PEOPLE

People make all the difference. Our work is possible thanks to our ambitious and passionate team, the strategic guidance of our Board members, the expertise of our partners, and our founding family.

Trustees

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Jenny Abramson

Jenny Abramson

Jenny Abramson was appointed to the Board in January 2021. She is Founder and Managing Partner of the venture capital fund Rethink Impact. She has a master’s degree in sociology and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Hans Ambuhl

Hans Ambühl

Hans Ambühl joined the Board in October 2013 and was appointed Vice President in 2022. He was General Secretary of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education in Bern until 2017.
William Egbe

William Egbe

William Egbe joined the Board in April 2015. He is an engineer with an MBA, and was Group Director Strategic Planning and Sustainability for the Coca-Cola Eurasia & Africa Group.
Sandro Giuliani

Sandro Giuliani

Sandro Giuliani, former Managing Director of the Jacobs Foundation, has served as Delegate of the Board since April 2015. He has been a Member of the Board since January 2020.
Christian Jacobs

Dr. Joh. Christian Jacobs

Joh. Christian Jacobs joined the Board in 1995 and was appointed Chair in 2004. Today he is active as an entrepreneurial investor. Since April 2015, he has held the position of Honorary Chairman.
Ulman Lindenberger

Prof. Dr. Ulman Lindenberger

Ulman Lindenberger joined the Board in January 2012. He is a German psychologist and Director of the Center for Lifespan Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin.
Vegase

Dr. Emiliana Vegas

Emiliana Vegas was appointed to the Board in January 2021. She is Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution. She holds a doctoral degree in education from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University.
Olaf Von Maydell

Dr. Olaf von Maydell

Olaf von Maydell has been a member of the Board since May 2013. He is a tax consultant with a PhD in agricultural economics, and a partner in the Schomerus & Partner tax consulting firm in Berlin.

Team

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Yang Bai

Yang Bai

J-STAR Operations & Finance

Zoe Bozzolan-Kenworthy

Program Manager
Donika Dimovska

Donika Dimovska

Chief Knowledge Officer
Gelgia Fetz

Gelgia Fetz Fernandes

Co-Lead Learning Minds

Alexandra Güntzer

Chief Communications Officer
Semrawit Haile

Semrawit Haile

J-STAR Learning Societies
Ross Hall

Ross Hall

Co-Lead Learning Societies
Kathrin Hassler

Kathrin Hassler

Finance Manager
Angela Holzer

Angela Holzer

PA to Co-CEOs
Natascha Hofer

Natasha Hofer

Program Manager
Irina Hotz

Irina Hotz

Co-Lead Learning Societies
Roland Hügli

Roland Hügli

CFO
Cathrin Jerie

Cathrin Jerie

Program Manager
Romana Kropilova

Romana Kropilova

Program Manager
Cornelia Lieb

Cornelia Lieb

Program Assistant
Daniela Lozza

Daniela Lozza

Program Manager & Curator
Natalia Markhobrod

Nataliia Markhobrod

Office Management

Artemis Papoutsakis

Program Manager
Georgine Paltzer

Georgine Paltzer

Program Manager
Hans Rudolf Schumacher

Hans Rudolf Schumacher

Facility Manager
Carole Sebastianutto

Carole Sebastianutto

HR Manager
Fabio Segura

Fabio Segura

Co-CEO
Rezgar Sharifi

Rezgar Sharifi

Finance Controller
John Soleanicov

John Soleanicov

Co-Lead Learning Schools
Simon Sommer

Simon Sommer

Co-CEO
Christina Thurman-Wild

Christina Thurman-Wild

Program Specialist
Gemma Wirz

Gemma Wirz

Program Manager
Hanna Woodhead

Hanna Woodhead

Program Manager & Curator (on maternity leave)
Julia Wyss

Julia Wyss

Program Manager

WORK WITH US

The Jacobs Foundation invests in the future of young people by working to ensure all children have access to opportunities for positive development and the best education possible that enables them to thrive.

Work With Us