As we approach the end of 2025, it feels like the right moment to pause and appreciate what we have achieved together as the European Association for People Management. This year has been full of energy, new ideas, and meaningful collaboration across our member associations, working groups, Board and Secretariat. Thanks to your engagement, 2025 has been a year of real progress and renewed momentum.

This was our first full year working with the refined value proposition and strategic focus agreed in 2024, built around community, collaboration, content and continuity. Throughout 2025, these pillars came to life in so many ways. The Working Groups delivered another impressive range of activities; from events and insights to policy engagement and partnerships – each contributing to a stronger, more connected European HR community.

Our Delegates Assembly Annual Meeting in Brussels was a highlight, bringing together perspectives from across Europe and demonstrating once again the strength of our network. The discussions, panel sessions and workshops reinforced the importance of working together and showed what we can achieve when our associations share expertise and build on each other’s strengths. For me personally, it was a reminder of the generosity and professionalism that define our community.

We also continued to strengthen our financial and operational foundations. With prudent planning and the commitment of our Treasurer and Secretariat, we maintained stability while supporting an ambitious programme of work. This remains critical as we grow our activities and expand our partnerships across Europe.

This year’s achievements would not have been possible without the leadership of our Working Group Leads, many of whom give countless hours to EAPM. As several Leads step down from their roles at the end of 2025, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for their creativity, dedication and ability to turn ideas into impactful initiatives. You have helped shape the culture and capability of EAPM, and we are deeply grateful.

We also say thank you to our departing Board Members. Elli Matsouka, Solveiga Grudienė and Raffaele Credidio complete their terms this year, each leaving a lasting mark on EAPM. Your contributions – from governance and strategic development to working group support and international representation – have helped guide our direction and strengthen our community. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your service, your wisdom and your warm collaboration.

Despite the many achievements, we also navigated challenges such as tight volunteer capacity, the ongoing need for financial resilience, and the complexity of operating across diverse national contexts. Yet as we have seen so often in EAPM’s history, these challenges also revealed our collective strength. When needed, our members step forward. When problems arise, we solve them together. That spirit is what enables us to keep moving forward with confidence.

Looking ahead to 2026, we have exciting opportunities to deepen our collaboration, grow our partnerships, and continue elevating the voice of the HR profession across Europe. Our strengthened working groups, growing network of associations, and the insights generated by our community give us a strong platform for the future. Most importantly, we remain committed to ensuring that EAPM is a place where HR professionals feel connected, supported and inspired.

To our National Association Members: thank you for your trust, your participation and your enthusiasm. You are the heart of EAPM. Your engagement, whether through events, surveys, working groups or day-to-day communication, keeps this community vibrant and ensures that our work remains impactful and relevant.

As we close the year, I want to wish you all a peaceful holiday season and a wonderful start to 2026. Thank you for another year of collaboration, learning and shared purpose.

I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you.

Warm regards,
Berna Öztınaz
President, European Association for People Management