Yesterday, as the IOC elected a new president and members of its executive board, the music Olympics had a similar process. Indeed, elections took place for the Eurovision Reference Group, with new members and a new chair elected to the board. They will start their term in June, to prepare the 2026 edition of the contest.
What is the Reference Group?
The Eurovision Reference Group is an institution of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), the organization which oversees the Eurovision network, and organises the Eurovision Song Contest. Technically, it is a group created by the the EBU Television Committee, one of the main institution of the Union. The EBU describes the tasks of the Reference Group as the following:
- Approving the development and future format of the ESC
- Securing the financing of the ESC
- Modernizing the brand and raising awareness of the ESC
- Overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster
At least eight members sit on the Reference Group :
- One chairperson
- Three representatives of the Eurovision national delegations
- Three Eurovision Executive producers
- The producer of the upcoming contest
- The producers of the two previously-held contests
- The Eurovision Executive Supervisor
- Up to two members invited by the chair or the EBU itself
Elections, re-elections and a new Chair
While the new chair was appointed by the TV Committee, the Head of Delegations (HoD) representatives were elected by their peers during the recent HoD meeting held in Basel.
Chair – Ana Maria Bordas (🇪🇸 RTVE)
Ana Maria Bordas, from Spanish broadcaster RTVE, was appointed chair of the Reference group by the TV Committee (in which she also sits), and will replace Bakel Walden in June.
She is head of Entertainment, Factual, Kids & Young Audiences, and New Formats at RTVE. She was also the Executive Producer of the 2024 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, and has led the Spanish delegation in the past. She was already a member of the Reference group before her appointment as chair.
I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Chair of the Reference Group from June.
Ana Maria BordaS on being appointed Chair of the Eurovision Reference group
It’s a privilege to follow in Bakel’s footsteps, and I’m eager to build on the great work that has already been achieved. I look forward to working with the team to develop actions to reinforce the ESC brand and ensure that all delegations feel more involved and engaged in our work.
HoD representative – Carla Bugalho (🇵🇹 RTP)
Carla Bugalho has been the Portuguese Head of Delegation since 2015, and is a senior producer at RTP. She was also the Show Producer and Deputy Executive Producer of Eurovision 2018. This will be her third consecutive term at the Reference Group.
HoD representative – Claudia van der Pas (🇳🇱 AVROTROS)
Claudia van der Pas is the new Dutch Head of Delegation, and has been assistant HoD in the previous three editions. She has also worked as a delegation manager during Eurovision 2021.
HoD representative – Molly Plank (🇩🇰 DR)
Molly Pank has been the Danish Head of Delegation for 13 years (including Emmelie De Forest’s victory in 2013). She has also been the project leader on Dansk Melodi Grand Prix for several years.
The full list of Reference Group members
This is, from what we understand, the full list of members that will sit on the Reference Group starting from June 2025, when the new members will take their seats:
- Ana Maria Bordas – Chair – 🇪🇸 RTVE/Spain
- Martin Osterdahl – ESC Executive Supervisor – 🇸🇪 SVT/Sweden & EBU
- Carla Bugalho – HoD representative – 🇵🇹 RTP/Portugal
- Claudia van der Pas – HoD representative – 🇳🇱 AVROTROS/Netherlands
- Molly Plank – HoD representative – 🇩🇰 DR/Denmark
- Moritz Stadler – Executive Producer ESC 2025 – 🇨🇭 SRG SSR/Switzerland
- Ebba Adielsson – Executive Producer ESC 2024 – 🇸🇪 SVT/Sweden & EBU
- Rachel Ashdown – Lead Commissioner for BBC at ESC 2023 – 🇬🇧 BBC/United Kingdom
There have been debates within the fan community about the lack of geographical diversity within the Reference Group, with no representatives from Eastern Europe or the Balkans. These new elections and appointements, which also seems to have replaced Tomislav Stengl from HRT (Croatia), may seem to follow that same trend.
What do you think about these nominations and appointments? Who would you see in the Reference Group? Tell us more in the comments below, or on social media, at @escxtra!
