We are honored to present the inaugural speech of our new President, Virginia Bazán-Gil, who was elected during the prestigious FIAT/IFTA World Conference in Bucharest. As a highly respected figure in the audiovisual archiving community, President Bazán-Gil brings a visionary approach and deep commitment to advancing our shared mission. Join us as she outlines her vision for the future of FIAT/IFTA, addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities in preserving the world’s audiovisual heritage.

Today, as the new president, I would like to share my journey at FIAT/IFTA. This is my story and, as you will see, it was not love at first sight. 

RTVE has been a long-standing, though not too active, member of FIAT/IFTA since 1977. Every year, one archivist was chosen to attend the conference and invited to write a report summarising their experience. Stuck in the routine of my job, I was looking for new horizons and broader experiences. That’s when I was presented with the opportunity to attend the FIAT/IFTA conference in 2016—my very first. 

As a newcomer to this network, I was terrified. I faced the challenges of language barrier and limited personal connections. However, what truly captivated me were the exceptional projects presented there. The quality and innovative approaches showcased reflected the talent and dedication within this community. Warsaw was a unique opportunity for me to learn, grow, and be inspired. I went back home with many new ideas, and a few personal contacts and kept the conversation going. Even so, FIAT/IFTA hadn’t found a place in my heart, not yet.

As autumn returned, so did the FIAT/IFTA conference. I’m committed to my work, and when my company gave me the chance to participate again, I felt it was my duty to contribute with a presentation. Colleagues from top international institutions attended and showed interest in our projects. They engaged with us, valuing our efforts and ideas while fostering an open exchange of advice and support. I discovered a community of thought, my community. 

Over the years, I’ve met some fantastic colleagues who have helped me grow professionally. With them, I’ve shared my concerns and my determination to modernise the RTVE archive. I’ve learnt the value of being around people from whom I can learn something new in every conversation; a network that fuels your spirit and motivates you. This also applies to vendors, who are happy to support, listen and make connections between clients. 

But I’ve also made great friends, people who are part of my life and have opened my mind and my heart. That’s probably why, and also because I can’t say no to a challenge, when BD offered me the role of General Secretary. He deserves a special mention. During the last few years, we have shared hard work, trips and meetings but the only thing we still have not managed to agree on is the right time to have lunch.

Maybe some of you can relate to this story. You’ve heard from other colleagues that this is a wonderful network, but you may not be able to see it that way yet. It can take some time for you to realize that FIAT/IFTA is a welcoming network with brilliant people always available to share their experience and their projects. People who are fully committed to their jobs but still have time to give and share. 

As president, my goal will be to ensure that each of you feels the value of being part of this community and to encourage you to be as proactive as you can. In this era of AI, I believe it is people who truly make the difference—the essential fabric FIAT/IFTA is built on. Our members are our biggest strength, which excels in collaboration, generosity, and the pursuit of shared interests, driving developments and improvements forward. 

But our challenge is that we need to be active, committed members—innovators who contribute as much as we receive. It is this cycle of give and take that keeps us going.

As we all know, “neurons that fire together wire together.” This quote highlights how any system of cells that become repeatedly active at the same time will tend to become ‘associated,’ therefore activity in one will facilitate activity in the other.

Just as neurons build stronger connections by working together, we as FIAT/IFTA members can build stronger networks through cooperation and mutual support, which should ease our path to progress and innovation within our field. 

Let’s activate these connections as only FIAT/IFTA members can do, starting by welcoming all the EC members on stage. 

Please, tag these faces in your systems, as media archivists do. Take full advantage of these days in lovely Bucharest to connect with them and share your initiatives for the next two years. Thanks everybody for being part of the FIAT/IFTA family.