Zurich, Switzerland, September 2, 2026

For the fourth time, the Swiss CISO Awards have honored established leaders and emerging talent whose work advances cybersecurity in Switzerland. An independent eight-member jury evaluated the candidates’ professional achievements, innovation, and leadership impact.

The award ceremony took place on 1 September during the Global Cyber Conference Gala Dinner at The Dolder Grand in Zurich. The Swiss CISO Awards are organized by the Swiss Cyber Institute and presented by EY Switzerland.

The 2026 award recipients are:

• Swiss CISO of the Year: Dr. Anatoli Kalysch, CISO at Lindenhofgruppe AG

Dr. Anatoli Kalysch has developed a risk-based cyber resilience strategy at Lindenhofgruppe that closely connects information security with patient safety and continuity of care. It is supported by clear governance, measurable maturity levels, and systematic reporting. By introducing an automated supplier risk assessment process, he reduced the time required to assess each supplier from several hours to approximately 15 minutes. Critical cases continue to be reviewed by specialists.

• Cybersecurity Excellence (Swiss CISO of the Year): Kai Schramm, CISO at TWINT

Kai Schramm consistently aligns TWINT’s cybersecurity strategy with the protection of its customers. An early-warning system developed under his leadership identifies fraudulent copies of TWINT’s digital services and accelerates their removal. He also expanded the cybersecurity team from two to eight specialists and made continuous professional development an integral part of its work.

• Future Leader: Andra-Irina Vasile, Senior Business Information Security Officer at SIX Group

Andra-Irina Vasile connects cybersecurity, AI governance, and regulatory requirements with business needs. At SIX, she ensures that security considerations are addressed early in the assessment of new AI applications. Through her Netiquetteers initiative, she makes digital security accessible and relevant to children, parents, and older adults. She also contributes to the Artificial Intelligence Commission of the Swiss Association for Standardization in Financial Services, where she supports the development of responsible AI governance.

• Cybersecurity Excellence (Future Leader): Tobias Castagna, Head of Test Experts at the National Test Institute for Cybersecurity

Tobias Castagna has built the testing team at the National Test Institute for Cybersecurity from the ground up since 2022. He helped establish a model in which organizations facing comparable risks jointly fund independent security testing. Using this approach, the institute has examined widely used hospital information systems and other technologies. Manufacturers receive concrete recommendations and receive support in addressing identified vulnerabilities.

• Cybersecurity Excellence (Future Leader): Nathalie Gratzer, Head of Industry Cooperation at NATO CCDCOE and Swiss National Representative, seconded by Swiss Cyber Command

Nathalie Gratzer strengthens cooperation among government, industry, academia, and the military at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Through Oxford-style debates, she brings together different perspectives on controversial cyber defense issues. While developing a partnership agreement, she also identified risks associated with sharing sensitive data and worked with the responsible stakeholders to develop a compliant alternative.

About the Swiss CISO Awards

The Swiss CISO Awards recognize established leaders and emerging talent working in Switzerland for their achievements in cybersecurity. They showcase successful approaches, encourage professional exchange, and aim to inspire the next generation of security leaders. The awards ceremony is part of the Global Cyber Conference.

About the Global Cyber Conference

The fifth edition of the Global Cyber Conference takes place on 1 and 2 September 2026 at The Dolder Grand in Zurich. Under the theme “Convergence,” the conference brings together international leaders and experts to explore the intersection of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies.

Media Contact

Anastasiia Vollmar
Head of Marketing & Operations
Swiss Cyber Institute
+41 41 554 70 41
anastasiia@swisscyberinstitute.com
Talacker 50
8001 Zurich