Dear ICOM colleagues, dear members of the international museum community,
With this message I would like to inform you about my resignation from my role as President of ICOM. I presented my motives for this decision in a letter addressed to the Executive Board of ICOM on 19 June 2020.
Serving ICOM in various positions and as President, as well as, being part of this immense and diverse professional community has been one of the greatest honours in my life.
I am happy to say that I defended the same values all through my mandate in ICOM: democracy, transparency, respect for diversity of opinions and different world views as well as defence of the true independent nature of an international non-governmental organisation. I believe I was able to lead ICOM towards a progressive path which I am confident is not easily reversible.
I have always taken pride in being part of a professional network, with a broad representation from the global South to the global North and from the East to the West, that aims to learn and grow. I would like to believe that my resignation will serve the inner growth of our organisation.
I will reiterate that for me leadership is not a position but an attitude. I sincerely hope my decision will contribute to the common good of our organisation to which my commitment remains as solid as ever.
Dear colleagues, your tireless dedication to ICOM and our strong conviction that we can do better make you the leaders we need. I am certain that you will continue to take ICOM further, alongside with my successors to come.
I thank each and every one of you for walking this road with me and wish you the best in your future work for ICOM.
Sincerely,
Suay Aksoy
