Theme: Navigation in Times of Disruption

We live in an increasingly complex and seemingly insecure world. Where do the disruptions come from? How can we find orientation? As individuals? As societies? These questions and more shall be addressed by our inspiring speakers from different perspectives, such as economics, linguistics, technology, aviation and psychology.

TEDxZHAW has a focus on topics related to our university’s comprehensive range of research, making the latest insights accessible to a broader audience. It also caters to bring ideas, knowledge and talks about a variety of issues relevant to all realms of society.

The TEDx community is filled with fascinatingly curious, open-minded and interesting people. TEDx events are ideal for getting into contact, launch and discuss new ideas and extend your network in the ZHAW community and beyond.

ZHAW Winterthur
School of Management and Law
St-Georgen-Platz
Winterthur, Zürich (de), 8400
Switzerland

Alice Delorme Benites

Professor of Human-Machine-Communication

Alice Delorme Benites is currently Professor of Human-Machine-Communication and Co-head of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting at ZHAW, Winterthur in Switzerland. Her research focusses on the adoption of new technologies for language work. She has been investigating how machine translation and large language models are being used by language professionals and by the broad audience and seeks to find out what the different user groups need to know in order to make the best use of new technologies. Her motto: technology is always about people.

Christian Bucher

Head Business Psychology

Christian Bucher has a PhD in psychology and is heading the business psychology unit at ZHAW. He investigates psychological factors of entrepreneurship such as mindset and teams as well as serendipity and bricolage. Previously, Christian worked as a consultant and co-founder of a startup and co-creates in the initiative ZHAW entrepreneurship. Most of all, however, he rediscovers his curiosity through his little son and thereby fills his own head with wonder.

Christoph Regli

Programme Director BSc in Aviation

Christoph is responsible for the Bachelor's Degree Program in Aviation at the ZHAW School of Engineering. Before this, he worked as a software engineer, as a pilot, and for the Civil Aviation Authority, heading the section Air Navigation Services. He still flies airliners, and the latest developments in artificial intelligence fueled his curiosity about its impact on aviation. The hope that humans will still fly the planes in the future faces the hard fact that automation is continuously progressing.

Christopher Hartwell

Professor of International Business

Christopher A. Hartwell is currently Professor of International Business Policy and Head of the International Management Institute at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Management and Law, Professor of International Management at Kozminski University in Poland, Visiting Professor at Tashkent State University of Law, and former President of the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE) in Warsaw. A leading scholar on the evolution of economic institutions. Prof. Hartwell’s interests are in institutional development, especially the interplay between financial institutions and other political and economic institutions. Prof. Hartwell holds a PhD in Economics from the Warsaw School of Economics, a master’s in public policy from Harvard, a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and his habilitation from Kozminski.

Marlies Whitehouse

Professor of Professional Literacy

Marlies Whitehouse, PhD is a full professor of Applied Linguistics at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland. She is an associate editor of the International Journal of Business Communication and of the Handbook of Applied Linguistics Series, as well as the head of the finance committee of the Association for Business Communication. Her research fields and foci include applied linguistics, transdisciplinarity, professional literacy, financial communication, text production, and writing in the professions. She has extensive experience as a writing and communication coach for national and international companies.

Oliver Germer

Entrepreneur, Consultant, Tech Lover

Oliver Germer is an entrepreneur, management consultant and enthusiastic tech lover by heart. After studies in Computer Science and Management at Hamburg University he started his career at KPMG and has been advising big and small clients in many countries and industries on how to create value with technology. He also set up several mobile communications providers in Europe and Australia. In recent years Oliver worked with clients to develop new business opportunities arising from LEO satellite technology. As a loving father with nerd tendencies, he strives to teach his daughters to embrace technology and to stay curious throughout life.