Zurich, October 23, 2025
The Swiss CISO Awards 2025, presented by EY Switzerland and the Swiss Cyber Institute, have once again spotlighted Switzerland’s most outstanding cybersecurity leaders. Held at the iconic Dolder Grand in Zurich as part of the Global Cyber Conference 2025, the ceremony celebrated professionals whose leadership, innovation, and collaboration are shaping the future of cybersecurity.
Now in its third year, the Swiss CISO Awards recognize individuals who demonstrate strategic vision, technical excellence, and cultural impact—championing cybersecurity as both a business enabler and a catalyst for trust.
This Year’s Winners
Swiss CISO of the Year
Daniel Walther — CISO at The Swatch Group Ltd
Daniel Walther has elevated cybersecurity at The Swatch Group by aligning information security with business strategy and culture. Under his leadership, the company implemented a comprehensive endpoint security and zero-trust strategy—integrating EDR, Always-On Cloud VPN, and identity protection.
He introduced a business-aligned risk framework across more than 160 global entities and built an omnichannel awareness program reaching 32,000 employees. Beyond the enterprise, Daniel contributes to the broader cybersecurity community as an SATW advisory board member and lecturer at Lucerne University, nurturing the next generation of security professionals.
Cybersecurity Excellence
Silvan Schellenberg — CISO Switzerland at UBS AG
Silvan Schellenberg has played a pivotal role in advancing UBS’s cybersecurity capabilities across Switzerland and the EMEA region. His leadership was instrumental during the UBS–Credit Suisse merger, ensuring cybersecurity continuity, governance alignment, and cultural integration.
He co-led an international benchmarking initiative with the FS-CSC and NCSC to assess Switzerland’s cyber resilience globally—supporting the National Cyber Strategy. Silvan’s data-driven approach and commitment to collaboration continue to strengthen both UBS’s and Switzerland’s position as leaders in cybersecurity resilience.
Christine Fahlberg — CISO at Swisscard AECS GmbH
Cybersecurity Excellence
Christine Fahlberg has elevated cybersecurity culture at Swisscard through a multi-layered, people-first strategy that blends technical rigor with creative engagement. Her initiatives—ranging from board-level security training and deepfake simulations to gamified campaigns and hackathons—have reduced phishing click rates below industry averages and built trust across the organization.
Christine’s pragmatic, business-aligned approach turned cybersecurity into a shared responsibility—earning executive trust and inspiring cross-departmental collaboration on security-driven innovation.
CISO for Culture and Diversity
Agnès Terreau — Country Data Protection and Information Security Officer at ManpowerGroup Switzerland
Agnès Terreau has championed a people-centered and inclusive approach to data protection and cybersecurity at ManpowerGroup. She built a scalable governance system connecting ethics, privacy, and security while embedding awareness and accountability across business functions.
Her creative initiatives—from interactive “Lunch & Learn” sessions to memorable awareness campaigns—have transformed engagement, leading to a 29% increase in reported phishing attempts. A finalist in the PICCASO Privacy Awards Europe and member of the IAPP Training Advisory Board, Agnès continues to shape global standards and inspire diverse leadership in cybersecurity.
Future Leader
Diana Coman Schmid — Information Security Manager at Canton of Zurich
Diana Coman Schmid represents the next generation of cybersecurity leadership—strategic, data-driven, and deeply collaborative. At Canton Zurich, she leads the continuous improvement of an ISO 27001–compliant ISMS, aligning cybersecurity with business and regulatory goals while fostering collaboration across IT, legal, and operations.
Previously at ETH Zurich, she led the development of Leonhard Med, a secure research platform for personalized health data that won the 2019 ETH IT Services Innovation Prize. Diana’s work exemplifies how rigorous security practices can empower innovation and trust in public institutions.
Celebrating Leadership and Collaboration
“The Swiss CISO Awards highlight the people shaping the future of cybersecurity—not only through technology, but through leadership, collaboration, and culture,” said Samir Aliyev, Founder & CEO of the Swiss Cyber Institute. “This year’s winners reflect the diversity and depth of expertise driving Switzerland’s cybersecurity excellence.”
About the Swiss CISO Awards
The Swiss CISO Awards, presented by EY Switzerland and the Swiss Cyber Institute, celebrate individuals who exemplify excellence in cybersecurity leadership, innovation, and strategic vision. By showcasing real-world success stories, the awards inspire the industry to pursue excellence, foster collaboration, and elevate the standards of cybersecurity practice in Switzerland and beyond.
The ceremony is held annually as part of the Global Cyber Conference, Switzerland’s premier cybersecurity event.About the Global Cyber Conference
Organized by the Swiss Cyber Institute, the Global Cyber Conference is Switzerland’s leading platform for cybersecurity thought leadership, innovation, and knowledge exchange. Hosted at The Dolder Grand in Zurich, the 2025 edition brings together over 40+ speakers and 350+ experts focused on building trust in the AI age, developing resilient systems, and advancing global cybersecurity governance.
With a strong emphasis on collaboration between business, government, and academia, the conference fosters dialogue that drives real progress in securing the digital future.
Press Contact
Anastasiia Vollmar
Head of Marketing
Swiss Cyber Institute
+41 44 501 40 76
anastasiia@swisscyberinstitute.com
Talacker 50, 8001 Zurich, Schweiz
