Thank you for the energy

ELIA Executive Director, Maria Hansen is reaching out to members from far and wide in person but also virtually as ELIA events go hybrid.

The last few days, I have noticed that I am more upbeat, and full of energy. It’s the middle of February, fairly dreary weather in the Netherlands, still quite dark days – so that can’t be the cause. But I already know what is the origin of this unexpected but very welcome surge — connecting with ELIA members from around the world.

As you may remember, we embarked on a research study into ELIA’s global connectness recently, hoping to define more precisely what being ‘globally connected’ actually means for the network. After an excellent response to our survey, we are now conducting focus groups with members who had offered to be part of this process. Circumstances meant that I would be moderating all four of these conversations. They are turning out to be amazing member moments during which groups of members from all over Europe, and beyond, share their thoughts on the global nature of their own communities, but also their views on how ELIA as a globally connected European network should position itself in that context.

The content of these conversations is rich, but equally important to me is the meeting of minds of these international colleagues. I am grateful for this discovery and very much looking forward to the last of four conversations next week. We will then enter into the report writing phase so that the Representative Board can discuss the findings and next steps in April. All to be shared with the ELIA membership at the General Assembly on 26 November 2022 in Helsinki – is this date already in your agenda?

These focus groups come hot on the heels of another huge source of energy: the hybrid ELIA Academy in Brussels at the beginning of February, where a solid group of colleagues gathered to finally again meet, exchange, connect, have coffee, share a meal, go for a walk, paint at the Royal Talens booth, and create together – but also, to connect to the colleagues who joined online in this hybrid experiment.

It was quite a miracle that our hosts LUCA School of Arts and KU Leuven pulled it off together with the ELIA team and I am deeply grateful to all those who contributed their talents to this high-spirited gathering. We have missed being together at ELIA’s signature events and when I listen to the colleagues in the focus groups, I am realising how important these moments are for all of you. Thank you for the energy and for sharing with us, and with each other.

Photo credits: Steyn Van Roey & Bram De Laet  - Featuring  (from left to right) Lucas De Mann, Susan Orr and Maria Hansen.