Guest speaker series

Rhonda Ross

Rhonda Ross is an American singer and former actress. She is the daughter of singer and actress Diana Ross.

In 2004, she released her debut live album Rhonda Ross Live Featuring Rodney Kendrick. In 2013, she joined her mother on the In the Name of Love Tour as the opening act for her concerts. In July 2016, Rhonda released her first studio album In Case You Didn't Know.

 

Ola Pikula

Ola Pikula is a councillor for the city of Mariupol, Ukraine. She is also the CEO and Founder of Oxford English Centre Ukraine, a group of English language learning centres which also deliver profession-specific language courses.

Pikula is also the Director of Communications for YaMariupol, a series of support centres operating in different cities in Ukraine on the social, legal, humanitarian, medical and psychological rehabilitation of displaced residents of Mariupol.

 

WAVE Trauma Centre

The WAVE Trauma Centre is the largest cross community victims’ group in Northern Ireland, originally founded by widows who had lost their partners in the Troubles, a conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s to 1998. While initially created to support the bereaved, the group’s remit was expanded in 1995 to include those who were injured and/or traumatised in the conflict.

A member of the WAVE Trauma Centre, Michael McConville is the son of Jean McConville, one of Northern Ireland’s Disappeared, people who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA.

Dympna Kerr is the sister of Columba McVeigh, also listed as one of Northern Ireland’s Disappeared, but whose remains were never found.

Tech2Peace

Tech2Peace uses conflict dialogue and team-building activities to create a safe space for young people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

 

 

 

B8 of Hope

B8 of Hope promotes peace-building and transformative grassroots initiatives within both Palestinian and Israeli civil societies, offering visibility, funding, networking and capacity-building.

 

 

 

Boyd McKechnie

Boyd McKechnie is the co-founder and international advisor of The Barabar Centre, a multi-ethnic dialogue space in Kosovo, for civil society and communities to come together.

 

 

 

Swati Thiyagarajan

Swati Thiyagarajan is an Indian conservationist, documentary filmmaker and environmental journalist, based in Cape Town, South Africa and New Delhi, India. She is a core team member of the Sea Change Project in South Africa and environmental editor at the Indian television news network of NDTV.

Thiyagarajan is the recipient of the Carl Zeiss Award, Earth Heroes Award and two Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards. Her work as the environmental editor at NDTV has been acclaimed internationally and she has been described as the doyenne of environmental journalism in India. 

Shola Mos-Shogbamimu

Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a British born and Nigerian political & women’s rights activist. She scrutinizes government policies from a gender and diversity inclusion perspective. She is also a New York Attorney and Solicitor of England & Wales with broad expertise in the financial services industry, a writer, public speaker and political commentator featured in mainstream and online media.

 

 

Kehinde Andrews

Kehinde Andrews is an academic, activist and author whose books include Back to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century (2018).

Andrews is the first Black Studies professor in the UK and led the establishment of the first Black Studies programme in Europe at Birmingham City University. 

His research covers issues of race, ethnicity and racism, slavery, colonialism, race in politics and in history, and how communities overcome inequality.

Jordan Jarrett-Bryan

Jordan Jarrett-Bryan is a Channel 4 News sports reporter, DJ, and journalist. He is a below-the-knee amputee who has worn a prosthesis since he was 18 months old, and played wheelchair basketball at club and national level for 15 years. He is a two-time European champion with the GB Junior wheelchair basketball team which he captained in 2004. 

Jordan Jarrett-Bryan was a reporter for Channel 4's award winning coverage of the 2012 and 2016 London & Rio Paralympic Games.

 

Steve Thompson

Steve Thompson MBE is a former Rugby Union player and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner. Once England’s most capped hooker, Thompson has also played for the British & Irish Lions as well as playing almost 200 matches for the Northampton Saints. Steve has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, the result of endless collisions, concussions, and injuries. He is now campaigning to improve the game and safeguard those who play it.
 

Rodolphe Villevieille

Rodolphe Villevieille is a professional videographer, cinematographer, remote drone pilot, editor and activist. He has worked for Sea Shepherd France since 2017

His images can be seen in various documentaries on Netflix, including the famous Seaspiracy.

Passionate about images in all their forms, he puts his skills at the service of projects that defend or enhance the planet. Rodolphe has carried out missions in the Gulf of California, Mexico, Mayotte, the Bay of Biscay (France), Liberia and Benin, as well as in Antarctica.

Valentine Cuny-Le Callet

Author and illustrator, Cuny-Le Callet won the award "Prix BD Fnac France Inter 2023".

She is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris. She is currently working on a thesis in visual arts and contemporary creation at the Université Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne. The subject of her thesis is "Témoigner et résister dans le couloir de la mort : contraintes, censure et Do It Yourself".

She is particularly interested in the practice of visual arts by prisoners on death row in the United States. Conference in French.

Anne-Frédérique Widmann, Karelle Ménine and Valentine Cuny-Le Callet

Anne-Frédérique Widmann is a Swiss investigative journalist, director and producer. Her full length documentary film Free Men, depicting the story of Arkansas death row inmate Kenneth Reams and his struggle for justice, was released in theatres in 2018. The film won four awards in international festivals, including the special jury prize at the Festival International du Cinema d'Alger (FICA) 2018. Widmann works for the Swiss TV magazines Mise au Point and Temps Présent. She won the journalism award Prix Dumur 2019 for her entire career and is married to the Swiss cartoonist Patrick Chappatte.
 

Karelle Ménine  is a Franco-Swiss artist. In 2006 she was involved in the campaign against prison overcrowding led by Bernard Bolze. She edited the book "9m2", inviting personalities such as Raymond Depardon, Florence Aubenas, Cabu, Honoré, Nancy Huston and Marie Desplechin to express their views on the issue of respect for the numerus clausus. 
For these works, she was awarded the Prix de la Fondation Pittard-de-l'Andelyn 2023.

 

Valentine Cuny-Le Callet is an author and illustrator. She won the award "Prix BD Fnac France Inter 2023".
Cuny-Le Callet is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Paris. She is currently working on a thesis in visual arts and contemporary creation at the Université Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne. The subject of her thesis is "Témoigner et résister dans le couloir de la mort : contraintes, censure et Do It Yourself".
She is particularly interested in the practice of visual arts by prisoners on death row in the United States. 

 

Alexa Bakony

Born in Hungary in 1992, Alexa Bakony (she/her) studied documentary filmmaking at the University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest (SZFE). Her main focus is on human relations. 

Her first feature-length documentary ‘Colors of Tobi’ is about Eva, a protective mother of a transgender teenager who has mixed feelings as her child, Tobias, struggles not only with his gender identity but also with who he is as a person. An emotional, years-long journey about releasing, accepting - and finding yourself.
 

Azeem Rafiq

Azeem Rafiq is an English cricketer who played professionally in England for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He captained the England under-15 and under-19 sides, and in 2012 became the youngest man to captain a Yorkshire side as well as the first person of Asian origin to do so.

In September 2020, Rafiq made accusations of racism and bullying in Yorkshire. An independent report found that a number of his accusations were true and the case became a major media story in the United Kingdom. It led to several resignations at the club and was the subject of investigations.

Chris Lubbe

Chris Lubbe, former bodyguard to Nelson Mandela,  is an international motivational speaker who is passionate about people. He believes that we all have the ability to make a positive impact and make the world a better place so that in the future no person ever gets judged by skin colour or ethnicity.

Chris has worked with great leaders including Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Oliver Tambo, FW De Klerk, Colin La Foy and credits his amazing parents Wilfred and Gladys Lubbe for teaching him the true meaning of humanity and most of all, how to love unconditionally.

Pierre Hazan and David Pratt

Conversation between Pierre Hazan, international mediator in armed conflicts and David Pratt, journalist known for his war reporting and photography.

Pierre Hazan is a senior advisor with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, one of the main organizations in armed conflict mediation. He has advised international organizations, governments and armed groups on questions related to justice, amnesty, reparation, truth commission, forced disappearances, international humanitarian law, and human rights.  In March 2022, Pierre became a Richard von Weizsäcker fellow at the Robert-Bosch Foundation in Berlin. 
He has worked with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and collaborated with the United Nations in the Balkans. He was a member of the International Contact Group on the Basque Conflict, which co-organized in 2011 the Peace Conference that led to the end of political violence in the Basque country. He has worked in many conflict zones in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and in Europe. Since November 2021 and to December 2022, Pierre Hazan was also a Commissioner of the French Independent Commission on Reparation and Reconciliation for sexual abuses committed by members of Catholic congregations.

David Pratt is a Scottish author, filmmaker, photographer, and journalist who has been named Scottish Journalist of the Year, Reporter of the Year, and Feature Writer of the Year. Pratt is known for his war reporting and photography, which was featured in the 2020 documentary Pictures from Afghanistan and the 2022 documentary Pictures from Iraq. He is the author of Intifada – The Long Day of Rage.
 

Middle-Eastern Dialogue Series

Four guest speakers addressed our student body during the months of November and December 2023, giving diverse perspectives on the situation in the Middle East. 

Ravina Shamdasani - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson
Elena Mankusi - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) spokesperson
Gadi Baltiansky - Israeli peace activist and former spokesperson for the Israeli government
Ibrahim Abu Ahmad - Arab/Israeli peace activist

Emily Howard

Born in Liverpool and now based in Manchester, Emily Howard graduated in mathematics and computer science from Oxford University before studying composition at the RNCM and the University of Manchester. Howard has been passionate about music since her early years, while playing cello and exploring new sound possibilities. She wrote her first piece at the age of 10. Emily Howard will explain how she uses mathematical patterns to compose her music, and how mathematics can be creative and fun.

 

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian author. She was held in an Iranian jail for over 5 years after having been wrongly accused of spying for Britain. Her story is very powerful as she was held in solitary confinement and went on a hunger strike. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was working at Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charity organisation that operates independently of Thomson Reuters and Reuters News, as an aid worker at the time of her arrest.

 

Nichola McKee

Nichola McKee is Lyra McKee’s sister, who was a journalist and author, and was murdered in 2019 during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry, Northern Ireland. Nichola gives a very inspirational and passionate talk on emotion, hurt and hope.

 

 

 

Thomas Sparrow

Thomas Sparrow, journalist at Deutsche Welt (DW), grew up in Colombia speaking English, Spanish and German. He studied in Poland, worked in Spain and the United States and has been based in Germany since 2015. Reflecting this international perspective, understanding how different cultures view the world is Thomas' biggest passion as a journalist.
Thomas is also a member of DW's fact-checking team and trains other journalists in live TV and reporting responsibly on breaking news and will speak about journalism in a central European context.

 

Alison Cope

Alison Cope is an activist against knife crime. In 2013, her son Joshua Ribera was murdered leaving her with an eagerness to act against violence. She now helps prevent youth violence by sharing her son’s unique life and death story to help educate young people on the realities and consequences of youth violence. Her powerful presentations convey: the importance of prevention, the emotive realisation of how choices affect loved ones and how young people retain hope for the future. She uses her resilience and strength to educate and support others in seeing a future beyond negative experiences.

 

Michael Barton

Michael Barton, autistic keynote speaker and author aims to spread the message of autism and neurodiversity. Drawing on over 30 years' lived experience as an autistic person, he offers insights and perspectives that are both illuminating and transformative. https://www.michaelbarton.org.uk/ 

 

 

Dr Jim Down

Based in London, Dr Jim Down is a consultant in critical care and anaesthesia at University College London Hospitals. During the covid-19 pandemic, he was on a full-time, full-shift clinical rota in the UCH Intensive Care Unit. In 2021, Jim has written a fascinating book called Life Support, as an account of his experience treating covid-19 patients inside the UCH Intensive Care Unit as the pandemic took hold. His second book Life in the Balance: A Doctor's Stories of Intensive Care was published in 2023. 

 

Michel Bauden

"Testimony of resistance during the 2nd World War, tribute to René Bauden and the Compagnons de la Libération".

Michel Bauden is the son of René Bauden, a Compagnon de la Libération appointed in 1944. Since August 2022, Michel has been the departmental delegate for the Association des Familles de Compagnons de la Libération, whose aim is to preserve the memory of the 1038 Companions of the Liberation designated by General de Gaulle for their commitment since 1940 and who, on several occasions, worked for the liberation of France. He is also deputy delegate for Haute Savoie for the Fondation de la France Libre. This foundation keeps alive the memory of those few Frenchmen who enlisted between June 1940 and July 1943 in the army created by General de Gaulle after the Appeal of 18 June 1940". Conference in French.

Gary Younge

Gary Younge is a British journalist, author, and professor of sociology. He has written extensively on issues such as race, politics, and social justice. Younge has worked for various prominent publications, including The Guardian and The Nation.

Younge is known for his insightful commentary and in-depth reporting on topics ranging from international affairs to domestic politics, often exploring the intersections of race, class, and identity. He has received numerous awards for his journalism and continues to be a prominent voice in the media landscape.

Gary Younge has authored several books, including "No Place Like Home: A Black Briton's Journey Through the American South" and "Who Are We - And Should It Matter in the 21st Century?"

_{Copyright: Stephan Röhl, CC by-SA2.0}

Anna McNuff

Anna McNuff is an adventurer and award-winning sports personality. She has undertaken bold adventures around the world, often using sports as a means to challenge her personal limits and inspire others.

She is particularly well known for her long-distance running and cycling journeys through challenging terrains and diverse landscapes. She has garnered several awards and accolades for her sporting feats and achievements.

In addition to her individual exploits, Anna is also a motivational speaker and writer, sharing her experiences and insights through talks, books, and articles. She continues to inspire others to push their boundaries and live fulfilling lives.

Ian Shaw

Multi-award winner as best jazz vocalist, Ian Shaw has amassed a number of highly acclaimed internationally released albums and is a popular performer both in the UK and the US. He has been cited, along with Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling, as one of the world’s finest male jazz vocalists.

Ian Shaw is also a refugee rights activist. Fundraiser for Calais Refugees, Ian has been travelling to and from Calais for years to build shelters and help those in need. He actually took one of the small boats from Calais to Dover with a group. He will talk about his music and his engaged action for refugees.

 

Eileen Hofer and Christopher, with Christa Roth

The authors of the best-selling graphic novel "Audrey Hepburn" will speak about this epic figure of the 20th century.

Genevan scriptwriter Eileen Hofer and cartoonist Christopher pay a moving tribute to Audrey Hepburn in this illustrated biography, which includes an unpublished interview with the actress's youngest son, Luca Dotti.

Christa Roth talked about Audrey Hepburn's role as UNICEF ambassador for children's rights.

 

Holly Hyun Choe

Holly Hyun Choe is the associate artist of the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève for the 2023 to 2026 seasons. 

Born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, she impresses with her presence and charisma on stage. For the past two seasons, she has been assistant conductor at the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich under Paavo Järvi. During this period, she conducted the Orchestre de Paris, the Sinfonieorchester Basel, the Orchestre national de Metz and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. 

Schools interested in attending the Educational concert at 14:00 can contact centredesarts@ecolint.ch.

Photo credit: Nile Scott

Our 300 speakers since 2014!

Archives 2014-2022

• Adam Michnik, Polish historian, essayist, former dissident, and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza
• Adam Smith, Food waste activist and former chef
• Adèle Zufferey, Head psychotherapist for the Fondation Agnodice active in supporting the integration and well-being of transgender and/or non-binary persons
• Agnes Kaposi, British-Hungarian engineer, author and Holocaust survivor
• Akiko Fujimoto, Japanese jiuta musician
• Alastair Campbell, British journalist, author, strategist, broadcaster and activist
• Alastair Humphreys, British adventurer, author and motivational speaker
• Alberto Vollmer, Chair and CEO of Ron Santa Teresa and Founder of Project Alcatraz in support of the rehabilitation and reintegration of gang members in Venezuela
• Aletheia Casey, Australian photographer and founding member of Lumina Collective
• Alex Brooker, British journalist, presenter and comedian - Alfred M. Worden, American astronaut and engineer, and one of the pilots for the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971
• Allan Little, former BBC researcher, reporter and special correspondent - "Allan Little on Trump, BBC bias and post-truth", interview by The Update (2016)
• Ana Waddington, emergency department nurse, founder of YourStance and La Grande Boissière (2007) alumna
• Angela Davis, American political activist, philosopher, academic and author 
• Angela Rayner, British politician
• Anita Studer, Swiss-born ornithologist, conservationist, ecologist and founder of the Nordesta Association for the preservation of the rainforest and the protection of isolated indigenous populations
• Anna Birley, Policy Officer at The Co-Operative Party and co-founder of Reclaim These Streets
• Anna Harrison, Activist with Extinction Rebellion - Conference by Anna Harrison for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Antonio Skármeta, Chilean writer
• Ariel Nasr, Afghan film director and writer
• Athar Sultan-Khan, UN diplomat, Dean and Professor of International Relations at Geneva School of Diplomacy and Ecolint alumnus (LGB '74)
• Avraham Roet, Dutch Holocaust survivor
• Axun Lasa & Maixabel Lasa, Basque anti-terrorist and anti-torture activists
• B8 of Hope, Swiss non-profit association which supports peacebuilding and change-making Palestinian and Israel civil society and grassroots initiatives - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Baptiste Lavie, Researcher at the Department of Astronomy of the University of Geneva
• Barbara Hendricks, American operatic soprano and concert singer
• Ben Helfgott, Polish-born British Holocaust survivor and former weightlifting champion
• Ben Powless, Mohawk documentary photographer, videographer, writer and activist involved in the Indigenous rights and environmental justice movement - Conference by Ben Powless for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Ben Smith, British runner and charity campaigner for anti-bullying organisations
• Bertrand Piccard, initiator and pioneer behind Solar Impulse, the first airplane capable of flying perpetually without fuel
• Bill Morrison, Author, speaker and EMEA Managing Director for Sandler - Conference by Bill Morrison for La Grande Boissière students in January 2021
• Boris Izaguirre, Venezuelan-Spanish screenwriter, journalist, writer, TV host and showman
• Boris Volodarsky, English historian and former captain in Russia's special forces
• Bree Newsome, American filmmaker, musician, speaker and activist, best known for her act of civil disobedience of June 2015, when she removed the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house grounds in the aftermath of the Charleston church shooting
• Breyten Breytenbach, South African writer and painter known for his opposition to apartheid and consequent imprisonment by the South African government
• Brian Keenan, Northern Irish writer who spent four and half years as a hostage in Beirut from 1986 to 1990 - "Brian Keenan on being held hostage in Beirut", interview by The Update (2018)
• Brie Mathers, American motivational speaker
• Carey Kirk, Psychotherapist specialised in mental health of children and adolescents - Conference by Carey Kirk for Campus des Nations parents in March 2021
• Carina Tyrrell, British-Swiss public health physician, charity ambassador and beauty competition titleholder, and alumna of La Châtaigneraie - Conference by Carina Tyrrell for La Châtaigneraie students in March 2021
• Carly McLachlan, Director of Tyndall Manchester and Associate Director of the ESRC Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation
• Celine van Till, International para-equestrian dressage rider and athlete
• Chemmy Crawford-Alcott, English former World Cup alpine ski racer
• Chris Bail, Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at Duke University
• Chris Bonington, British mountaineer - "Chris Bonington: World renowned Mountaineer", interview The Update (2018)
• Chris Hines, British environmental activist
• Chris Jewell, exploratory caver and cave diver
• Chris Jones, Food systems specialist active in the field of sustainable urbanism - Conference by Chris Jones for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Chris Powell, English football coach and former player
• Christopher Bickerton, university lecturer in politics at the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge - "Dr Chris Bickerton on the aftermath of Brexit and voting leave from the left", interview by The Update (2016)
• Christopher O'Shaughnessy, Author, speaker and Third Culture Kid
• Ciara Judge, Irish scientist and public speaker
• Ciaran Jenkins, Welsh reporter, best known for his investigations into bogus academics and fraud
• Clara Rowe, Country Head for Mexico and Central America at Earthworm Foundation
• Clint Smith, American writer, poet and scholar and author of Counting Descent
• Clive Woodward, World Cup winning Head Coach for England's rugby team
• Colin Jackson, Welsh former sprint and hurdling athlete
• Cristobal Soriano, Spanish Civil War veteran and Holocaust survivor
• Cynthia Miller Idriss, award-winning author and scholar of extremism and radicalisation
• Danau Tanu, Research fellow at the universities of Western Australia and Waseda, Japan, and author of Growing Up in Transit: The Politics of Belonging at an International School
• Daniel Egger, Chief Commercial Officer at Climeworks
• Daniel von Moltke, Grandson of anti-Nazi resistance fighters Verner von Haeften and Helmuth James Graf von Moltke
• David Grossman, Israeli author
• David Hawley, Director General of the International School of Geneva
• David Harewood, British actor and presenter
• David Johns, British stand-up comedian, actor and writer, best known for his breakthrough role as Daniel Blake in the film I, Daniel Blake
• David Johnson, Former British footballer - Interview by The Update (2018)
• David Lammy, British politician and Tottenham MP
• David Nabarro, CBE, Special Envoy on Covid-19 for the World Health Organization
• David Olusoga, British-Nigerian historian, author, presenter, and Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester
• David Pratt, Scottish author, filmmaker, photographer and journalist
• Dawn Astle, daughter of former England West Bromwich Albion football Jeffrey Astle and co-founder of the Jeff Astle Foundation - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Dominique Vidaud, Associate professor of history at the University of Lyon II-Lumière and director of the Maison d'Izieu, the memorial for Jewish children who were deported and exterminated
• Ed Winters, Vegan educator and public speaker
• Edith Hall, Professor of ancient Greek literature in the Classics department and Centre for Hellenic Studies at King's College London
• Eduardo Belgrano Rawson, Argentinian novelist
• Edurne Pasaban Lizarribar, Basque Spanish mountaineer, the first woman to climb all fourteen 8000m peaks in the world
• Edward Flaherty, Irish-American lawyer, and the founder and senior partner of the law firm Schwab, Flaherty & Associés
• Eleonore Guérineau & Alessio Carbone, Dancers at the Opéra de Paris
• Emanuele Capobianco, Director of Health and Care at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) - Conference by Emanuele Capobianco for La Châtaigneraie students in December 2020
• Emily Hunter, Canadian activist, author and filmmaker, and the daughter of the late Robert Hunter, first president of Greenpeace
• Ernest Simon, Holocaust survivor
• Ernst Ostertag, Swiss LGBT rights activist
• Estela de Carlotto, Argentine human rights activist and president of the Association of Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo
• Eva & Zigor Arguiñano, Spanish chefs
• Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and memoirist, and the stepdaughter of Otto Frank, the father of Margot and diarist Anne Frank - "Eva Schloss - Holocaust survivor and step-sister of Anne Frank", interview by The Update (2016)
• Evan Tyner, Expert on security issues, political violence and terrorism
• Ewen MacAskill, Scottish journalist who helped in preparing the publication disclosures from Edward Snowden
• Fergal Keane, Irish foreign correspondent with BBC News and author
• Fergus McCreadie Trio, band
• Frédéric Fatio, Radio producer at Radio Télévision Suisse
• Gab Murphy, Australian environmental and sustainable fashion activist
• Gabriela Montero, Venezuelan pianist, known for her real-time improvisation of complex musical pieces on themes suggested by her audience
• Gary Gibbon, British journalist - "Gary Gibbon: TV Impartiality Rules, Privacy of Politicians and His Path to Journalism", interview by The Update (2018)
• Gary Lewis, British actor known for his roles in Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York, Eragon and Three and Out
• Gary Younge, British journalist, author, broadcaster and academic - Conference by Gary Younge for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Genevie Fernandes, Research fellow in global health governance and respiratory health at the Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics of the University of Edinburgh - Conference by Genevie Fernandes for La Châtaigneraie students in November 2020
• Germaine Greer, Theorist, academic and journalist known for her feminist views - "Germaine Greer on anti-feminists, transgender and how equality feminism is not enough", interview by The Update (2015)
• Gib Bulloch, Speaker, writer and facilitator on the role of business in society - Conference by Gib Bulloch for La Châtaigneraie students in December 2020
• Giles Duley, photographer, writer, chef, presenter and the CEO of the Legacy of War Foundation
• Gilles Lipovetsky, French essayist and professor of French and Philosophy at the University in Grenoble
• Gillian Slovo, South African novelist, playwright and memoirist
• Graeme Le Saux, Paul Canonville & Pat Nevin, Retired English and Scottish footballers
• Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine
• Hani Abbas & Chappatte, Syrian-Palestinian and Lebanese-Swiss cartoonists
• Hannah Cockroft, British Paralympic wheelchair racer specialising in sprint distances
• Hans Brattskar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva
• Harriet Wistrich, English solicitor and radical feminist specialised in human rights cases, and co-founder of Justice for Women
• Heather Meyer, Researcher on education at the University of Warwick and author of The Global Imaginary of International School Communities (2021)
• Heather White, Filmmaker who has documented the human rights situation in China
• Héctor Abad Faciolince, Colombian novelist, essayist, journalist and editor
• Helen Czerski, Physicist, oceanographer, television presenter and researcher in the field of temperature, ocean bubbles, bubbles acoustics, air-sea gas transfers and ocean bubble optics at University College London
• Helen Lewis, British journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic
• Helen Pankhurst, British international development and women's rights activist, and the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders of the British suffragette movement
• Helen Sharpe, Researcher in body image, disorder eating, adolescent development, depression and low mood at the University of Edinburgh
• Henry Evans, British scientist, explorer and science communicator
• Honey Thaljieh, Co-founder of the Palestinian Women's National Football Team and the first woman to play football professionally in Palestine - "Honey Thaljieh - Captain of Palestinian football team", interview by The Update (2015)
• Howard Gayle, British retired footballer, the first black player to play for Liverpool in the early 1980s - "Howard Gayle on racism in football and turning down a MBE", interview by The Update (2017)
• Ian Paisley Jr, Northern Ireland Member of Parliament
• Iñaki Gabilondo, Spanish journalist and TV news anchor
• Indhu Rubasingham, MBE, English theatre director - Conference by Indhu Rubasingham for La Châtaigneraie students in January 2021
• International Bridges to Justice
• International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
• Irene Villa, Spanish author, press and radio journalist, and terrorist attack survivor - "Irene Villa: Spanish terror attack victim and journalist", interview by The Update (2017)
• Isabel Jaramillo Edwards, Former secretary to Chilean president Salvador Allende during the 1973 coup d'État
• Izzeldin Abuelaish, Canadian-Palestinian doctor and author, the first Palestinian doctor to work in an Israeli hospital
• Jackie Long, Social Affair Editor and presenter for Channel 4 News
• Jacky Mulveen, Women's rights activist working in support of victims of domestic abuse - Conference by Jacky Mulveen for La Châtaigneraie students in March 2021
• Jacques Dubochet, Nobel prizewinner and Emeritus Professor of biophysics at the University of Lausanne
• Jade Hameister, Australian explorer and environmentalist
• Jalinka Michaux, Senior Communications Manager for the International Basketball Federation and former basketball player
• James Breiding, Author of Swiss Made, The Untold Story Behind Switzerland's Success - Conference by James Breiding for La Grande Boissière students in December 2020
• James Eddis, Head of History, La Grande Boissière
• Jean Ziegler, Swiss sociologist and former politician - Conference of Jean Ziegler at La Grande Boissière in January 2019
• Jean-Claude Wicky, Swiss photographer noted for his series on Bolivian miners
• Jean-Luc Cressier, Co-founder of the radio programme Métissages
• Jennifer Cole, biological anthropologist and research fellow in the Department of Geography and Centre for Research into Sustainability of Royol Holloway, University of London
• Jenny Coady, Performance Coach for West Ham United Women and former international basketball player
• Jerome Elam, Writer, US Marine Corps veteran and survivor of child abuse, sex trafficking and child pornography - Interview by The Update (2018)
• Jess Phillips, British Labour Party politician and advocate for the rights of women and victims of domestic abuse
• Joanne Anderson, British Labour Party politician
• Jocelyn Bell Burnell, astrophysicist and Visiting Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford
• Joëlle Payom, founder of Rezalliance
• John Barnes, MBE, former professional football player and manager
• John Carlin, British journalist and author
• John Finucane, Irish lawyer, Sinn Féin politician and the son of Irish human rights lawyer Pat Finucane
• John H. McCall MacBain, Founder, Director and Chair of the McCall MacBain Foundation
• John McCarthy, Irish-American Switzerland-based former president of Republicans Abroad
• John Pilger, Australian journalist and BAFTA award-winning documentary filmmaker
• Jon Snow, British journalist and television presenter, best known as the longest-running presenter of Channel 4 News - "Jon Snow on fake news, Jeremy Corbyn and Trump", interview by The Update (2017)
• Jon Sopel, writer, broadcaster and political journalist
• Jonathan Cohen, Executive Director of the peacebuilding organisation Conciliation Resources
• Jorge Edwards, Chilean novelist, journalist and diplomat
• Joseba Errekalde, Founder of the Harribeltza Association in support of the fight against HIV/AIDS
• Josh Bayliss, CEO of the Virgin Group
• Juan Villoro, Mexican writer and journalist, and the son of philosopher Luis Villoro
• Julie Bindel, English writer, radical feminist, and co-founder of the law-reform group Justice for Women
• Juliet Jacques, British journalist, critic and writer of short fiction, known for her work on the transgender experience - "Juliet Jacques on LGBT rights and the transgender experience", interview by The Update (2017)
• Junior Nzita Nsuami, Former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, author and child rights advocate
• Justin Webb, British journalist - "Justin Webb on Impartiality, BBC bias and Trump", interview The Update (2017)
• Kamila Shamsie, British-Pakistani novelist - "Kamila Shamsie on Home Fire, Writing and Radicalisation", interview by The Update (2018)
• Kariann Akemi Yokota, Associate Professor of History at the University of Colorado Denver specialising in transnational relations in the era of the American Revolution, interethnic relations in the 20th century, and material and visual culture - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Karla Ruiz Cofiño, digital strategist and social media specialist, entrepreneur, speaker, social and women's rights activist
• Karlos Zurutuza, Basque freelance war journalist
• Kate Adie, British journalist and former chief news correspondent for BBC News
• Kate Devlin, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Digital Humanities at King's College London, researcher in the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and author
• Katherine Grainger, British rower, Olympic medallist and Great Britain's most decorated female Olympian
• Katie Gaskell & Kim Girardet, Activists in support of people with eating disorders
• Keme Nzerem, Nigerian British journalist
• Kenton Cool, British mountaineer, alpinist and mountain guide
• Keren Goldstein, Israeli documentary film director, activist and creator of the international art installation She's Gone in protest of gender-based violence
• Khairollah Alemi, Former Afghan refugee
• Kirmen Uribe, Basque writer
• Kristian Parker, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Oak Foundation and environmental advocate
• Laura Bates, British feminist writer and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project
• Lemn Sissay, English author and broadcaster
• Leonardo Padura Fuentes, Cuban novelist and journalist
• Leroy Logan, MBE, British author, founding member and chair of the Black Police Association
• Leroy Roseinor, Joe Lyons & Bryan Glover, West Ham United football club staff - Interview by The Update (2015)
• Levi Tafari,  British poet, actor and Urban Griot
• Lewis Pugh, British-South African endurance swimmer and ocean advocate
• Leyla Hussein, Somali psychotherapist and social activist against female genital mutilation - "Leyla Hussein: FGM and gender rights activist", interview by The Update (2017)
• Lindsey Cole, British adventurer best known for walking the rabbit proof fence to raise awareness about Aboriginal rights in Australia
• Liv Arnesen, Norwegian educator, cross-country skier, adventurer, guide and motivation speaker, best known as the first woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole
• Loïs Meyhoffer, Ecolint's first student
• Lorenzo Niola, entrepreneur working on impact tech ventures that drive social change
• Louise Gibson, Elite cyclist and activist advocating for women's participation in the Tour de France and other cycling events
• Luc Ferry, French essayist and professor of philosophy
• Luc Moreau, Glaciologist
• Luis Cardoso, East Timorese writer
• Luke Lambourne, Media Manager at Leyton Orient Football Club - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Maboula Soumahoro, author and specialist in Afro-American studies and the Black African diaspora
• Manuel Rivas, Spanish Galician writer, poet and journalist, and a founding member of Greenpeace Spain
• Manuela Carmena Castrillo, Former lawyer, judge, Mayor of Madrid and advocate against arbitrary detention and police abuse
• Marc Herremans, Belgian triathlete and motivational speaker
• Marc Silver, British filmmaker - Interview by The Update (2016)
• Marcia Rigg, civil rights campaigner regarding deaths in police custody and police treatment of suspects with mental health issues - "Marcia Rigg: 'Their deaths must not be in vain'", interview by The Update (2017)
• Margaret Harris, Spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), member of their Covid-19 response team and public health doctor - Conference by Margaret Harris for La Châtaigneraie students in September 2020
• Margaret Humphreys, British social worker and author who brought to public attention the UK government's Home Children programme
• Margaret Oliver, English former Detective Constable with the Greater Manchester Police
• María Bueno, Spanish activist for the rights of mothers whose babies were stolen during the Francoist era and later decades of Spain's history
• Maria Van Kerkhove, American infectious disease epidemiologist and technical lead for the Covid-19 response at the World Health Organization (WHO) - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Marina Litvinenko, Human rights activist
• Marion Deichmann, Holocaust survivor - "Marion Deichmann: Holocaust survivor", interview by The Update (2018)
• Mark Stewart, film-maker, executive producer, and the son of Formula 1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart
• Martin Griffiths, Executive Director of the European Institute of Peace
• Martine Wright, British sitting volleyball player
• Matt Ellison, transgender speaker
• Matt Frei, British television news journalist and writer
• Matt Lindenberg, South African conservationist and founder of the Global Conservation Corps
• Mattia Fochesato, Assistant Professor at the Department of Social and Political Science of Bocconi University
• Mauricio Rosencof, Uruguayan playwright, poet and journalist, and former leader and member of the Tupamaros
• Max Lobe, Cameroonian writer, inspired by African literature and tales
• Maxime Chaya, Lebanese sportsman, mountaineer and explorer
• Maya Azucena, American singer-songwriter, cultural ambassador and advocate for women's rights
• Maya Youssef, Syrian qanun musician, composer and peace activist
• Michael D. Aeschliman, Emeritus professor of Education at Boston University, professor of Anglophone Culture at the University of Italian Switzerland, and curriculum advisor to the TASIS Foundation Board
• Michael Beckmann, Former GDR political prisoner, conscientious objector against the East German State and torture survivor
• Michael Møller, Danish diplomat and former Director General of the UN at Geneva - "Michael Møller, UN Director General: UN Israeli bias, Security Council and the Media", interview by The Update (2017)
• Michel Tirabosco, Swiss pan flutist
• Michelangelo Pistoletto, Italian painter, action and object artist, art theorist and one of the main representatives of the Italian Arte Povera
• Michèle Lehmann, Founder of Killthesilence.org in support of people suffering from mental illness and any associated stigma and discrimination, and alumna of La Grande Boissière
• Mick Jackson, Entrepreneur, author and founder of the WildHearts Group in support of companies that fight social and economic injustice
• Mikel Urmeneta, Spanish cartoonist and artist
• Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Filipino peace negotiator - "Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Religion and the role of Women in Peace", interview by The Update (2017)
• Monica McWilliams, Northern Irish academic, peace activist, human rights defender and former politician
• Mukesh Kapila, Former Under Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and former Special Adviser to the UNHCR and the UN Mission in Afghanistan - "Mukesh Kapila on the Darfur Genocide, Donald Trump and ICC bias", interview by The Update (2017)
• Nadine Kessler, Retired German football and UEFA Head of Women's Football -Conference by Nadine Kessler for La Châtaigneraie students in March 2021
• Nagore Iriberri, Spanish research professor at the Department of Foundations of Economic Analysis I, University of the Basque Country
• Nathalie Fletcher, Canadian philosopher
• Nawal al-Maghafi, Yemeni-British journalist and filmmaker
• Naz Shah, British Labour Party politician
• Niall de Búrca, Irish traditional storyteller - Interview by The Update (2018)
• Niall Wass, Partner at international investment firm Atomico and former Executive at Uber
• Nicholas James, Neuroscientist at the G-Lab Upcourtine of the Center for Neuroprosthetic and Brain Mind Institute of the Life Science School at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) - Conference by Nicholas James for La Grande Boissière students in April 2021
• Nick Cullen, COP Logistics Officer for Stop Climate Chaos Switzerland - Conference by Nick Cullen for La Châtaigneraie students in October 2021
• Nick Robinson, British journalist - "Nick Robinson: Brexit, BBC and Freedom of Speech", interview by The Update (2017)
• Nicola Benyahia, Counsellor and mother of a radicalised youth
• Nicolò Govoni, Italian writer and human rights activist - Conference by Nicolò Govoni for La Grande Boissière students in December 2021
• Nimisha Ladva, Storyteller and writer
• Noëlle Revaz & Michael Stauffer, Swiss authors
• Olga Navarro, Project Manager for the Goumbook Initiative and active member of the Drop It campaign against plastic bottles
• Olga Sinclair, Panamanian artist and figurative painter
• Oliver Morgan, Senior Research and Teaching Assistant at the Department of English Language and Literature, University of Geneva
• Ondjaki, Angolan writer
• Orlando Figes, British historian - "Orlando Figes on the Russian revolution, Putin and History", interview by The Update (2017)
• Oscar Brenifier, Philosopher
• Owen Jones, British columnist, author, commentator and political activist - "Owen Jones on the North-South divide and foreign buyer tax housing", "Owen Jones on the challenge Jeremy Corbyn faces", "Owen Jones on ISIS, Nuclear Disarmament and Brexit"
• Paige Harden, American psychologist and behaviour geneticist, Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin
• Pamela Hamamoto, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva
• Pamela Ohene-Nyako, doctoral researcher and assistant in the History Department at the University of Geneva
• Paolo Naldini, CEO of Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto
• Pascal Couchepin, Swiss politician and former President of the Swiss Confederation
• Patrick Low, Former Chief Economist at the World Trade Organization and Adjunct Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute - Conference by Patrick Low for La Châtaigneraie students in January 2021
• Patrick Lunt, entrepreneur and founder of Offgrid Humanitarianism
• Patrick Magee & Jo Berry, Former IRA volunteer known as the "Brighton bomber" and British peace activist and public speaker, the daughter of Anthony Berry, one of the victims of Patrick Magee
• Paul Canoville, English former professional football and first black player to play for Chelsea FC
• Paul Elliott, Former British footballer
• Paul-Olivier Dehaye, Mathematician and founder of PersonalData.IO and Hestia.AI
• Paula Fouce, American filmmaker and author
• Paula Radcliffe, British long-distance runner, three-time winner of the London Marathon and one of the fastest female marathoners of all time
• Pauline Tangiora, Maori leader for peace and justice - "Pauline Tangiora: Maori elder and environmental activist", interview by The Update (2017)
• Peter Salama, Deputy Director General of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the WHO
• Peter Tatchell, Human rights campaigner, member of the gay rights group OutRage! and director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation - "Peter Tatchell on the Age of Consent and his comment on paedophilia","Peter Tatchell on bombing in Syria, LGBT+ rights & Stop Murder Music", interview by The Update (2015)
• Petra Volpe, Swiss screenwriter and film director, best known for directing The Divine Order - "Petra Volpe on 'The Divine Order', Filmmaking and Feminism", interview by The Update (2018)
• Phil Scraton, criminologist, academic and author, best known for his investigation into the context, circumstances and aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster - "Phil Scraton on Hillsborough and turning down an OBE", interview by The Update (2017)
• Pip Stewart, Adventurer, journalist and presenter
• Plantu, French cartoonist
• Porter Halyburton, Vietnam War veteran
• Pritha Mani, Child and adolescent counsellor with extensive experience in mental health
• Proactiva Open Arms
• Rachel Asante-Osuwu, Programme Manager at the Internationa Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Ranya Shamoon Naman, Senior Vice President of the Baby Care Europe Business at Procter & Gamble, and advocate for diversity and inclusion
• Raphael Minder, Swiss journalist
• Richard Ladkani, Documentary film director best known for The Ivory Game (2016) - Conference by Richard Ladkani for La Grande Boissière students in January 2021
• Richard Longden, Group Communications Manager at INEOS - Conference by Richard Longden for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Richard Moore, Founder of Children in Crossfire
• Rita French, UK Ambassador for Human Rights and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva - Conference by Rita French for La Châtaigneraie students in December 2020
• Rob Greenfield, American adventurer and environmental activist - Interview by The Update (2018)
• Robert Dann, Chief of Political Affairs in the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria
• Robert Eggington, Aboriginal spokesperson and executive officer of the Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation
• Robert Winston, British professor, doctor, scientist and television presenter
• Roland Chauville, Partnerships Lead for Switzerland at Oxfam - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Rosie Garthwaite, British war journalist
• Ruth Ibegbuna, Founder and former CEO of RECLAIM in support of working class young people - "Ruth Ibegbuna on Social Inequality and Young Peoples' Voices", interview by The Update (2018)
• Safe Ground, British association supporting the reintegration of prisoners into society
• Sammy Woodhouse, English activist against child sexual abuse
• Sarah Höfflin, Swiss freestyle skier and Olympics gold medallist
• Sarah Urquhart, Forest Green Rovers Football Club Community member - Conference by Sarah Urquhart for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Sarah Woolley, first female leader of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU) in the UK
• Saskia Keeley, Swiss photographer
• Satish Kumar, Indian British nuclear disarmament and peace activist and editor
• Scott M. Weber, French-American peacebuilding and conflict prevention specialist, and President of Interpeace
• Scott Poynton, Entrepreneur supporting companies adopt a values-based approach - Interview by The Update (2021)
• Sergio Ramírez, Nicaraguan writer, intellectual and former Vice President of Nicaragua
• Seth Berkley, American medical epidemiologist and CEO of the GAVI Alliance - Conference by Seth Berkley for La Châtaigneraie students in November 2020
• Shafiur Rahman, Documentary filmmaker - "Shafiur Rahman: 'Apartheid is operating there'", interview by The Update (2018)
• Shareefa & Paul, Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire - "Grenfell Fire survivor: People were screaming 'Don't jump, stay in your flats'", interview by The Update (2018)
• Siobhan Darrow, Former CNN reporter, Integrative Body Psychotherapist and Life Coach
• Sławomir Grünberg, Polish-born American documentary producer, director and camerman
• SOS Méditerranée, European maritime-humanitarian organisation for the rescue of life at sea
• Spring Gombe-Götz, Policy Advocacy Manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi)
• Stephen Doughty, Welsh Labour and Co-operative Party politician
• Stephen Reicher, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of St Andrews - Conference by Stephen Reicher for La Châtaigneraie students in January 2021
• Steve Cram, CBE, British retired track and field athlete and one of the world's dominant middle distance runners in the 1980s
• Stewart Maginnis, Global Director of the Nature-based Solution Group and Director of the Global Forest and Climate Change Programme at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Conference by Stewart Maginnis for La Châtaigneraie students in April 2021
• Swati Thiyagarajan, Indian conservationist, documentary filmmaker and environmental journalist
• Tamara Minick-Scokalo, Board member of the non-profit OHorizons.org
• Tariq Ali, British political activist, writer, journalist, historian and filmmaker
• Teresa Perales Fernández, Spanish Paralympic swimmer, politician and motivational speaker, and the most decorated Spanish Paralympian in history
• Theodore Dalrymple, British writer, retired prison doctor and psychiatrist
• The Techtonics, a capella group from Imperial College London
• Thibault Trancart, Swiss Paralympic skier
• Tim Flannery, Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer and author
• Tim Jarvis, environmental scientist, adventurer and author, best known for his record-breaking Antarctic expedition of 1999 - "Tim Jarvis: 25zero, Shackleton and climate change sceptics", interview by The Update (2016)
• Torie Bosch, author and editor working at the intersection of technology, culture and critique
• Umar Turaki, Nigerian writer and filmmaker - Conference by Umar Turaki for La Châtaigneraie students in June 2021
• Ute Eilenberger, German veterinarian specialised in wild gorillas
• Valerie Connaughton, Scientist in the Astrophysics Division at NASA
• Vince Cable, British politician "Vince Cable on Brexit, Tim Farron and Tuition Fees", interview by The Update (2017)
• Winnie Byanyima, Ugandan global women's rights leader and human rights defender. "Winnie Byanyima: Executive Director of Oxfam International", interview by The Update (2017)
• Yael Deckelbaum & Miriam Toukan, singers, songwriters and peace activists
• Yetnebersh Nigussie, Ethiopian lawyer and disability rights activist
• Yoani Sánchez Cordero, Cuban blogger
• Yossi Ghinsberg, Israeli adventurer, author, entrepreneur, humanitarian and motivational speaker
• Zarghuna Kargar, BBC World News journalist and author of Dear Zari, The Secret Lives of Women in Afghanistan
• Zeid bin Ra'ad al-Hussein, Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Zep, Swiss author of comics, best known for his album Titeuf