At the General Assembly in June 2026, The Guild’s General Assembly bid farewell to two longstanding Board members: Rector Toomas Asser of the University of Tartu and Vice-Principal Rachel Sandison of the University of Glasgow. Presidents extended their sincere gratitude to both for their dedication, leadership, and valuable contributions in helping guide The Guild’s vision and activities over the past years.
The General Assembly elected Laëtitia Atlani-Duault, Vice-President for Europe at Université Paris Cité, and Jens Kreisel, Rector of the University of Luxembourg, to join the Board. Following the election, Virginia Richter was appointed Vice-Chair, and Jens Kreisel Treasurer, with Anders Hagfeldt continuing as Chair.
The Guild Board now consists of:
- Anders Hagfeldt, Chair (Uppsala University)
- Virginia Richter, Vice-Chair (University of Bern)
- Jens Kreisel, Board member and Treasurer (University of Luxembourg)
- Daniel David, Board member (Babeș-Bolyai University)
- Laëtitia Atlani-Duault, Board member (Université Paris Cité)
The Guild warmly welcomes its new Board members and looks forward to working with them in advancing the interests and ambitions of research-intensive universities in Europe at a time of deep transformation in science, society, and geopolitics.
I am truly honoured to join the Board of The Guild and look forward to supporting its network. Together with fellow board members and colleagues across the 23 universities, I am committed to helping The Guild achieve its ambitious goals and to defending and advancing the excellence of European research for the benefit of society.
Laëtitia Atlani-Duault, Vice-President Europe, Université Paris Cité
I am honoured to join the Board of the Directors of The Guild”, states Prof. Jens Kreisel. “When universities speak with a strong, common voice, they help strengthen our knowledge-based society. I look forward to contributing to that advocacy and to reflecting with The Guild members on how universities must evolve in times of AI, climate and demographic change, geopolitical uncertainty, and the expectations of a new young generation.
Jens Kreisel, Rector of the University of Luxembourg