Message from the Chair

Olivier Caleff is the newly appointed Chair of the FIRST Board of Directors. He recaps the Annual General Meeting and thanks outgoing Chair, Tracy Bills, for her dedication and leadership. Olivier strongly encourages everyone to identify ways they can engage in FIRST’s activities, such as the SIGs (Special Interest Groups), programs, tools, and the many other FIRST events throughout the year.

FIRSTCON25 in Copenhagen, Denmark

The Annual General Meeting was held on June 23rd, 2025 during the annual conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Election results were announced: Yukako Uchida, Tracy Bills, Michael Hausding, and Carlos Alvarez were re-elected. Graciela Martinez Giordano was newly elected to the Board of Directors for the term 2025-2027.

Audrey Mnisi Mireku, Nadia Yousef, Carlos Leonardo, Serge Droz, and I will continue our 2024-2026 term. Few modifications occurred in the attributions, roles and responsibilities of Board members. Michael Hausding will continue as the Chief Financial Officer, and I am extremely honored and excited to serve as the Chair of the FIRST Board of Directors for a one year term.

Along with all FIRST Board of Directors, I want to thank our outgoing Board member Mona Østvang, for her hard work, dedication, and leadership she provided over the 2 terms she completed. Moreover, Mona has been very efficient in her role as Board Liaison for the successful Copenhagen Conference, working along with Henrik Larsen - long time FIRST member and 2025 Program Chair - and the FIRST Events Team.

The 2024 Annual Report provides evidence that FIRST keeps on growing its programs, services, initiatives as well as membership, and staff. I highly recommend reading our Annual Reports and Quarterly Newsletters to better understand all that is achieved in the community, learn about SIGs and other activities, and - hopefully - to to become enticed to engaging in our community.

As the new Chair, I am committed to deliver on plans and progress aligned to FIRST's Strategic Framework that was announced last March. Also, I would like to increase visibility on FIRST community's activities and deliverables, and recognize those who are the most active or bring the most value. To start with, I started publishing an internal “News from the Chair” newsletter that was sent to all teams, liaisons, associates. If you are part of the FIRST community and did not receive it, please get back to troubleshoot the case.

Stay tuned, and look at FIRST events scheduled from September to the end of 2025.

Olivier Caleff, Chair

Published on FIRST POST: Apr-Jun 2025