The Swiss Polar Institute (SPI) is pleased to welcome Stéphanie Lacour (EPFL) to its Foundation Board, and Carlo Barbante (Ca’ Foscari), Thomas Frölicher (UNIBE), Margareta Johansson (Swedish Polar Secretariat) and Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley (BAS) to its Science and Technology Advisory Board (STAB). Alongside these appointments, Christoph Hegg (WSL) has been elected Chair of the Foundation Board, with Stéphanie Lacour serving as Vice-Chair. Samuel Jaccard (UNIL) and Kelly Kenison Falkner (NSF) were also appointed as new Co-Chairs of STAB. As SPI marks 10 years and looks ahead to its next chapter, these appointments bring experienced and dedicated leadership to guide that journey.
Christoph Hegg is the Deputy Director of the Swiss Federal Institute WSL and has been a member of the SPI Foundation Board since 2017. He will step into his new role on 1 August 2026 after the departure of Frédéric Herman. SPI’s new Vice-Chair Stéphanie P. Lacour is Full Professor at the School of Engineering at EPFL. Since 2025, she has been EPFL Vice-President for support to Strategic Initiatives. Effective immediately, she replaces Ambrogio Fasoli as EPFL representative and Vice-Chair on SPI Foundation Board.
Samuel Jaccard is Associate Professor at UNIL and a specialist in Earth sciences. He leads the Laboratory for Biogeochemical Oceanography Across Time with a research focus on nutrient cycling and oxygen availability in marine ecosystems and their impact on carbon cycling. Kelly Kenison Falkner is a chemical oceanographer and former Director of the National Science Foundation’s Office for Polar Programs (US). They both joined the STAB in 2024 and will start their new roles on 1 May 2026.
This moment of renewal is also an opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Frédéric Herman (UNIL) and Ambrogio Fasoli (EPFL) from the Foundation Board, and to Hubertus Fischer (UNIBE), Björn Dahlbäck (Swedish Polar Secretariat) and Dame Jane Francis (BAS) from the STAB. Their commitment left a lasting, positive impact on SPI. SPI is grateful for everything they have brought to their roles and extends its warmest thanks and best wishes to the outgoing members.
Header photo: © Nolan Krattinger on Unsplash