ASTP : Adapting, Sustaining, Training, Professionalising

On Thursday 20^th May, 2021 members of ASTP met online for the association’s annual General Assembly.

Welcomed by the President, Cécile Cavalade, and Chief Executive, Laura MacDonald, ASTP members heard from the Board, that despite the impact of COVID-19, the association had adapted swiftly to the new environment and transferred many of its services to digital offerings.

Notable among the many highlights of 2020 was the launch of the Tea with ASTP webinar series. Hosted twice per month and free to members, in 2020 there were 13 editions in the series attended by over 830 members. Tea with ASTP remains a feature throughout 2021 and will continue to welcome experts from across the globe to transfer their knowledge to ASTP members.

Also among the other highlights 2020 was the shift of ASTP traditional training courses to online events. Of the 12 different courses, normally run face to face, in 2020 ASTP managed to run 11 training courses, training 242 knowledge transfer professional over the course of the year in a combination of face-to-face and online events: participants came from 33 different countries; within the EU and beyond.

Commenting on these results, ASTP Chief Executive, Laura MacDonald, said: “It is a testament to the continued commitment of ASTP’s volunteers, and the professional dedication of Headquarters staff, that the association has not just survived this traumatic year, but has excelled in adapting to a new digital environment”.

As the meeting went on, ASTP President Cécile Cavalade, paid tribute to the work of her fellow Board members, thanking departing colleagues for their hard work and commitment during the most difficult of years.

She paid tribute to outgoing Board members: Santiago Romo Urroz, Christophe Haunold and Amanda Zeffman, while expressing “great pleasure” that both Christophe and Amanda will continue to work with other ASTP committees.

While introducing three new Board members, Cécile Calavade welcomed: Stein Eggan, from Norway as new Vice President for Events, Jurgen Joossens, from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, as Vice President, Finance & Business Development, long-term ASTP volunteer, Anja Zimmerman, and Anji Miller, Senior Business Manager, LifeArc, UK.

Commenting on her appointment to the Board of ASTP, Anji Milller said:

“I take great pride in supporting the ASTP Board to build on their achievements in the sector to date. Through my role, I look forward to enhancing ASTPs activities in the KE community, and promoting the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the vital role that ASTP plays in training the practitioners in the European KE sector.”

For more details contact :

Noeleen O'Hara, Communications Manager, ASTP