It never fails to impress me what this profession achieves for service users, and for wider society. Every day, you empower people to learn, grow, and navigate an ever-changing world. You should be proud of your positive impact.

Looking ahead, I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together. Our profession has uniquely valuable contributions to make to some of society’s biggest challenges.

CILIP has always existed to support you. We are uniquely able to connect, empower and champion the whole profession across the four Nations and beyond – including every person and organisation. Over the coming year that will feature:

• Our new 2026-30 strategy: Empowering impact – this has already started with a long overdue major investment in digital including a new website and member platform to replace YM – to deliver a more modern and sustainable offer to members and volunteers.
• Advocacy and influence on the issues you care about – we unite and empower the whole profession, to raise our profile and influence governments, funders and employers on everything from ethical AI and good growth to digital inclusion and intellectual freedom.
• Starting the next update of the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB), our skills standard, to ensure that it reflects the skills of today and the coming years, to support your career development and progression, including via Chartership and apprenticeships.
• Career pathways - widening opportunities through apprenticeships, accredited HE courses, Professional Registration and tailored professional development across knowledge and information management, data, and libraries.

Building on the strengths we have developed together since our founding in 1877, we are continuously improving how we empower our members to confidently lead change, to innovate, and to deliver excellent services in line with our shared values.

Thank you once again for your ongoing commitment to your own development, CILIP, and your profession.