Inclusive Excellence at the AO Foundation

At the AO Foundation, our mission is to foster a culture where Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) are integral to our workforce and communities. We are committed to recognizing and embracing the unique differences of everyone, ensuring equitable opportunities, and removing barriers to access. 

The AO Inclusive Excellence Focus Group (hereafter “IEFG”) is a voluntary, multi-disciplinary group of employees from different departments and regions established in early 2024. The IEFG initiates, manages, and implements initiatives and projects AO-wide around DEIA.
 

Bettina Brühlmann (Project Lead)
Switzerland

Stefano Crespan
Switzerland

Dino Nuzzo
Switzerland

Segbé Pritchett
Switzerland

Tatjana Topalovic
Switzerland

Maja Vidovic
Switzerland

Isabella Wong
APAC

Idaura Lobo
LATAM

Paola Morales
LATAM

Carla Vinize
LATAM

Inclusive Excellence Plan 2026-2028

We are combining our enduring DEIA initiative, “Inclusive Excellence,” with the requirements of Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation, as of 2026. This Inclusive Excellence Plan not only ensures compliance with Horizon Europe requirements for grant applications, but also reinforces our dedication to our Inclusive Excellence initiative from past years. In April 2026, the Inclusive Excellence Plan 2026-2028 was approved and is fully supported by the AO EC, available to all our employees internally on AskMyHR and now publicly here:

Inclusive Excellence Policy – for our employees across the AO

To strengthen our global commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and a safe working environment, we have introduced updated Inclusive Excellence Policies. These policies define expectations for respectful conduct, outline support channels, and describe the process for reporting any personal integrity violation.