10 years at the head of Collège Champittet

Dear Champiteans,

I have been serving the College community in my role as director general for over 10 years. My tech-savvy colleagues tell me that one of the most frequently asked questions about the school on Google is: ‘Who is the director?’ I imagine that job seekers are behind this statistic, but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself.

I am an alumnus of the College, having attended secondary school there. I loved Latin, which shaped my mind. After completing a Master's degree in law at the University of Lausanne (where I was president of the law students' association) and a postgraduate diploma in international relations at the London School of Economics, followed by my military service (I am a first lieutenant in the infantry), I had the immense privilege of being able to travel as an ICRC delegate to Lebanon, Israel/Occupied Territories, the Thailand/Cambodia border, Afghanistan and Armenia. My vocation for education dates back to this period, even though it only came to fruition later on. 

I then pursued a career in business, with the common thread being the ‘Swissness’ and international commercial ambition of these brands (Nestlé, Lindt & Sprüngli, Caran d'Ache).

I have two daughters who attended the EHL Hospitality Business School. They were the ones who convinced me to accept my current position, believing that I was, in their minds, a ‘good teacher’, which I do not believe to be true, while accepting the idea that I have some ability to ‘popularise’ complex thoughts into understandable narratives. They have also influenced my beliefs: I consider myself a feminist and I contribute to decarbonisation.

I am a member of a political party and an ardent democrat, as well as a member of the Lausanne Lions Club. I served on the committee of the Vaud Association of Private Schools for nine years and am a member of the board of directors of SwissLearning.

My main motivation is to discover our students' talents and encourage them to explore their abilities and contribute to a better world. I have learned never to underestimate a child: they all, absolutely all of them, have a tremendous talent or ability, which sometimes takes a little time to discover. I deeply admire my fellow teachers who spend most of their time stimulating the cognitive activity of entire classes, despite the battle for attention waged by social media.

I recognise my responsibility to make Champittet a community that cultivates the joy of learning within a framework of values that emphasises kindness, respect, curiosity and, above all, active engagement. Thank you for your trust.