New OSA Director: 'I See Myself As A Bridge-Builder'

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) Lukas Weber was named as the new director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) last week. In his first media interview, he talks to SWI swissinfo about the challenges ahead and how he intends to reconcile his personal convictions with his new position. This content was published on March 27, 2025 - 14:00 5 minutes

Emigration, returning to Switzerland, family, education, pensions, banking, insurance... I care about Swiss people living abroad and inform them about the issues that concern them. Passionate about languages and cultures, my career path took a short turn through marketing and assistant work before crossing the road into journalism, in a job that allows me to converse with people from all over the world.

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• French Departme

• Deutsch de Lukas Weber: ((Ich sehe mich als Brückenbauer)) Read more: Lukas Weber: ((Ich sehe mich als Brückenbauer)
• Français fr Lukas Weber: ((Je me perçois comme un jeteur de ponts)) Original Read more: Lukas Weber: ((Je me perçois comme un jeteur de ponts)
• Italiano it Lukas Weber:“Mi considero un costruttore di ponti” Read more: Lukas Weber:“Mi considero un costruttore di ponti
• Português pt “Sou um construtor de pontes” Read more:“Sou um construtor de pontes

The Council of the Swiss Abroad, OSA's“parliament”, met in Bern on March 21. The day before, just under sixty delegates from all over the world took part in a workshop at the Federal Palace on the untapped potential of the diaspora. Weber, 58, was also present.

OSA's board voted unanimously for Weber at the end of a selection process that involved around 120 applications, OSA wrote in a press releaseExternal link on March 19. He will take over as director of OSA from Ariane Rustichelli in mid-April.

SWI swissinfo: What made you want to apply for the OSA director position?

Lukas Weber: The position of director of OSA brings together many of the aspects that fascinate me about the job, such as developing a culture and providing a vision. The wide range of tasks and the manageable size of the team convinced me of the value of the job. I like the idea of being able to work for an organisation that brings Swiss people together and seeks to find common denominators.

SWI: What is your vision for OSA?

L.W.: It's still too early to say. For the moment, I'm soaking up the atmosphere, reading a lot and meeting lots of people. In the coming months, I'd like to think about how to take OSA forward.

SWI: What challenges do you see the organisation facing in the future?

L.W.: Bringing together the Swiss Abroad and defending their interests is a task that is still relevant today. I think OSA can support them by raising its profile on social networks and using new technologies to respond more effectively to their needs.

More More Lukas Weber named as director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad

This content was published on Mar 20, 2025 The organisation representing the interests of Swiss citizens around the world has a new man at the top.

Read more: Lukas Weber named as director of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroa

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