SOLIDARITY LEVIES AIM TO SHARE THE BENEFITS OF
GLOBALISATION
This mechanism involves a surcharge on a major economic activity, enacted by a government and earmarked for a specific cause. For example, an air ticket levy has raised billions for UNITAID.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
IFF is a Swiss foundation created in 2011 by Robert R. Filipp and Leonard Lerer. The inspiration for the IFF came about as a result of the success the Founders have had with innovative financing for health while working at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Some of the novel initiatives such as Debt2Health are still working today and to-date swapped US$367 million for US$225 million in new and additional health funding. The motivation behind the IFF is to use our expertise, resource and networks to catalyse collaborations that pioneer innovation in all sectors for the benefit of people and planet. Since 2011, we have worked with a wide range of stakeholders in many sectors, including education, health, livelihoods, climate and the environment to reduce barriers to financing innovation and to bring about positive social, environmental or governance impact and lasting change.
The foundation is established under Article 60 of the Swiss Civil Code. Our activities are supervised by the Federal Supervisory Authority and subject to independent audit.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ROBERT R. FILIPP
Founder & President of the Board of Trustees
Robert Filipp (JD, MALD) is an international lawyer, entrepreneur and a former UN official, known for his pioneering work in innovative financing for development. From 2004 to 2011, he was Head of Innovative Finance at the Global Fund, where he created the debt swap program Debt2Health and other innovative initiatives. Robert's work has been featured at Harvard University and IESE Business School. In 2011, Robert founded the IFF. He has extensive experience in law, development finance and business development. Robert is the co-author of the UNFCCC Loss and Damage synthesis report mandated for COP28. Robert speaks English, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish and Hindi.
ALEXANDRE VASSILTCHIKOV
Member of the Board of Trustees
Alexandre Vassiltchikov (JD, MBA) is a senior banking executive serving as Deputy
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of ING Bank Switzerland.
Alexandre has extensive experience at major European banks in a number of roles, including as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer covering governance, tax, regulatory and risk matters. He was also a director in Monaco and Jersey banks.
Alexandre is a former Attorney-at-Law in Geneva, London and Moscow. He is a member of the Swiss Trade & Shipping Association. Alexandre speaks English and French.
HANA ALHASHIMI
Member of the Board of Trustees
Hana Alhashimi (MSc) is the Chief Climate Negotiator for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Director of the Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change. She successfully ran the bid for the UAE to host COP28 in Dubai and then played a key role in climate negotiations and the management of COP28. In 2024, Hana was awarded the First Class Order of Zayed by the President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
Hana has extensive experience in international diplomacy and the UN system with previous positions in Prime Minister's Office, the UN and the UAE Mission to the UN in New York. Hana speaks Arabic, English, German and French.
RAPHAEL WOLF
Member of the Board of Trustees
Raphael Wolf is a former professional football player, who played for 11 years in the German Bundesliga. He was the goalkeeper for clubs such as Werder Bremen, HSV Hamburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Following his retirement from professional sports in 2023, Raphael decided to contribute his energy and network to advance the work of the foundation in areas of education, health and youth.
ALEESHA TAYLOR
Member of the Board of Trustees
Aleesha Taylor (Ed.D.) is the Principal of Herald Advisors, a consulting firm she founded to support leaders and organisations in philanthropy and international development. Aleesha is a former Deputy Director of the Open Society Foundations’ education program and a Lecturer of International Educational Development at Columbia University in New York. At Open Society, Aleesha managed global grant making to strengthen education systems and civil society around the world and pioneered work on innovative financing for education.
Aleesha is an expert in global education, community development strategies and partnership building. She speaks English and Swahili.
HUBERTUS HILLERSTRÖM
Legal Counsel
Hubertus Hillerstrom (lic.jur. MBA) is an Attorney-at-Law and Partner in the Geneva office of law firm Walder Wyss Ltd.
Hubertus is specialised in banking and finance law and has extensive experience in nation and international transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, structured finance, private equity and venture capital.
He is admitted to the bar in Switzerland. Hubertus speaks English, French, German, Spanish and Swedish.
PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY
Member of the Advisory Board
Dr Philippe Douste-Blazy (MD) is a former French politician, who served 11 years as cabinet minister in government, including as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health and Minister of Culture.
During his time as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Philippe was instrumental in the creation of the air ticket solidarity levy, which supports the organisation UNITAID, a public-private partnership focused on price, access and innovation of treatments for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Subsequently, Philippe was appointed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as his UN Special Advisor on Innovative Financing for Development, a role in which he served until 2016.
Earlier in his political career, Philippe was the mayor of the city of Toulouse and Member of the European Parliament. Philippe speaks English and French.
RIFAT ATUN
Member of the Advisory Board
Professor Rifat Atun (PhD) is Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University. He is the former Chair of the Stop TB Partnership and a former senior director at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Previously, Rifat was Professor of International Health Management at Imperial College London.
Rifat is an expert in health systems innovations and has published in more than 350 scientific publications on global health systems. He served on 10 Lancet Commissions and is an advisor to governments and the World Health Organization (WHO).
GEORGES SUDARSKIS
Member of the Advisory Board
Georges is a well-known investment professional and a recognised pioneer in the fund-of-funds investment strategy, who is CEO of Sudarskis& Partners. During his long and accomplished career, Georges was the Head of Mergers& Acquisitions at ING Bank and Credit Lyonnais and later Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) until his retirement.
Georges is an expert in investment strategies and sovereign wealth funds. He serves on the Board of the Kazakhstan sovereign wealth fund. He speaks English and French.