On his election, Ahsmann said that “BEDA, as the authoritative voice for design for Europe, will continue to work to influence policy at a European level. We want to make Europe as competitive as it can be by design driving growth and prosperity. I am keen to invest the time it takes to strengthen our connections with the Commission and aim to also increase the opportunities for design, the funding of design and collaboration.”
Bart will be supported by Päivi Tahkokallio of The Association of Finnish Designers Ornamo, (Finland) who was elected as Vice-president at the Assembly. “What am I looking forward to? Collaboration. Collaboration is vital. Change does not stop on boarders of any country, especially with wicked problems. I live spot on in the Arctic Circle in the Finnish Lapland and I see the fragility of our globe there every day,” said Tahkokallio, Vice-president of Ornamo.
Bart takes over as President from Robin Edman of SVID, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation (Sweden), and together with Päivi will work to bring topics to policy agendas and to networking at the international level to benefit BEDA and its member organisations.
