As part of the reform’s promised by the President in the area of the separation of governance and management I can report that as of today all IBSA workforce/consultants will report to me as Executive Director and not to any of our Elected Members to whom we extend our thanks for their many years of service undertaking operational duties.

In recent days the President has signed new contracts with Lucy Dominy as IBSA’s Media and Public Relations Manager: she will continue to be assisted by Pedro Figueiredo. Lucy is known to many of you as she served IBSA until the end of 2021 and was very successful in raising IBSA’s sport image and appeal in the area of social media at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. She will have a big task now preparing a media team and the planning for Paris 2024. And a further appointment is with Juliana Soares as Head of IBSA’s Anti-Doping – she too is known to many of you as IBSA’s Anti-Doping Education Officer. She has developed her knowledge and experience in recent years and is very well respected in the offices of WADA: she will be IBSA’s primary contact there. Recently she has been invited to be a key speaker at an event later this year.

It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the two ladies who might be described as the engine room of IBSA administration. Anca Chereches and Elisabeta Vuscan who have served IBSA as IBSA Assist for many years from their office in Romania. They too have signed new contracts and will be supported by me going forward. Our thanks and best wishes go out to all these new or renewed appointees. 2024 will be a busy year culminating in Paris 2024 with further enhancement of IBSA and its athletes in the Paralympic Movement and further motivation for the world’s blind and visually impaired community.

Tony Sainsbury
Executive Director