Theme: Bridge to Asia

Luzern is famous for its many bridges, especially the Kappel Bruecke, a covered wooden pedestrian bridge that today connects the Old Town to the New Town. This makes Luzern a famous tourist destination, but it is also a thriving commercial region. Today it is developing trade extensively throughout Asia, and with it cultural connections.

We have an exciting line-up of speakers who will share their insights into Asia, each within the 18-minute TED format. Our venue and catering hosts, IMI, whose student body is over 50% of Asian nationalities, is preparing an exciting evening of Asian cuisine and interesting exhibits to complement the seven varied TED-formatted Talks linking to Asia.

IMI Luzern
Seeacherweg
Kastanienbaum
Luzern, 6047
Switzerland

Josef Mondl

Josef is the Project Leader for the Sino-Swiss Management Training Program at St. Gallen University's Institute for Systems Management. As the driving force behind the Action Learning Center in the provinces of Qinghai, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia, and newly developing programs in Congqing, Hainan and Jiangsu, Josef has deep insights to Greater China.

Michael Hitchcock

Michael is IMI's Dean of Faculty and an authority on Asian business and culture. He has written and edited 14 books and has published over 100 academic papers. He has fieldwork experience in Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, Tanzania, in addition to places closer to home. Michael took his doctorate at the University of Oxford and a BA Hons at Queens University, Belfast, in addition to numerous other scholarly achievements. He has been interviewed over 400 times on radio and television, appearing frequently on BBC Asia and BBC 24 Hours.

Patrik Wermelinger

Patrik is Head of Marketing at Business Development Lucerne, promoting Luzern as a growing business destination in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. In 2008, he began promoting Luzern in China, where he successfully managed Business Development Lucerne's activities within "House of Switzerland" at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Summer Games. Patrik's work in China brings him frequently to the capital, as well as to Shanghai, Shenyang and Shenzen. He's fascinated at the unprecedented rate at which Chinese urban life is changing.

Rami Kim

Rami is an art consultant based in London, specializing in Chinese and Indian art. She majored in Western Art History at University College in London. She's also focused on a range of art movements, ranging from Impressionism and 17th Century Dutch paintings, to Chinese antiquities and contemporary Asian art. She travels frequently to Luzern and loves Central Switzerland.

Jack Vincent

Jack is a sales and marketing advisor who doesn't mince his words, except when he inserts strong doses of humor. He was trained at one of America's top journalism schools, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He's now circling back in his career through various writing channels. Jack is active in both the TED community and Toastmasters, where he became the 2006 European Champion in the Humorous Speech Contest. He is a regular speaker, panel leader and facilitator in sales, marketing, social media and even storytelling in business.

Urban Frye

Urban is a Lucerne-based TV producer and former arts journalist for "Neue Luzerner Zeitung," "Tagesanzeiger" and Swiss Radio "DRS." He produced the live broadcast of Montreux Jazz Festival's 40th Anniversary and the European Football Championships Final Draw in Lucerne in 2007. Urban has sat on the Advisory Committee of the Eurovision Music Group, and was the Festival Director of the Rose d'Or. He is currently building "FilmLocation Lucerne" and coordinates the Swiss series "Tatort," a well-known TV thriller for German-speaking public broadcasters.

Karen Tse

A former public defender, Karen's focal point of criminal law and human rights began as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow in 1986, after observing Southeast Asian refugees in prison. In 1994, she moved to Cambodia to train the country's first core group of public defenders, and subsequently served as a United Nations Judicial Mentor. Karen's journey encompasses the spiritual, the philosophical, the legal and the educational. She founded International Bridges To Justice in 2000 to promote systemic global change in the administration of criminal justice.

Claus Schreier

Claus is a lecturer for Strategy and Intercultural Management at the Institute of Management (IBR) / Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. As Academic Director, he's responsible for programs like MBA Lucerne and CAS International Leadership, and he's lectured across Europe and Southeast Asia. He heads the consulting company "Die Kulturarchitekten" that addresses intercultural issues. Claus earned his Doctorate in Economics in 2001 from the European Business School