June letter 2026
First part of the presidential talk EFS, Lisbon
When looking forward –
Dear all! – and once again welcome to my June letter of 2026. A letter that is almost identical to the first stanzas of the presidential address I delivered in Lisbon at our 18th biannual Conference
A conference like ours render us days of talking, listening, learning, sharing and exchanging insights, knowledge and emotions.
An old Sanscrit saying goes as follows: Walk together, talk together o’ Ye peoples of the earth, then and only then shall Ye have peace.
In the days in Lisbon, we walked and talked together and supported peace.
Here and now, I am to look forward, forward and forward.
As we roll along the solid rails of time, we experience the future to become the present and the present turned to past. On this life journey, some of you can trust much future ahead, while others have an abundance of past to harvest from.
Over the two years since our last congress in Bologna, we have seen a small wonder come into being.
Our new society, that of the early careerers, has grown almost exponentially, creating an arena of learning and sharing for those who have shorter pasts.
What a gift for us old trees to see the undergrowth develop and bloom.
Past can inform the present and render us tools for future decisions and directions. The past of the elder can be conveyed and hence strengthen the future of the younger. I hope for just that kind of sharing in the present and in the future of EFS.
There are deep knowledges dwelling in the minds of those of us that have been fortunate to establish a major body of past, and equally privileged to have gained insights from that body. These deep insights, we were most willing to share right there on this last EFS congress and we will continue to do so in the steadily evolving future of our Federation
Let me also use this opportunity to welcome all the new members of our board, a happy choice by the General Assembly!
Let me also thank Goran Arbanas for his many years of excellent service for our Federation. Likewise, I thank Tiina Wilponen and Astrid Højgaard for their many contributions to our board
Best wishes for the summer that is already upon us.
Love
Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad
EFS president