Annual General Meeting of BDÜ NRW

Last weekend, the Annual General Meeting of the NRW regional chapter of BDÜ took place in Siegburg. And this one felt a little different for me!

For the first time, I wasn’t just attending. I was actually part of the agenda! In my new role as Public Relations Officer, I had the chance to introduce myself to the members and share a glimpse of what I have in mind for the coming term. My focus? Making our association more visible and approachable for both current and future members, while also strengthening how our profession is perceived by the public. In other words: more visibility, clearer positioning, and a stronger collective voice.

But beyond the official agenda, the real highlight, as always, was everything happening in between. The coffee breaks, the spontaneous conversations, the familiar faces and new connections. At times, it felt a bit like a class reunion. And while many of us spend our working days as freelancers, often on our own or tucked away in interpreting booths, there’s something incredibly grounding about being in the same room, sharing ideas, concerns, and a few laughs along the way.

I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead in my new role with the NRW chapter and I can’t wait to get started!