Goodbyes and hellos at the BPW Switzerland Assembly Delegates
After eight years, we had to bid farewell to our co-president, Sandra Jauslin, at the Assembly of Delegates in Klosters. We are grateful for her tireless work in raising the association’s profile, her investment in corporate members, and the re-establishment of the LENA scholarship.
From now on, Myriam Heidelberger Kaufmann, the former co-president, will head the Central Executive Committee, which has also seen some changes in its membership.
Vera Bender, who has been a member of the Central Executive Committee for two years, is stepping down from the committee, and Bettina Zimmermann has joined as a new member.
The delegates have also decided to slash the membership fee for Young BPWs from 2028 onwards. The lively discussion revealed a strong sense of solidarity with the younger generation, who are set to shape the future of the association.
The new Central Executive Committee is setting the course for the future, with a focus on the association’s development, by empowering members and prioritizing issues such as equal pay, gender medicine, and ethically responsible use of AI.
The full press release can be found via the following link: https://bpw.ch/de/News
You can find the presentations for the alumnae meeting and the Assembly of Delegates in the members’ area:
www.bpw.ch
Survey by the Website Working Group
What kind of website will the clubs need in the future? What content should be available, and what changes should be made to the existing website?
A working group at the BPW Switzerland level is currently reviewing the situation with a view to drawing up proposals on the best way for our association and each club to showcase themselves in the future. It has put together a survey for this purpose. Please respond today, whether you’ve been with BPW for a long time or have only just found out about us.
https://tally.so/r/QK4OXk
No to the 10 million initiative
The vote on the “No to a Switzerland with 10 million” initiative has shown that Switzerland is intensively grappling with its own future. This is a sign of a vibrant democracy – and deserves respect.
As BPW Switzerland, our stance in this referendum was clear: this initiative does not offer a sustainable answer to the challenges facing our country. Switzerland’s strength has always lain in its openness – to ideas, to talent, to cooperation, and to people who take on responsibility and help shape our country through their commitments.
However, there is another, equally important insight from this vote: a significant proportion of the population is voicing concerns that must be taken seriously.
When people are facing rising housing costs, families are increasingly struggling to find affordable accommodation, transport infrastructure is being pushed to its limits, or there is a sense that societal developments are outpacing political solutions, then what is needed is thoughtfulness – not polarization.
Societal progress is not the result of simple dichotomies between openness and restriction. It arises when people take responsibility and actively shape the future.
As BPW members, we see every day just how crucial long-term thinking is for stability, social cohesion, and sustainable development. Responsible politics means not simply letting growth happen, but intentionally shaping it in a way that is socially balanced, economically sustainable, and mindful of future generations.
Switzerland does not need an isolationist policy. It needs a proactive policy. A policy that ensures prosperity, opens up opportunities, strengthens social cohesion, and at the same time resolutely tackles the challenges associated with growth.
The vote has been decided.
But we still have a responsibility to shape the future of our country with foresight, sustainability, and in a considered manner.
And that is precisely where our shared task lies.
The proportion of women in the Federal Assembly will reach a record high of 39.4% from the 2026 summer session onwards
This was made possible by the fact that the two members replacing others on the National Council are both women. Barbara Portmann (GLP, AG) is replacing a man, and our member Andrea de Meuron from the Thun BPW Club (Greens, BE) is replacing a woman.
There will be a general election in 2027. It’s also up to us to ensure that things continue to move towards a 50/50 split. Ladies, get out there and vote!
→ Helvetia is calling
Daycare Act
With the expiration of the referendum period on July 2, 2026, the new Childcare Act (Federal Act on Support for Institutional Family-Supplementing Childcare, UKibeG) has been definitively adopted—an important step forward for families, equal opportunity, and Switzerland as a business location. Working parents will receive a childcare allowance of 100 francs per month for one day of childcare per week; an additional 100 francs will be added for each extra day of care—up to a maximum of 500 francs per month. Overall, this is expected to reduce childcare costs for families by about 20 percent. For BPW Switzerland, this is a significant step toward greater equality of opportunity and a modern family policy.
Details at alliance-enfance.ch
BPW Europe Project Award
BPW Europe has opened the application phase for the newly established BPW Europe Project Award, a program that recognizes the most inspiring and impactful initiatives within our network.
HOW MUCH IS THE AWARD?
The BPW Europe Project Award shines a spotlight on projects that empower women, raise BPW’s profile, and help advance gender equality. In addition to prize money of €500, it also provides an opportunity to showcase the work carried out at the Presidents’ Meeting and via BPW Europe’s communication channels.
THREE CATEGORIES, THREE WINNERS
① Economic empowerment of women
For projects that promote women’s economic independence, leadership skills, entrepreneurship, or professional development.
② Visibility of BPW
For projects that raise awareness of BPW, such as public events, media campaigns, or creative public relations initiatives that communicate BPW’s values to a wider audience.
③ Advocacy
For projects that drive change, such as equal pay campaigns, working with policymakers, or collaborations with NGOs and institutions that promote gender equality.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
Applications can be submitted by national associations, local clubs, or joint initiatives within BPW Europe. The full list of eligibility conditions and selection criteria can be found in the award description link.
APPLY
Projects can be submitted to treasury@bpw-europe.org using the application form until 30 August, 2026.
Please don’t be modest! If your club has done something worth sharing, now is the time to show it off. The BPW Europe network wants to learn from these experiences and draw inspiration from them!
Events
26.08.2026 The next ‘Women in Leadership’ event organised by BPW Switzerland:
Focus on crisis management. An online event with Katrin Locher, Deputy Head of Communications at SWISSINT. Zoom registration
18-20.09.2026 BPW Poland invites you to the Green Ambassadors Meeting in Poznan. www.bpw-poland.org
25.09.2026 DACHLI conference in Bregenz
Where courage begins, the future flourishes – and this is precisely where our journey together begins.
The BPW Dachli Conference is the platform for women from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Registration https://my.bpw.ch/events
Program: https://bpw.dach-tagung.eu/
On 9 September, 2026, the Association of Women-Owned Businesses (VFU) will be hosting VFUlab, its annual conference for female entrepreneurs, at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute in Rüschlikon.
The program is based around this year’s theme: “Healthy. Self-determined. Successful”. Focusing on women’s health, it is aimed at female founders, female entrepreneurs, and other interested women. The event will be hosted by Monika Schärer and promises to be an informative afternoon.
03.10.2026 Autumn conference in Glarus
Under the motto “Strong women. Glarner Power”: 70 years of BPW Glarus
We at BPW Switzerland and the Glarus BPW Club cordially invite you to the 2026 Autumn Conference.
You can find the program and registration details at: www.bpw.ch
20/10/2026 Business Day for Women in Vaduz, in collaboration with BPW Liechtenstein
The conference is the key place for working women to get together and offers fresh ideas and practical tips for success in their personal careers. Registration for Business Day
20-22.11.2026 BPW Cyprus, Mediterranean Symposium in Nicosia
Longing for summer and fancy a taste of international culture? The Mediterranean Symposium will take place in Cyprus in November.
Expert tip: Arrive on Thursday and leave on Monday at the earliest. The city tour and the trip on Sunday will be fantastic and are not to be missed. Btw., fly to Larnaca Airport, not Paphos!
Larnaca Airport to Semeli Hotel approx. 40-45 minutes, to other hotels approx. 40-50 minutes.
Registration
Special exhibition at the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum: “Women in Agriculture: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”
Spotlight on: Women are moving into the farmhouse in Ostermundigen! How come? The UN has declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. Reason enough to highlight women in agriculture: who are the women who shape our farms and food supply – often far from the public eye? The special exhibition “Women in Agriculture: Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow” puts them in the spotlight through authentic portraits. It gives insights into their everyday lives and work, looking into both the past and the future.
Ballenberg
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