Interview with the President of the IFSCC Congress Barcelona

What has your participation in previous IFSCC Congress brought to you professionally?

I have been involved in the world of cosmetics for more than 20 years and have been fortunate enough to attend many of the IFSCC congresses. For me the most important thing is the visualization of the future of cosmetics and how these scientific advances will be applied in the coming years. The scientific knowledge imparted at these congresses is the starting point of tomorrow’s cosmetics, it is always very exciting to see how new technologies and new knowledge are applied in our field.

I also consider beneficial, the possibility offered by these congresses to interact with colleagues with the same interests, share experiences and knowledge; in short, the networking offered by a congress with more than 1,000 scientists from the same sector.

How did you become a member of the International Federation?

The first idea came from Juan Lemmel, in 2014. He had just been appointed President of SEQC and one day he called me and said, «I have a plan for the International Vocalia that you will really like!».

He shared his idea of making the SEQC more visible within the IFSCC and proposed me to start attending the Council meetings, to see if we could get a Scientific Congress for the Society. The Council invited me to join the IFSCC Praesidium and even proposed me to be the Honorary Secretary of the Federation. Thanks to the support of the company where I work, DSM, and the members of the SEQC Board, I accepted the position and have been collaborating with the IFSCC ever since.

What is your role as president of the IFSCC Congress?

The IFSCC has a very important educational and scientific dissemination role. There are many areas of action (science, educational programs, publications, relations with the Societies that are currently 50, the KOSMET, etc.). Also, during these 3 previous years of preparation in the Praesidium, the contact with its members helps to know better the operations of the Federation, as well as to organize a congress. This year 2022 I will become the vice-president to become the President of the IFSCC in 2023 when our congress in Barcelona is be over. As president of the Congress, the first task I set myself was to choose a team to accompany me on this fascinating journey, so, together with Ana Rocamora, Juan Lemmel, Cristina Carreño, Pere Adell and Aurora Benaiges, we have begun a journey that will end in September 2023, hoping to organize a congress that will remain in the memory of all attendees.

How do you think the city of Barcelona can contribute to the IFSCC Congress?

What a good question! I am in love with Barcelona, its buildings, its streets, its culture, its gastronomy, its design and its «seny». It is a very attractive city for many people, both in Europe and abroad, and it complements the scientific offer that we propose for 2023. In addition, with the Organizing Committee, we have taken this into account and we are preparing social activities in emblematic places of the city that will remain etched in the retina of the attendees.  We hope that 2023 will allow for a risk-free congress, full of science and passion for cosmetics in this city that offers us an incomparable environment.