The Forum for Europe’s
Infrastructure Leaders
Bad Aussee – the place to be for infrastructure
For more than two decades, the KOMMUNALE SOMMERGESPRÄCHE have served as a leading forum for shaping the future of infrastructure and energy. Bringing together decision-makers from politics, business and the capital markets, the event fosters open dialogue and collaborative solutions to Europe’s most pressing infrastructure challenges.
Hosted by
Our Speakers 2026
Energy transition, digital infrastructure and new investment opportunities: Discover how grid constraints, artificial intelligence, capital flows and evolving financing conditions are shaping Europe’s infrastructure landscape – and the opportunities they create for Europe’s future.
-
José Manuel BarrosoFormer President oft he EU Commission -
Beate Meinl-ReisingerFederal Minister for European and International Affairs
-
Anders IndsetEconomic Philosopher & deep-tech Investor
-
Wiebke SchloemerDirector IFC International Finance Corporation
-
Wolfgang SchüsselFormer Chancellor of the Republic of Austria
-
Johannes HahnFormer EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy
-
Johannes PresslPresident of the Austrian Association of Municipalities
-
Jacques RipollCEO Kommunalkredit
-
Amila ColakhodzicSenior Originator Energy Kommunalkredit
-
Alexander WindbichlerFounder & CEO Anexia
-
Gerhard ChristinerBoard of Directors Austrian Power Grid
-
Peter FilzmaierPolitical Scientist & Head of the Institute for Strategic Analysis
-
Martin KocherGovernor of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank and Austrian Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB)
-
Helga BergerAustrian Representation to the European Court of Auditors
-
Richard KönigCEO Enery
-
Michael KraxnerMember of the Executive Board TIWAG Tiroler Wasserkraft AG
-
Manuela SzinovatzModeration
-
Erich SzuchyCEO Billa Austria
-
Benjamin WalterDirektor Allianz Global Investors
-
Ralph SpieglerPresident German Association of Cities and Municipalities, Mayor Nieder-Olm (Rhineland Palatinate)
-
Gregor SchusterschitzPermanent Representative of Austria to the EU
-
John WeilandCCO Kommunalkredit
-
Oliver HailzlDirector Patrizia Infrastructure
-
Tim BraukmüllerManaging Director aconium
-
Stefan WalaHead of Origination & Coverage Kommunalkredit
-
Meinrad KnappModeration
-
Christian BeynioHead of Advisory Kommunalkredit
-
Arnd BaumgardHead of Infrastructure Finance Kommunalkredit
-
- Intro & welcome
- Meinrad Knapp
- Johannes Pressl
- Jacques Ripoll
TopicIntro & welcome
Speaker-
Meinrad Knapp
Moderation -
Johannes Pressl
President of the Austrian Association of Municipalities -
Jacques Ripoll
CEO Kommunalkredit
-
- Impulse
- Anders Indset
TopicThe future is obvious. Why, then, do we act if it were uncertain?
The future belongs not to those who wait for change, but to those who finance it. Anders Indset outlines a new energy society in which electricity becomes the decisive factor for prosperity, competitiveness, and resilience.
Speaker-
Anders Indset
Economic Philosopher & deep-tech Investor
-
- Discussion
- Meinrad Knapp
- Jacques Ripoll
TopicFinancing Europe’s infrastructure transformation: Five years of lessons learned.
Recent years have put the resilience of infrastructure financing and investment to the test. The energy crisis, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainties have exposed weaknesses, but have also shown which models are viable. At the same time, Europe’s need for energy, digital, and strategic infrastructure is growing at a rate rarely seen before.
Speaker-
Meinrad Knapp
Moderation -
Jacques Ripoll
CEO Kommunalkredit
-
- Impulse
Power grids at their limitsTopicElectric cars aren’t the problem. It’s the grids behind them.
Europe is debating the phase-out of internal combustion engines, battery technologies and charging infrastructure. But the decisive question is: will the underlying infrastructure be sufficient? This keynote explores why the success of the energy transition will not be determined by individual technologies alone, but by Europe’s ability to integrate energy, mobility and digitalisation into a seamless and resilient system.