It is a challenge to any scientific society when someone at the core of the organisation leaves for new challenges and opportunities, and this is no less true for the ECTS.
Roberta Mugnai will be moving on to another important position and the process to find a new Executive Director has begun. We are hugely indebted to Roberta for her many years of dedication to our society and her enormous impact on the development of the ECTS. Roberta has kindly offered to continue to assist the ECTS for a few hours a week for the coming months to help with continuity in the transition period. There is probably not a single member of our society who does not know Roberta or has not engaged with her via e-mails or in person. However, much work is done behind the scenes which does not perhaps get noticed. The role of Executive Director is one of considerable responsibility and oversight and includes not only management of ECTS staff and liaison with members, sponsors, other scientific societies, congress bureaus as well as legal compliance and authority queries. It also includes acting swiftly in the face of unexpected crises, of which Europe has seen a few in the past years. In a society of volunteers, the Executive Director needs to provide forward planning, continuity and professionalism and Roberta has done this excellently. We are very sorry to see her leave but wish her the very best in her exciting new job and a big thank you for serving the ECTS and the membership so well in challenging and difficult times.
ECTS Executive Committee
I first met Roberta in 2018 at the ECTS congress in Valencia and since then collaborated with her in various capacities. She always showed an extremely high dedication to ECTS and acted as an excellent role model for the ECTS staff. Roberta has a very profound knowledge of our society and perfectly communicates with members, sponsors, stakeholders and authorities. I am very grateful for all she has achieved for our society.
Peter Pietschmann, ECTS President 2023-2026
Roberta is a true professional and has been of the utmost importance for reshaping the ECTS. It would not have been possible for the ECTS to steer successfully through the pandemic and continue to provide value to the scientific community, patients and members without her tireless dedication to our society.
Bo Abrahamsen, ECTS President 2020-2023
Dear Roberta, too bad you left the ECTS. I want to pay a tribute to you for excellence and sense of belonging. We will be for ever friends!
Anna Teti, ECTS President 2017-2019