A small-group lunch with Ann Mettler and Gaia van der Esch.
Following Re-defining Leadership: From Power & Egos to Impact & Purpose, a small group of members is invited to continue the discussion over lunch with former Director-General at the European Commission Ann Mettler, and moderator Gaia van der Esch.
Away from the stage, this lunch is an opportunity to hear directly from someone who has spent 25 years working at the heart of European institutions — advising figures such as Bill Gates and Jean-Claude Juncker, and shaping debates on innovation, industrial policy and long-term strategy. Around the table, guests are invited to dig deeper into her firsthand experiences and insights, in a more intimate and candid setting.
Places are limited and available upon registration. The lunch will be served as a two-course menu (main, dessert), with coffee and water included.
speaker
Ann Mettler has over 25 years of experience in public policy at the intersection of technology, innovation, investment, and industrial strategy. She has advised global leaders including Bill Gates and Jean-Claude Juncker. Currently, she is President and Co-Founder of Catalyse Europe, a new organization focused on accelerating Europe's clean energy transition by turning policy ideas into real-world implementation. Ann also serves as Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, and as Member of the Board of the European Innovation Council, the EU's €10bn deep tech fund. Previously, she was Vice President for Europe at Breakthrough Energy (2020–2025), and Director-General at the European Commission where she led the internal think tank (2014–2019).
moderator
CEO, leadership author and systems thinker working at the intersection of power, equity and sustainability in an era of polycrisis. She advocates for leaders to integrate humanity into decision-making and has spent over 15 years working across Africa, the Middle East, the United States and Europe, leading non-profits, foundations and policy processes on global challenges.
She is Managing Director of 3ZERO, a foundation active in 40+ countries focused on zero exclusion, zero carbon and zero poverty. She previously served as Sherpa for G20 EMPOWER, leading the G20 agenda on gender equality, and is an advisor and board member to multiple organisations.
Gaia is the author of Leading Our Way (Wiley, 2023) and Volti d’Italia (Il Saggiatore, 2021), and a frequent speaker at global forums including the G20, COP28, ChangeNOW and Web Summit.
