The SAA committee consists of representatives of members clubs and the four Australian delegates to the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA).
The Council of the Swiss Abroad is the governing body of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA). It is often referred to as the "parliament of the Swiss Abroad".
The Australian delegates for the term 2021-2025
Roland Isler
VIC
Graphic Designer; Head of Print Services, Caulfield Grammar School
Living in Australia since 1982
Interests: History & the Arts, Politics & Current Affairs, the Swiss in Australia
Connection and/or involvement in the Swiss community in Australia:
-
Elected member of the CSA since 2009
-
Swiss Review Regional Editor for Oceania since 2017
-
Chair and Organiser of the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference in Melbourne 2016
-
Hon. Life Member and Past-President of the Swiss Club of Victoria
-
Member of the Swiss Society of Victoria Assistance Committee
-
Founding Vice-President of the Swiss Alliance Australia Inc.
Contact Roland: Email
Carmen Trochsler
SA
Business Consultant | Swiss Lawyer | MLaw (St. Gallen), MBA (Adelaide)
Living in Australia since 2010
Interests: Travelling, outdoor sport, graphic design & photography, reading
Connection and/or involvement in the Swiss community in Australia:
-
Elected member of the CSA since 2015
-
Member of the OSA Executive Board in Bern since 2021
-
Board member of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Australia since 2019
-
Member of Swiss Club of South Australia since 2011 (Committee 2011-2014)
-
Producer/Presenter at community radio station 5EBI 2012-2017
-
Founding member of the Swiss Alliance Australia Inc.
Contact Carmen: Email
Beat Knoblauch
NSW
Business & Financial Advisor (lic.iur. University Berne)
Living in Australia since 1976
Interests: Politics, Economics, History, Art (collector of Australian Aboriginal Art), Literature, Choir, Tennis, Cycling
Connection and/or involvement in the Swiss community in Australia:
-
Elected member of the CSA since 2009
-
Past-President of SACCI (now SwissCham)
-
Past-President of Swiss University Graduates Australia
-
Member of the Swiss Club of NSW
-
Vice-President of the Swiss Community Care Society
-
Chair and Organiser of the Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference in Canberra 2014 & Sydney 2018
-
Founding President of the Swiss Alliance Australia Inc.
Contact Beat: Email
Katja Wallimann Gates
QLD
Homemaker, Biologist
Living in Australia since 1994
Interests: People, nature, politics, arts, travel
Connection and/or involvement in the Swiss community in Australia:
-
Elected member of the CSA since 2017
-
Swiss Society QLD: Member 26 years (y), editor Swiss News QLD 4y;
-
Swiss Yodel Group: Member 26y, organiser Children’s dance group 6y, Secretary 1y, President 7y
-
Swiss Mothers Play Group Brisbane: Organiser 3y
-
Swiss Care Qld: Member, volunteer Swiss Care Covid support group
-
Attendance: CSA meetings in Geneva, Visp, Montreux, Berne, Swiss Presidents Conferences in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney
-
Founding member of the Swiss Alliance Australia Inc.
Contact Katja: Email
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the OSA in 2016, the meeting of the Council of the Swiss Abroad was held in the National Council chamber at the Federal Palace in Bern
Reports of the Meetings of the Council of the Swiss Abroad
The Council of the Swiss Abroad meets regularly to discuss current topics and decide on important matters.
The Australian Delegates inform and report back to the Australian Community after each meeting, via our Social Media channels and this website.
Let’s stay connected
Are you on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin or Twitter? The Australian CSA delegates keep you up to date via our social media channels.
Search for Swiss Alliance Australia and follow us to stay up-to-date with the information we would like to share with you.
We publish a newsletter specifically for Swiss Abroad in our region. The newsletter appears about four times a year and provides information about any changes, events or news that are relevant for people living in Oceania.
Participants at Oceania Swiss Club Presidents’ Conference 2022, Embassy of Switzerland, Canberra
“The mission of the CSA delegates is to represent the Swiss Community in Australia, and to support and defend their interests as Swiss citizens living abroad.”
At present, around 26,400 registered Swiss live in Australia. Around 120 registered Swiss reside in Papua New Guinea and on the Pacific island nations of Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
See here for general information about the Council of the Swiss Abroad.