Speakers and moderators

Dr. Urs Obrist

Senior Science and Technology Counsellor, Embassy of Switzerland in Canada

Urs Obrist is the Senior Science and Technology Counsellor at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ottawa. He graduated with a Ph.D. in International Relations History from the University of Toronto following his Master’s level studies in History, Political Science and English at the Université de Fribourg, Universität Bern and Providence College, Rhode Island. He has published a critically acclaimed monograph on Swiss-Vietnamese relations during the Cold War and was contributing writer for a study of Swiss banks during World War II. He has wide-ranging work experience as a researcher, in the banking industry, in journalism and as a university instructor. For several years, he taught as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University and was a full-time teacher at the Escuela Suiza de Barcelona. He was a Junior Fellow and Don of Hall at Massey College in Toronto and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. His current focus is on strengthening Swiss-Canadian cooperation in science and innovation as well as science diplomacy writ large. He has organized various Swiss-Canadian Innovation Days covering topics such as personalized medicine, polar research, innovation in education, autonomous vehicles or neuroscience research collaboration.

Why attend

  • Over 600 attendees from the global youth and student travel industry
  • 150+ pre-selected buyers
  • Up to 48 pre-scheduled business appointments
  • 92% senior management attendees
  • 25 seminars and workshops
  • Up to 7 networking events