ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. — St. Bonaventure University alumnus and global businessman Dick Kearns, ’72, returns to his alma mater this month, bringing along a panel of international business executives for the 11th annual Kearns Global Business Forum.

The presentation, titled “GenAI: Understanding Current Applications in Business and Higher Ed,” will begin at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 in Dresser Auditorium of the Murphy Building on the St. Bonaventure campus.

Free and open to the public, the event will also be livestreamed. Kearns and his team welcome local businesspeople to attend.

“Artificial Intelligence is one of the key areas of concerns for CEOs and leaders, worldwide” said Dr. Matrecia James, dean of the School of Business. “It’s a game changer that can redefine how organizations operate. Dick and his panel are working with our students to understand how an important AI subset, Generative AI, is being applied in business and higher education. It’s important for them to understand the concepts of GenAI as they prepare to enter a changing workplace.”

Kearns has more than five decades of experience in global markets, including nine years living and working in Switzerland. He retired from Zurich Insurance in June of 2023 after serving 21 years as a board director in the U.S. and chief administrative officer in Switzerland. Previously, he spent 30 years at PwC in senior roles, including as vice chairman.

Kearns served as a St. Bonaventure trustee from 2000 to 2009. He is a recipient of the university’s Gaudete Medal, 2017 Alumnus of the Year award, and an honorary doctorate in 2019. He received a BBA in accounting and is a CPA.

Joining Kearns on the panel will be:

Jennifer Torneden: Torneden is an experienced insurance distribution executive with particular expertise in digital transformation, C-suite partnering, growth and strategy, and customer experience.