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First and foremost, thank you. Thank you to my fellow committee members (past and present), to our YCN representatives, to ECerS, and to everyone in the community who volunteered time, shared ideas, joined events, and supported one another. What I will remember most is not only the projects, but the people, the openness, the energy, and the feeling that we are building something meaningful together.

During my tenure, I had the opportunity to contribute to several initiatives that I believe strengthened our network and improved the connection across countries and research groups. Among the highlights for me were:

• The development and strengthening of working groups and the collaboration with YCN representatives, helping us coordinate ideas and activities more efficiently across the community.
• Organizing two YCN workshops, in 2023 in Aveiro (Portugal) and in 2024 in Tampere (Finland), both were wonderful examples of how much impact we can create when we bring motivated people together.
• Hosting two student evenings during ECerS XVIII (2023, Lyon) and ECerS XIX (2025, Dresden), the moments where networking felt truly natural, supportive, and inspiring.

I also want to acknowledge something that is not always visible from the outside: the YCN is a place where initiative is genuinely encouraged. I experienced an exceptional working environment which is built on trust, autonomy, and teamwork, and I am especially grateful for the financial support from the JECS Trust, which enabled us to transform ideas into real activities for the community.

Equally important, the progress we made over these years would not have been possible without the continuous support behind the scenes. A heartfelt thank you to Véronique and her team at the ECerS Office for their guidance, coordination, and steady support, their contribution has been essential for turning plans into reality and keeping everything running smoothly.

This goodbye also coincides with a special milestone: the 10-year anniversary of the YCN Committee. Congratulations to everyone who contributed over the past decade. Ten years of YCN Committee work means ten years of building bridges, creating opportunities, and ensuring that young ceramists across Europe (and beyond) feel connected and represented. That is something worth celebrating.

A quote that feels fitting as I look back is:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
YCN is proof of the second part, the progress in our field is strongest when we move forward as a community.

To the new committee: I wish you the very best. May you keep the YCN spirit strong, continue to grow the network, and achieve even bigger goals with creativity, inclusivity, and courage. I will be cheering you on, and even though I am stepping down from the committee, I will certainly remain part of the YCN and the ceramics community.

With sincere thanks and warm wishes,

Dr. Awais Qadir
Former YCN Committee Member (2022–2026)
awais.qadir@main.tu-chemnitz.de

Awais Qadir | LinkedIn