I was lucky to
achieve my first work practice within the institution of the ICRC 30 years ago.
Therefore I have been faced to conflicts which are not any more really of news
but I still keep a living memory of this period as well as of the intense
moments which I was able to live during these almost seven years of ground
experience.
Then, retrained in finance
and wealth management I have join the AAD in 2002 in order to find a little humanist
oxygen in a period of important
worldwide crisis. Member of the "Comité Romand” since 2004 and more
particularly active within the SAR and within the group Connexion, itself active
in giving assistance to the delegates to reintegrate the professional life in
Switzerland.
STRASSMANN Irma(Vice-President)
2001 – 2003
: ICRC-missions as WatSan in Burundi, Angola, Sri Lanka and Congo Kinshasa.
Back in
Switzerland in 2004 I started working for a private engineering company in the
Bern area. I live in Ostermundigen with my partner and our 7-months-old son.
With
support of the AAD/VED and thanks to its network a small active group has
formed around regular reunions that I organize in Bern. These meetings should
create a place for seeing friends, for exchanging ideas, for finding people who
understand questions that might come up after leaving ICRC.
KUHN Michèle (Secretary)
Born in Bern, Michèle
holds a degree in translation and a master of law. She spent five
years serving in the Swiss federal administration. She joined the ICRC in 1990
and worked as a delegate in Asia and
Africa, mainly in the realm of protection, but also of information /
dissemination of IHL and cooperation with national societies. In 1997 she was assigned
to the doctrine and cooperation unit at headquarters, acting, amongst other
tasks, as Madame Emblème.
She
left the ICRC at the end of 1999 and joined the AFD.
BUENZLI Kurt (Treasurer)
Kurt
originates from eastern Switzerland and lives nowadays together with his wife,
a former ICRC anesthesiologist and his children in Sarnen
OW. He studied history at the university of Zurich and has been working
for 25 years as a history teacher and historian. He does research in social and
economic history as well as autobiographies.
In 1988–90 he took the
opportunity to work for the ICRC in Afghanistan. The unique experience of this
mission induces him to join the Zurich section of the AFD, where he is now a
member of the executive committee. Similarly he gets involved with the
periodical meetings of former delegates in Bern and in Swiss high schools he
reports on his experience as a delegate of the ICRC.
VILLIGER Lucia (Member, Chapter Zürich)
Employed by the ICRC from 1981 until 1992, first as a case
handler in the CTA (Central Tracing Agency), then as a Delegate as of 1984 and
subsequently: Coordinator, Head of Desk and Deputy-Head of delegation, in
particular in protection / detention activities.
Left the ICRC to start a family life in Zürich (3 daughters,
age 13,15 and 17). Married to a journalist, she works part-time as an german
language adult trainer in integration projects. She is also active in a school
committee.
She has been an AFD member for 12 years, several of which on
the board of the Zürich Section and has been elected to the Central Committee
in 2007 and acts as the Webmaster for German-speaking Switzerland.
AMAR Francis (Member and Webmaster)
After
a long career at the service of the ICRC (2003-2005), Francis went back
to studying and works today as a Human Resources consultant (Coaching,
Training and Consulting). The rest of his time is dedicated to his
family, charitable and community life activities as well as sports and
various hobbies (Genealogy, IT and web design etc...)
He
joigned the Association in 2006 and was asked to set-up the new
website. He has since been active as its Webmaster / Administrator.
Member of the Central Commitee during two years (2006-2007).
He
wishes to pass-over his responsibilities as a Webmaster / Administrator
to a new volunteer and has indicated that he will ensure a smooth
transition until the designation of his successor.
KORNEVALL Christian (Coordinator Chapter International)
I am an economist by
training and of Swedish nationality. I worked for the Swedish Red Cross (SRC) before I became
employed by the ICRC in 1986. I was Head of the International Department,
coordinating the Swedish Red Cross’ international work and its relationship
with the Federation and the ICRC.
I stayed with the ICRC
for 10 years. Then I moved on to work for the UNDCP, WWF International, ABB and
now at the WBCSD.
I was contacted by the
AAD last year. I was asked to whether I could help to start a special
International Chapter of the AAD.I accepted. I have tried to kick-start a group
of interested people. I organized a few conference calls but the participation
was very limited. I also directly call up some people. It is clear that we
still need to develop the right concept to get people engaged living outside
Switzerland.
MUSY François(Member)
Having
spent 32 years in the ICRC both in the field and at headquarters, he is
presently working as a mediator at the "Bureau de l'Amiable
Compositeur" a body created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Geneva Governement to arbitrate labour dispute beetween diplomats
accredited in Geneva and their house hold.
He has been President of the "Suisse Romande Branch" of the AFD since
2005 with the ambition of enlarging recrutment, developping the
website, organizing events and building a strong partnership relation
with the ICRC. He his willing to continue to collaborate with the future local Chapters, once the new statutes will be adopted.
BRODIER Jean-Etienne (Coordinator Chapter Genève)
It is a fortunate visit to the RCRC Museum that brought me to the RCRC family in 1994, as a volunteer of the Geneva Red Cross, then 11 years in the ICRC in the headquarters and then in the field, and since 2006 the International Federation as Senior Officer in organizational development, manager of a Capacity Building Fund and Secretary of the Empress Shôken Fund. I have done a Master in Humanitarian action and a Diploma in non-profit management. In 2009-2010, I have helped the University of Geneva to create a Certificate of Advance Studies for voluntary organizations' managers and am in charge of the module Understanding strong voluntary organizations. I joined the Association of Former ICRC delegates in 2006 and had the pleasure to become coordinator of the Geneva Chapter in 2010.
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KUHN Michèle 
