The beating heart of Terre des hommes
Who are the people behind the Terre des hommes name? Baptiste, Luc, Jezerca, Marta, Anthony, Thant, Maude… some 2,400 people from all kinds of backgrounds work at our Lausanne headquarters or in our operational areas around the world.
They are all committed individuals willing to give much of their time and energy to help children escape poverty, violence, inequality, injustice, and poor health and social conditions on migration routes.
Our foundation’s employees recognise that their work is rewarding, intense and above all both meaningful and valuable.
Interested in joining Terre des hommes?
Council of the foundation
The Council of the foundation is made up of specialists in humanitarian work, public health, finance, law, marketing, the media and economics. Their role is to supervise how the Foundation is organised and operates.
Whether viewed in terms of global security or health challenges, we are living in uncertain times, prompting our foundation to reflect on how to strengthen our governance, systems and accountability, while never losing sight of our vision, missions and values.
With a commission for finance, for ethics and for political positioning in Switzerland, the Council guides the organisation to increase its impact and ensure positive and sustainable changes in the lives of children around the world.
“Personally, I am proud to belong to such a fine organisation, whose commitment is now beyond dispute. I am optimistic about the future.”
Former Head of Finance at SRG SSR - now retired
“I was born with a deep-seated aversion to injustice and inequality. Then my life’s course threw me into humanitarian work, where I fought a great deal against landmines - which very often harm children - and against the use of child soldiers. After having two children of our own, my husband and I adopted four others. What then could be more natural, the day I found I had some spare time again, than to join the Terre des hommes Council of the foundation? The foundation helps, support and cares for children and their families, and it fights for justice. I can but support it and bring my humble experience to the table.”
Co-founder of Geneva Call
“We live in a time of unprecedented technological advancement and innovation, and as a humanitarian organisation, we have an opportunity to harness these tools to make a real and lasting impact on the world. By embracing technology and innovation, we can develop new solutions to existing problems, reach more children in need, and make our operations more efficient and effective. I believe that we can build a world where compassion and innovation go hand in hand.”
Digital Transformation and Innovation
WMO CIO
“As a doctor working in humanitarian contexts, the health of children and their mothers is particularly important to me. Improving children's health goes far beyond merely providing care, it entails giving mothers their independence, community engagement, training healthcare professionals, and rolling out new technologies, all areas in which Terre des hommes’ work is particularly relevant.”
University Hospitals of Geneva, Department of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Medical Doctor
International Committee of the Red Cross, Health Unit, Medical Officer - Former head of employee health at ICRC
TDHIF, Board member
“As the father of three children, supporting the projects run by Switzerland's leading child relief organisation is the obvious course for me to take. At Tdh, we deliver a practical response to what is happening in the world, and children are our core concern. Rolling out projects relating to health, schooling, and protecting legal rights is a form of applied geopolitics that appeals to me. What are we doing in Iraq, in Cox’s Bazar, or in Dadaab? How should we act in places run by dictators? Hard to think of anything more practical.”
Former RTS journalist
“It is not acceptable that children suffer. Terre des hommes delivers practical, visible work in the field, for example through projects related to schooling or health, or in response to humanitarian crises. As a Member of the Council of the foundation, I give my time and skills to child relief work. It’s the obvious choice to make.”
Managing Partner at DPM Finances & Consulting SARL, Business transformation consultant
Committee member at Château de Seedorf Association, a training centre for disadvantaged young adults, Member of Borromean Islands Lions Club
"To protect the lives, well-being and rights of children and young people around the world. And to promote the dignity of all. These are essential missions to which I want to actively contribute and which Terre des hommes puts into practice through projects in the fields of health, migration and access to justice".
Consultant and teacher in public policy - social, education and culture
“Personally, I am proud to belong to such a fine organisation, whose commitment is now beyond dispute. I am optimistic about the future.”
Former Head of Finance at SRG SSR - now retired
“I was born with a deep-seated aversion to injustice and inequality. Then my life’s course threw me into humanitarian work, where I fought a great deal against landmines - which very often harm children - and against the use of child soldiers. After having two children of our own, my husband and I adopted four others. What then could be more natural, the day I found I had some spare time again, than to join the Terre des hommes Council of the foundation? The foundation helps, support and cares for children and their families, and it fights for justice. I can but support it and bring my humble experience to the table.”
Co-founder of Geneva Call
“We live in a time of unprecedented technological advancement and innovation, and as a humanitarian organisation, we have an opportunity to harness these tools to make a real and lasting impact on the world. By embracing technology and innovation, we can develop new solutions to existing problems, reach more children in need, and make our operations more efficient and effective. I believe that we can build a world where compassion and innovation go hand in hand.”
Digital Transformation and Innovation
WMO CIO
“As a doctor working in humanitarian contexts, the health of children and their mothers is particularly important to me. Improving children's health goes far beyond merely providing care, it entails giving mothers their independence, community engagement, training healthcare professionals, and rolling out new technologies, all areas in which Terre des hommes’ work is particularly relevant.”
University Hospitals of Geneva, Department of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Medical Doctor
International Committee of the Red Cross, Health Unit, Medical Officer - Former head of employee health at ICRC
TDHIF, Board member
“As the father of three children, supporting the projects run by Switzerland's leading child relief organisation is the obvious course for me to take. At Tdh, we deliver a practical response to what is happening in the world, and children are our core concern. Rolling out projects relating to health, schooling, and protecting legal rights is a form of applied geopolitics that appeals to me. What are we doing in Iraq, in Cox’s Bazar, or in Dadaab? How should we act in places run by dictators? Hard to think of anything more practical.”
Former RTS journalist
“It is not acceptable that children suffer. Terre des hommes delivers practical, visible work in the field, for example through projects related to schooling or health, or in response to humanitarian crises. As a Member of the Council of the foundation, I give my time and skills to child relief work. It’s the obvious choice to make.”
Managing Partner at DPM Finances & Consulting SARL, Business transformation consultant
Committee member at Château de Seedorf Association, a training centre for disadvantaged young adults, Member of Borromean Islands Lions Club
"To protect the lives, well-being and rights of children and young people around the world. And to promote the dignity of all. These are essential missions to which I want to actively contribute and which Terre des hommes puts into practice through projects in the fields of health, migration and access to justice".
Consultant and teacher in public policy - social, education and culture
Our Executive Board
Our executive team steers the global strategy of Terre des hommes and its operational management, in line with the organisation's values, vision and mission. Its objective: to maximise the impact on children, while adapting to the current, ever-changing context.
A one-on-one with Barbara
“Throughout my career of 25 years and more in the humanitarian sector, I have advocated for justice, respect and human rights, as well as for the protection of the most disadvantaged. I am proud to lead Terre des hommes, an organisation that sets the benchmark in child protection, and that provides meaningful and responsible solutions to improve the lives of children, their families and their communities.”
With Claudio, it’s personal experience
“My various roles in international development and humanitarian emergencies have strengthened my belief in the essential part played by non-governmental organisations in supporting the most vulnerable people, so often omitted from the international political agenda. As a father, I am particularly enthusiastic about continuing my career here at Terre des hommes. Our mission to protect children is vital in a world which is sometimes too unjust and violent, but a world too that deserves all our efforts to bring about more compassion.”
Talking HR with Franck
“Terre des hommes’ employees, volunteers and partners are the ones who step up to the plate and make our work possible, both at headquarters and in the field. The main objectives of Terre des hommes´ Human Resources Department are to support, equip and train our diverse team, while ensuring best management practices are followed.”
Françoise explains her role
“I am enthusiastic about my role at the Terre des hommes Foundation, which consists of setting up effective information systems to improve the efficiency and expand the scale of our operations, to lead the digital transformation of our processes and operations, and to position our organisation as setting the standard in terms of innovation. Like all my colleagues, I am happy to be involved in defending and promoting children's rights around the world.”
Gregory describes our diverse resources
“Using finance as a means and not an end in itself has always been a driving force for me. In accordance with the wishes of our donors and institutional funding providers, we strive to ensure that resource allocation matches Terre des hommes’ vision as closely as possible. I am happy to experience our rich cultural mix - a source of development, inspiration and personal enrichment - every day, in both my personal and working lives.”
Steven shares his point of view
“I’m very aware of the challenges around sustainable development, inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly those experienced by children, so it was natural for me to seek to work for organisations protecting children's rights. This commitment brought me to lead operations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, in environments that were often troubled.”
A one-on-one with Barbara
“Throughout my career of 25 years and more in the humanitarian sector, I have advocated for justice, respect and human rights, as well as for the protection of the most disadvantaged. I am proud to lead Terre des hommes, an organisation that sets the benchmark in child protection, and that provides meaningful and responsible solutions to improve the lives of children, their families and their communities.”
With Claudio, it’s personal experience
“My various roles in international development and humanitarian emergencies have strengthened my belief in the essential part played by non-governmental organisations in supporting the most vulnerable people, so often omitted from the international political agenda. As a father, I am particularly enthusiastic about continuing my career here at Terre des hommes. Our mission to protect children is vital in a world which is sometimes too unjust and violent, but a world too that deserves all our efforts to bring about more compassion.”
Talking HR with Franck
“Terre des hommes’ employees, volunteers and partners are the ones who step up to the plate and make our work possible, both at headquarters and in the field. The main objectives of Terre des hommes´ Human Resources Department are to support, equip and train our diverse team, while ensuring best management practices are followed.”
Françoise explains her role
“I am enthusiastic about my role at the Terre des hommes Foundation, which consists of setting up effective information systems to improve the efficiency and expand the scale of our operations, to lead the digital transformation of our processes and operations, and to position our organisation as setting the standard in terms of innovation. Like all my colleagues, I am happy to be involved in defending and promoting children's rights around the world.”
Gregory describes our diverse resources
“Using finance as a means and not an end in itself has always been a driving force for me. In accordance with the wishes of our donors and institutional funding providers, we strive to ensure that resource allocation matches Terre des hommes’ vision as closely as possible. I am happy to experience our rich cultural mix - a source of development, inspiration and personal enrichment - every day, in both my personal and working lives.”
Steven shares his point of view
“I’m very aware of the challenges around sustainable development, inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly those experienced by children, so it was natural for me to seek to work for organisations protecting children's rights. This commitment brought me to lead operations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, in environments that were often troubled.”