The fepa Board of Directors
The Board of Directors directs and promotes fepa’s activities, formulates the strategic objectives and annual goals in accordance with a list of duties.
fepa board members work on a voluntary basis.
We disclose any vested interests here in accordance with ZEWO Standard 5.
Susanne Zurbuchen
Horgen
High school teacher, retired
Co-President since 2022, Board member since 1990
Susanne Zurbuchen spent a two-year assignment in Tanzania in the early 1980s. Since then, she has been on various project trips in Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Helena Zweifel
Zürich
Ethnologist, former Managin Director of Medicus Mundi
Co-President since 2022, Board Member since 2014
Helena Zweifel is a specialist and consultant on development issues, especially in the health sector. She worked for the SDC in India.
Katharina Morello
Horgen
Pastor and writer
Board member since 2021
Katharina Morello lived with her family in Zimbabwe from 2001 to 2002. Since then, she undertook various project and research trips in South Africa and Zimbabwe, resulting in books and short stories.
Katharina Morello is also involved in the autonomous school of Zürich and is president of its supporting association Bildung für Alle (Education for All).
Barbara Müller
Basel
Ethnologist
Former fepa Co-President 2016 – 2022, Board member since 2015, former fepa Executive Director.
She is active in the solidarity movement with liberation movements in Southern Africa since the early 1970s.
As a specialst for Zimbabwe, she has gone on regular visits since 1980, last in 2022.
Barbara Müller is also involved with the Africa Committee. She is a trustee of the Solifonds and farip and is on the board of KEESA.
Mickness Mshana-Aeschlimann
Bern
MA-Diploma in African Studies at the University of Basel, active as a Consultant for Wildlife Conservation & Women Empowerment in Africa
Board member since 2021
Mickness was born and raised in Tanzania. For the intercultural exchange visit of women’s rights activists Cynthia Gwenzi and Rosewita Katsande to Switzerland in March 2020, she participated at an internship at fepa at the end of 2019 until spring 2020.
Rita Kesselring
St. Gallen
Ethnologist
Board member since 2017
Rita Kesselring is working as an Associate Professor for Urban Studies at the University of St. Gallen. Previously, she studied in South Africa, among other places. The focus of her research lies in South Africa and Zambia as well as topics such as mining, global commodity trade and reparations for apartheid victims.
Rita Kesselring is part of the KEESA board.
Roger Morgenthaler
Bern
Environmental Engineer, Bsc
Board member since 2018
Roger Morgenthaler travelled for one year in Central and South America in 2012. In 2016, he spent four months working on assignment with fepa partner PORET in Zimbabwe.
He is also involved in projects to promote biodiversity in Bern.
Christian Noetzli
Zürich
Degree in Earth Sciences from the ETH and secondary school teacher
Board member since 2021
Connected with Southern Africa through his academic studies and various activities and project support in the field of environment and climate.
Silvia Schönenberger
Bern
Ethnologist
Board member since 2012
Silvia Schönenberger is campaign manager at the Society for Threatened Peoples. She spent several years abroad in Chile. Currently active in the feminist strike collective Bern.