WA-SDT Advisory board

The Advisory Board consists of esteemed experts and influential individuals who provide valuable guidance, expertise, and strategic insights to assist WA-SDT in achieving its goals and making informed decisions for long-term success.

Drawing on decades of combined experience across international finance, banking, technology, diplomacy, and public policy, Advisory Board members contribute an independent, outside perspective that complements the work of the Executive Committee. Their counsel helps WA-SDT anticipate emerging trends in sustainable digital transformation, navigate complex regulatory and geopolitical environments, and ensure that its programmes remain relevant, credible, and impactful across its four priority regions — Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Advisory Board members are invited for their recognized standing in their respective fields and their alignment with WA-SDT’s mission and values. While they hold no formal decision-making authority within the association’s governance structure, their insights inform the strategic direction set by the Executive Committee and help shape flagship initiatives such as the Digital Transformation Symposium Davos (DTS.DAVOS), the Digital Transformation Update series, and WA-SDT’s Learning Expeditions.

Through this close collaboration between seasoned advisors and the association’s leadership, WA-SDT ensures that its work remains grounded in real-world expertise and responsive to the evolving needs of the communities and industries it serves.

Mr. Kummer studied law at the University of St. Gallen. Already during his studies he co-founded a start-up company with core competencies in the areas of business intelligence, e-commerce and internet applications. In 2007 he was admitted to the bar of St. Gallen. Since 2009 he is mentor at the University of St. Gallen and since January 2011 lecturer at the GET Kaderschule in Winterthur (employment law, communication law). In November 2011 he completed his Master of European and International Business Law at the University of St. Gallen (M.B.L.-HSG) and in September 2014 his Master in International Business Law at the University of Zurich with a specialization in Banking & Finance Law (LL.M.). He advises and litigates before state courts as well as (international) arbitration tribunals, mainly in the areas of corporate, commercial, contract, banking and capital markets law, FinTech / Blockchain / Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) / Token Generating Events (TGE), mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, employment, construction and inheritance law.

MICHAEL KUMMER

After some 20 years in this industry Tom has comprehensive knowledge about the major challenges and opportunities the industry is facing, and a network nationally and globally of some of the amazing changemakers that will help to solve them. In addition he has worked extensively with executive education and talent management, entrepreneurship and innovation, and media. His professional background includes obtaining venture capital, overviewing due diligence, general management, project management, and marketing. He has a strong entrepreneurial character and is internationally oriented and connected.He is also an experienced board member and chairman for start-ups, including the ones he has co-founded.

TOM O. KLEPPESTØ

Felix is a higher education consultant at Berinfor, focusing on organizational strategies and change management, specialized in designing learning experiences and cross-media storytelling, built upon fifteen years of experience in digital publishing and strategic communication. His research concentrates on the impact of emergent digital and blended learning forms on knowledge organizations, stemming from my past roles as a Senior Fellow at the University of St. Gallen’s Teaching Innovation Lab and a research assistant at IMP-HSG. Furthermore, he contributes to the field's policy and development as a member of Germany's national Forum for Digitization in Higher Education and as a co-author of the Whitepaper on MOOC potentials for the German Rector's Conference.

Felix C. SEYFARTH

Martin Hilb is Professor Emeritus of Business Administration with a special focus on human resource management at the University of St. Gallen. From 1985 to 2000 he taught at the University of Dallas (Texas), the Singapore Management University and the EIASM in Brussels. Before his academic career, he worked for Nestlé in Vevey, Martin & Co in Berlin and Schering-Plough in Kenilworth (New Jersey), most recently as Director of Essex Chemie. He has worldwide consulting experience in the field of board and human resource management. He is currently Managing Director of the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management (I.FPM) at the University of St. Gallen. He is a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Swiss Institute of Directors (SIOD), an association that aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience among active board members of companies and organizations in Switzerland.

WA-SDT Advisory board