On November 20, 2025, ETH Zurich once again presented two special awards in a festive ceremony – the ALEA Award for exemplary leadership and the Diversity Award for outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The ALEA Award (Art of Leadership Award) recognizes ETH members who demonstrate a responsible, inclusive, and innovative leadership style. The award winners promote the well-being of their teams, build bridges, and create an environment in which people can reach their full potential.
The jury selected three finalists from numerous nominations. First place went to Elise Cahard, managing director of the NCCR Automation, who distinguished herself through exceptional commitment and care for her team and enthusiasm for collaboration in science.
Diversity Award: Making Diversity Visible
The Diversity Award recognizes individuals and organisations/groups who are committed to diversity and inclusion at ETH Zurich on a voluntary and passionate basis. Whether through projects promoting women in STEM, initiatives for LGBTQIA+ visibility, or programs raising awareness of unconscious bias – the nominations reflect the diversity of our community.
In the individual category, the first prize went to Anis Meschichi, postdoc at D-BIOL, and in the organisation/group category to WiNS – The Society of Women in Natural Sciences at ETH Zurich. Both have broken down barriers and created new spaces for exchange and participation through their commitment.
Impressions from the award ceremony
Why these awards are important
"The winners and all the nominees invest time, energy, and passion to make ETH Zurich an inclusive and appreciative place," emphasized Julia Dannath, Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership, who opened the ceremony with a welcome address. "Leadership and diversity are not secondary issues – they are the foundation for excellent research and teaching."
Isabelle Feller and Lorena Kuratle, representatives of AVETH, who hosted the evening, also praised this year's award winners: "These role models are shaping the ETH of tomorrow. With the Diversity Award, we celebrate people who embody diversity and break down barriers. The ALEA Award honours leaders who build trust and strengthen teams. Together, they demonstrate how innovation arises from respect and collaboration."
A strong signal for the future
The joint presentation of the two awards by VPPL and AVETH underscores how closely leadership and diversity are intertwined. Exemplary leadership means taking responsibility and embracing diversity as a strength. With the ALEA and Diversity Awards, ETH Zurich is sending a clear message: We are cultivating a culture in which innovation and inclusion go hand in hand.
Diversity Award
Category "Individual"
1st Place: Anis Meschichi
2nd Place: Anna Vagstad
3rd Place: Marie-Francine Lagadec
Category "Organisation/Group"
1st Place: WiNS – The Society of Women in Natural Sciences at ETH Zurich
2nd Place: Chair of Architecture and Care
3rd Place: Equal Opportunities at the NCCR RNA & Disease
ALEA Award
Winner: Elise Cahard
Finalists:
Lucio Isa
André Bardow
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