Dear Colleagues,
It was such a pleasure to see so many of you at the recent AGM either in person or through zoom which for some was a late-night call.
During the meeting, I was given the opportunity to say farewell as I stepped down as past president. For the grammarians among you, there is no such tense or position as the past perfect; the term is the past imperfect.
I would like to thank all of you and, in many cases, your predecessors, who took on the responsibility not only of leading your national associations but of supporting the ICCS with so much enthusiasm. It has been a privilege to work with you and, thanks to your energy and efforts, to further the mission of the ICCS.
My engagement with the ICCS began when there was still a full-time director and executive assistant, an office in Ottawa, and government grants to be allocated. It is thanks to your commitment and support that the ICCS has successfully evolved despite the government cuts which sincerely impacted all national associations.
I would like to recognize the tremendous contribution of Munroe Eagles who took over the presidency during this tumultuous period. Professor Eagles recognized the need to restructure in order to achieve financial viability and successfully completed this arduous process.
Thanks to Professors Colin Coates and Jean-Michel Montsion, the ICCS is now housed in the prestigious Robarts Centre and benefits from a close association with the Robarts’ colleagues. Professor Montsion has successfully obtained grants, run seminar series and summer schools in which the ICCS is included.
I wish to express my gratitude as well to Professor Kerstin Knopf who followed Professor Eagles. She oversaw setting up the new office, initiating a new part-time coordinator, reorganizing the very important grants and prizes section and setting up a new website; Professor Knopf was in Germany, the coordinator in Toronto, the treasurer in Ireland and the webmaster in Singapore.
Our ever dedicated, unstintingly reliable and, indeed, significantly overqualified treasure, John Maher also stepped in during this period and has, ever since, scrupulously followed the markets, expenses, and revenue producing balanced and readable financial statements of which the ICCS can be proud. He has, in addition, travelled to Ottawa to meet with the financial team. This personal contact, ‘pressing the flesh’ as he would say, is enormously beneficial. His work of professionally quality is, of course, voluntary; in Ireland they say give credit where money is due.
My sincere thanks as well to Alicia Filopowich who took over from Eileen Wong. As a regular employee of the Robarts Centre, she knows who to call, where to find things, including a Canadian flag, and when to send out the SOS messages. Working with Laura Taman has also been a pleasure. The contribution of the coordinator is of inestimable value to the smooth running of the ICCS.
Professor Anna Branach-Kallas was elected President unanimously in 2025 and has done a superb job of building on the commitment, connections and ongoing work of the ICCS. I am grateful for her dedication. Welcome Charles Batson to the role of incoming President. Let’s look forward to progress in the future perfect tense.
Professor Jane Koustas served as ICCS President from 2023–2025