CURRICULUM VITAE

Alain BERSET

Mr Alain Berset has started his five-year term as Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 18 September 2024.

Former President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA (health, social security, culture, gender equality, anti-discrimination/anti-racism).

Personal details

9 April 1972, Fribourg, Switzerland
Married, 3 children

Political career

2023                 President of the Swiss Confederation

2018                 President of the Swiss Confederation

2012 – 2023      Member of the Government (Federal Council) and Head of the Federal Department of
Home Affairs FDHA (health, social security, culture, anti-discrimination/anti-racism)

2009                 President of the Senate (Council of States)

2007 – 2011      Member of the parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE

2005 – 2011      Member of the parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie

2005 – 2011      Vice president of the parliamentary Social Democratic group

2003 – 2011      Member of the Senate (Council of States)

2000 – 2004      Constitutional Council of the Canton of Fribourg

2001 – 2003      Member of the local parliament in Belfaux FR

Professional activity

2006 – 2011      Independent strategy and communications advisor

2001 – 2004      Strategic advisor at the Department of Economic Affairs of canton Neuchâtel

2000 – 2001      Guest researcher at the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Hamburg

1996 – 2000      Assistant lecturer at the Research institute for Regional Economic Development at the University of Neuchâtel

Education

2005                 PhD in Economics at the University of Neuchâtel

1996                 Ms. Sc. in Political Science at the University of Neuchâtel