On 16 November 2023, the Embassy of Switzerland in London hosted its annual networking gathering. This year’s guest of honour and keynote speaker was Peter Maurer, President of Basel Institute on Governance, Senior Fellow of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and a member of the Board of Directors of Zurich Insurance. Previously, Mr Maurer served as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in Switzerland, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations.

In his speech, Mr Maurer shared lessons learned from past experiences and challenges on the international stage. He called for more innovative diplomacy, which should include effective cooperation around legal instruments such as asset recovery or collective action in the fight against corruption and investment in sustainability and frontier markets.

The reception which followed provided an opportunity for the audience to engage in individual discussions with Mr Maurer and to network with a wide range of people with a shared interest in Switzerland.