New era for the CERN and Society Foundation Board

As 2026 gathers momentum, the CERN & Society Foundation is gearing up for a dynamic year ahead, marked by continued impact and renewed leadership.

As part of this, the CERN & Society Foundation Board has recently seen several changes at the helm. Former President of the CERN Council, Michel Spiro, has reached the end of his term as Chair after five years of dedicated service, with current Board Member Jean-Marc Triscone (University of Geneva) stepping into his place.

In Mr. Spiro’s own words, “It has been a great honour and a great pleasure to chair the Board of the CERN & Society Foundation. The role of the Foundation is two-fold: it helps CERN bring its activities, know-how, and impact to society, while enabling society to learn about science, CERN, and the potential of the CERN model to solve global challenges. Each of the Foundation’s three pillars – Education & Outreach, Culture & Creativity and Innovation & Knowledge Exchange – illustrates the power of this interplay.”

Also arriving to the end of their mandate is Daphne De Laleu (Audemars Piguet), who reflects, “During my time as Deputy Chair of the CERN & Society Foundation, I have seen first-hand how the spirit of scientific curiosity can inspire social progress and empower the next generation.”

Succeeding her is Elizabeth Böhler-Goodship of the Loterie Romande, who was motivated to become a part of the Foundation to contribute to “building stronger bridges between CERN and the local communities”.

Another significant transition is the departure of the Organization’s former Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti, who served ex officio as a Member of the Board. CERN’s new Director-General, Mark Thomson, now joins the Board in this capacity.

Reflecting on his new role, he comments, “CERN’s goal to understand the universe at its most basic level is not just of scientific importance, but of huge cultural significance to humankind. This is why the CERN & Society Foundation plays such a vital role: it helps build a bridge between CERN and wider society while ensuring that the discoveries and technologies emerging from CERN benefit everyone.”

Together, these transitions signal the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Foundation, which continues to champion initiatives that connect science with society and amplify CERN’s impact on the world.