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.
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 Financing at the Global Fund, where he created the debt swap program Debt2Health, the Dow Jones Global Fund Index and contributed to other ground-breaking initiatives. Robert's work on innovative finance
has been featured in teaching cases at Harvard University and IESE Business School.
In 2011, Robert founded the IFF to help communities, governments and organisations mobilise new and additional funding for their societal missions.
Robert has extensive experience in international law, development finance and entrepreneurial finance. In addition to activities in the private sector, Robert is a consultant to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). He is the co-author of the Loss and Damage synthesis report mandated for COP28. Robert speaks English, French, Spanish, Russian, Polish and Hindi.
Contact Robert Filipp
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.
EDOARDO GIUIDICE
Member of the Board of Trustees
Edoardo Giudice (MSc, MSc) is an entrepreneur und finance executive. He is the co-founder of Swiss companies Virtuosis S.A., an artificial intelligence (AI) company focused on solutions in the area of mental health and corporate well-being and Fluent S.A., a trading and financial advisory firm based in Geneva.
Edoardo has extensive experience in international commodity trading, financial markets, technology investments and risk management. His previous work experience includes roles at BNP Paris CIB and the energy company TotalEnergies.
Edoardo speaks English, French and Italian.
Contact Edoardo Giudice
RAPHAEL WOLF
Member of the Board of Trustees
Raphael Wolf is a former professional soccer player with a distinguished career of 14 years as goal keeper in the German Bundesliga (First League) for clubs such as Werder Bremen, HSV Hamburg and most recently at Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Following his retirement from professional sports, Raphael has dedicated his time and extensive network to the mission of the IFF. Raphael speaks English and German.
Contact Raphael Wolf
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).
HAZEM FAHMY
Member of the Advisory Board
H.E. Abassador Hazem Fahmy (Ph.D.) is an Egyptian diplomat and a former UN official, serving as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Americas.
Previously, Hazem was Egypt's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and the
Secretary-General of the Egyptian Agency for Partnership and Development, a
director in the UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA) and in the
executive office of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Hazem is an expert in international relations and financing for development. Hazem speaks English and Arabic.
GEORGES SUDARSKIS
Member of the Advisory Board
Georges is a senior investment professional and a recognised pioneer in the fund-of-funds investment strategy, serving as the CEO of Sudarskis& Partners. Georges was the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds until his retirement. Earlier in his career, Georges was the Head of Mergers& Acquisitions at ING Bank and Credit Lyonnais.
Georges is an expert in investment strategies and sovereign wealth funds. He serves on the Board of the Kazakhstan sovereign wealth fund. Georges speaks English and French.