Governance & Leadership
Governance & Leadership
Institutional governance and academic oversight
Govonos is an independent non-profit research institute established in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Institute is committed to intellectual independence, academic rigor, institutional transparency, and responsible governance.
Its governance structure is designed to ensure a clear distinction between strategic direction, scientific oversight, and research activities.
Leadership
Founder and President
Govonos was founded by Pascal Berchem, entrepreneur, author, and governance researcher.
As President of the Institute, he is responsible for the strategic development of Govonos and the continuity of its mission.
His role is to support the Institute's long-term vision while ensuring that its activities remain aligned with its founding principles of intellectual independence and public-interest research.
Scientific Oversight
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee provides academic guidance and methodological oversight.
Its mission is to contribute to the quality, coherence, and credibility of the Institute's research activities and publications.
President of the Scientific Committee
Gérard Hirigoyen
Internationally recognised scholar in governance and family business research.
The Committee supports the Institute in fostering dialogue between academic research, institutional practice, and emerging governance challenges.
Principles
Institutional Principles
The governance of Govonos is guided by four principles:
- 01Intellectual Independence
- 02Academic Rigor
- 03Institutional Transparency
- 04Long-Term Responsibility
These principles inform both the Institute's research activities and its internal governance.
Positioning
An Ex Ante Institution
Govonos defines itself as an ex ante institution.
It operates upstream of implementation, regulation, and disciplinary stabilisation, focusing on the conceptual and methodological foundations that may contribute to future governance research and practice.
The responsibilities exercised within the Institute correspond to internal institutional functions specific to its mission and should not be interpreted as regulated academic titles or university appointments.