American Swiss Foundation

The American Swiss Foundation Young Leaders Conference was initiated in 1990 by then-Chairman Ambassador Faith Whittlesey to create meaningful dialogue and foster mutual understanding among the next generation of leaders in Switzerland and the U.S. Every year since then, a group of approximately 50 young Swiss and Americans, aged late 20s to early 40s and nominated by prominent senior national leaders, has participated in the weeklong Young Leaders Conference held in Switzerland. 

In 2009, the 20th Annual Young Leaders Conference was held in Gerzensee near Bern with the principal sponsorship of the Swiss National Bank and travel sponsorship of American participants provided by SWISS International Air Lines.