EXECUTIVE TEAM

Operational activities fall under the responsibility of an interdisciplinary and streamlined executive team. Its remit is to ensure that areas of activity are developed and that projects receive professional support. The management comprises Dr. Pascale Vonmont (CEO/Director) and Dr. Marco Vencato (Deputy Director). Back office functions are performed by Corinne Burkhardt (Management Assistance/Back Office) and Jacqueline Grollimund (Project Monitoring and Controlling) Jacqueline Grollimund (Project Monitoring and Controlling), supported by Angela Zollinger (student assistant).

Dr. sc. nat. Pascale Vonmont, CEO/Director since 2017

Pascale Vonmont manages the operational side of the foundation. She supports the board of trustees in its strategic activities, manages the foundation's support programs, and networks the foundation's activities with central partners.

Function and current main priorities
As the coordinator of an initiative launched in 2015 to network and accelerate innovation in Switzerland, Pascale Vonmont promoted the foundation of «digitalswitzerland» and represented GRS on the executive committee of this location initiative, which is organised as an association and foundation, during the four-year start-up phase. She has headed the strategy council of «Venture Kick» since the founding of the support program and has been chairing the foundation board of the «startupticker» since 2015. Since 2021 she is member of the jury of the «EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award». In this function, she supports the strengthening of «knowledge entrepreneur­ship» at Swiss universities.

As a member of the board of SwissFoundations, the association of Swiss grant-making foundations, Pascale Von­mont is committed to Switzerland’s position as a liberal location for foundations. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for Philanthropy Studies, which provides university research and professional edu­cation for the Swiss foundation sector. She has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss National Science Foundation since 2019.


Address and availability
You can reach Pascale Vonmont by telephone from Monday to Friday:

Dr. Pascale Vonmont
Direct line +41 61 270 88 24 | Mobile +41 79 667 91 88
Skype: pascalevonmont
pascale.notexisting@nodomain.comvonmont@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch

Dr. phil. I Marco Vencato, Deputy Director since 2017

Marco Vencato has an operational role in the foundation’s activities. He coordinates and manages selected funding programs of the foundation, advises applicants and supervises ongoing funding projects.

Function and current main priorities
Within the strategic funding cluster, Marco Vencato is mainly responsible for the program management of «First Ventures» and «Scientainment». The further development of these funding programs and the launch of new funding priorities in coordination with the Foundation Board likewise form part of his remit. In addition, he advises funding candidates who are considering submitting a project application and assists the project managers supported by the foundation in the implementation of their projects.

Address and availability
You can reach Marco Vencato by telephone from Monday to Thursday and on Friday morning:

Dr. Marco Vencato
Direct line +41 61 270 88 20 | Mobile +41 76 542 60 73
marco.notexisting@nodomain.comvencato@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch

Jacqueline Grollimund, Project Administration | Co-cordination Education Programs since 2003

Jacqueline Grollimund is in charge of the project administration of running projects and co-ordination of the education programs. She is your first contact person for your questions about your project.

Function and current main priorities
Jacqueline Grollimund supervises the running projects administratively from contract to completion and co-ordinates the education programs Education Pioneers and Digital TechPreneurs. Furthermore, she complements the team in internal and external communication as well as the reporting for the foundation board.

Address and availability
You can reach Jacqueline Grollimund by phone from Monday to Thursday:

Jacqueline Grollimund
Direct line +41 61 270 88 21 | mobile +41 79 749 11 91
jacqueline.notexisting@nodomain.comgrollimund@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch | LinkedIn

Corinne Burkhardt, Management Assistant/Back Office since 2006

As the member of staff responsible for the back office of Gebert Rüf Stiftung, Corinne Burkhardt is in charge of the administrative and organisational processes of the foundation office and provides operational support to the management.

Address and availability
You can reach Corinne Burkhardt by telephone from Tuesdays to Fridays:

Corinne Burkhardt
Direct line +41 61 270 88 25
corinne.notexisting@nodomain.comburkhardt@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch | LinkedIn

Kaya Blum, Student assistant since 2006

Kaya Blum supports the office as a student assistant with administrative tasks and in the areas of communication and social media. She is also studying psychology at the University of Basel.

Address and availability
You can reach Kaya Blum by e-mail on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays:

Kaya Blum
kaya.notexisting@nodomain.comblum@grstiftung.notexisting@nodomain.comch | LinkedIn