The Film
Ten years in 90 seconds
A decade of convening, distilled. A glimpse of Geneva 2026 and the story of the conversations, connections and ideas that brought Talking Philanthropy here.
The Format
Inside the Room
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The format of Talking Philanthropy fosters thought leadership and encourages innovative ideas.
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Speakers and attendees identify challenges and discuss solutions through talks, panels, workshops, and Q&A sessions.
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An opportunity to think beyond the day-to-day of work, reflect on the sector, and how it impacts the world.
The Archive
A Decade of Thinking That Shaped Philanthropy
Every edition is recorded. These are the conversations that shaped the series, from London and Hong Kong to the sessions setting the agenda for Geneva.
2016 – 2026
Ten Years of Bringing Together the People Shaping Global Giving
Since 2016, Talking Philanthropy has created space for honest, rigorous dialogue about the forces reshaping global philanthropy. Its strength lies in its community: philanthropists, advisers and leaders who are not simply funding change, but actively designing it.
This is a moment to reflect, reconnect and reimagine what philanthropy can achieve.
The Room
Who’s In The Room
Family Offices
High-net-worth Individuals
NGOs
Government Representatives
Academic Institutions
Testimonials
Voices from the Room
Expected Outcomes
What the Summit Will Achieve
Strength in Participation
Talking Philanthropy strives to be the leading forum for strategic philanthropy, with thousands of global attendees both online and in person.
Digital Presence
We use digital distribution to extend the reach of the summit well beyond the day itself.
Building Awareness
Spotlighting best practice, aligning stakeholders and mobilising family offices that advance the philanthropic agenda.
Masterclasses
Sessions facilitated by influential figures that transcend boundaries, enrich practice and foster growth.
Ten Years Of Support