EuroFM is pleased to announce an open call for a new Board Member. As part of its ongoing mission to advance knowledge in Facility Management across Europe, the association is inviting engaged professionals to join its Board and contribute to the strategic direction of EuroFM.
The EuroFM Board is composed of seven members representing four European countries. Together, they bring a wide range of expertise from business, education, and research. By joining, the new member will become part of this international leadership team and help strengthen EuroFM’s role as a hub for practice, education, and research in Facility Management.
The role of Board Member includes contributing to the innovation and positioning of the FM field, supporting knowledge sharing, strengthening professional networks, and helping the association grow. Candidates are expected to bring vision, empathy, strong communication skills, and strategic insight, alongside experience in administration or management.
EuroFM is particularly interested in candidates with affinity or experience in treasurership. The treasurer responsibilities include overseeing the financial management of the association, preparing financial reports, and ensuring that EuroFM’s resources are aligned with its strategic goals.
Board membership is an unpaid voluntary position, with travel and expenses reimbursed. The time commitment is on average 4–8 hours per week. Members are appointed for a two-year term, renewable up to a maximum of eight years.
Ever wonder why big buildings, malls, or resorts run so smoothly? That’s thanks to Facilities Management professionals working behind the scenes to make sure everything functions just right — often without anyone noticing.
If a Facility Manager is doing their job well, you won’t even think about the thousands of things they take care of daily. They coordinate teams to ensure clean restrooms, safe and accessible parking, working lights and screens, and more. It’s not just maintenance — it’s about managing people, systems, and spaces to work in harmony.
Watch the full session here!
Every year on the second Wednesday of May, we celebrate World FM Day, a global recognition of the vital role that Facility Management (FM) plays in our everyday lives. It’s a moment to appreciate the professionals who keep our buildings running smoothly, safely, and efficiently – whether it’s in offices, hospitals, schools, or industrial environments.
On May 14, EuroFM hosted a virtual event bringing together facility management professionals from across Europe and beyond. The celebration highlighted the pivotal role of facility managers in navigating change, fostering resilience, and driving innovation in the built environment.
The event featured insights from EuroFM ambassadors and industry leaders, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, sustainability, and collaboration in the FM sector.
During EuroFM’s World FM Day 2025 celebration in May, facility management professionals from across Europe and beyond gathered virtually to explore the theme “Resilience in Action: Thriving in a World of Change.” The event featured a compelling panel discussion with EuroFM ambassadors Sean Gibbons and Carmel Lindkvist, moderated by Board Member Pat Gaughan.
Natalie Hofman, Chair of EuroFM, opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of resilience: “In a world that is constantly changing, it’s becoming increasingly important not only to be flexible but also to be resilient. Resilience in action means learning to cope with uncertainties, adapting more quickly to new situations, and drawing strength from change.”
The Future of FM: Technology as an Enabler
A key focus was addressing concerns about AI potentially replacing facility management professionals. Sean Gibbons offered reassurance: “AI and automation will certainly not signal the demise of maintenance, but more an evolution. We’re already seeing predictive maintenance powered by AI enabling teams to move into a more proactive mode of operating.”
Carmel Lindkvist agreed, viewing AI as a tool to embrace: “AI is a way that we can help and support in order to find information we need in a much quicker way. It won’t replace the knowledge and experience that is implicit in facility managers.”
Embracing Change and Innovation The panel emphasized the growing importance of soft services and workplace experience as hybrid work becomes the norm. Gibbons noted that “the best FM won’t just manage and maintain buildings, they’ll actually curate environments that boost productivity, collaboration, and satisfaction.”
Looking toward the future, Lindkvist encouraged the FM community to embrace uncertainty: “We need to keep learning and take risks and fail and learn from the risks. The only way we can embrace the future is to try and take some of the risks to get to a future where we want to be”. The discussion reinforced that the future of facility management lies in embracing technological advancement while never losing sight of the human elements that make FM truly impactful.
We added some fun with the EuroFM Quiz, hosted by Vera van de Loo. Then came a memorable “Yesterday Meets Tomorrow” conversation with three retiring FM leaders — Wil Gooskens, Daniel von Felten, and Joop van Duren — moderated by Natalie.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Honouring the Legacy of Three FM Trailblazers World FM Day is always a moment of celebration, but this year, it also became a time for reflection. In a moving session hosted by EuroFM, we gathered to honour the remarkable contributions of three long-standing members of our community: Wil Gooskens, Joop van Duren, and Daniel von Felten.
As they near retirement, each of them shared not just memories, but meaningful insights into what facility management has meant to them, and what they hope for in the years to come. Moderated by EuroFM Chair Natalie Hofman, the conversation felt more like a reunion than a panel—one filled with humour, sincerity, and a deep sense of connection.
Lessons from a Lifetime in FM For Joop van Duren, one defining moment stood out: the day he defended his PhD after nearly a decade of research, while balancing work and family. “It was a struggle,” he admitted, “but also a moment of real pride.” That journey taught him something fundamental about the profession. “Good facility management begins with listening,” he said. “Really listening—to what’s needed, to how we can support each other. Sometimes we talk too much and listen too little.”
Daniel von Felten reflected less on single milestones and more on the people who made an impact on him throughout the years. “It was always about the people,” he said simply. “That’s what I’ll remember most.” For him, encounters with students, lecturers, and colleagues have shaped a career rooted in education, research, and human connection.
And for Wil Gooskens, FM has never been just a job. “Work has always been my hobby,” he said with a smile. “It’s never dull, there’s always something happening.” As he looks ahead to retirement, he admits it’s time to discover a new hobby. “That’s the next challenge,” he added. “To find something new that gives me the same energy.”
Looking Toward the Future When asked what they envision for the next chapter, their answers reflected a thoughtful mix of humour and heart. Daniel joked that retirement is when he’ll finally start making money, drawing laughter from the others. Joop spoke of wanting to give back to his local village, using his knowledge to help maintain community livability. “That is facility management too,” he said. “Just on a more personal scale.”
Wil is still exploring his next steps but is considering volunteer work and other ways to stay involved in the industry. While the details may still be taking shape, the passion for people, community, and service clearly remains.
A Grateful Farewell As the session came to a close, Natalie Hofman offered heartfelt thanks on behalf of the EuroFM board and community. “We’re saying goodbye to three incredible experts who helped shape this profession,” she said. “But we’re also deeply grateful—for your leadership, your mentorship, and all you’ve done to bring students and knowledge into our network.”
This conversation was more than a goodbye. It was a celebration of everything that makes the FM profession meaningful: people, passion, and purpose.
From 8–10 April 2025, The Workplace Event took place in Birmingham, UK — and EuroFM was proud to be part of it! As an official partner of this leading event, we look back on three inspiring days filled with knowledge sharing, networking, and innovation.
Our experience
At our dedicated EuroFM stand, we had the pleasure of meeting many professionals from across the facility management sector — from industry leaders and practitioners to emerging innovators. We engaged in lively discussions about the future of FM, the growing impact of technology in the workplace, and the importance of international collaboration.
EuroFM also joined industry leaders to record a series of podcasts where key topics such as sustainability, hybrid working models, and talent development were explored. These conversations sparked valuable insights and will soon be available to listen to online.
Proud of our contribution
Our presence at The Workplace Event highlighted EuroFM’s ongoing mission to connect research, education, and business on an international level. We are proud of the strong network we are building and the many new partnerships that emerged during the event.
Thank you! We would like to sincerely thank all visitors, partners, and organisers for making this event such a success. If you missed us in Birmingham or would like to learn more about our initiatives, feel free to get in touch or follow us through our website and social media channels.
The countdown has begun! On 1 and 2 December 2025, we’re heading north for the annual EuroFM Conference, this year hosted in beautiful Winter Wonderland Trondheim, Norway, in partnership with NTNU University.
Tickets went on sale last week, and excitement is already building. Now, it’s your chance to help shape the program by stepping on stage!
We are now officially opening our Call for Presentations!
Whether you’re eager to deliver a keynote, spark debate in a panel, or host an interactive workshop, we want to hear from you. Presenters will receive free access to the day of their participation. What we’re looking for:
🎤 Speaker Deliver a 30 minute presentation that sparks new ideas and invites global perspectives.
🧑🤝🧑 Panel Discussion Join a themed panel with 3–4 other experts. Each speaker gets 3 minutes to pitch their view, followed by a moderated round-table style debate. (45 minutes)
🛠️ Workshop Leader Host a 45 minute workshop that dives deeper into a specific sub-theme or angle of the day’s topic.
How to submit your proposal Send an email to the chair of our Program Committee Pat Gaughan (pat@eurofm.org) with:
🔹The day and topic you’re interested in 🔹The type of session you propose 🔹Any relevant details that help us understand your idea and motivation
And then particularly on what role the facility manager has in co-creating resilient, inclusive, and livable cities. We had 12 Students, from 7 universities, with 7 nationalities, who came together for three days to work on this project. And did so very very well!vWe kickstarted the challenge with an introduction to all, and an instruction to the topic back in February and met for the first time in person during the welcome’s reception. Here, the full assignment was shared and the student challenge officially commenced! Three groups, coached and judged by Ir. Jacob Gerben (Jaap) Wijnja CFM, Erik Jaspers and Niels Peters took on the challenge and worked hard to be able to win tickets to IFMA World Workplace in Minneapolis. They visited the neighborhood, they attended speaker sessions, they spoke to industry professionals, and had a lot of time (and fun) together.
On Thursday they presented their findings, and we were all impressed by how much they had done in so little time. The ideas included student accommodation and use the ground floor to connect young and old and build connections throughout, a community manager who is in charge of bridging the gap between “new” neighbors for the 5000+ houses currently being developed, and a community garden with event space to host different activities for everyone near.
This year, for the first time ever, we even had a sponsor to contribute to the travel expenses. A huge thank you to JLL and OfficeSpace Software for sponsoring this challenge and make it possible for our students to make the journey and continue their networking game!
World Workplace Europe 2025: A memorable gathering of the international FM community
Last week, the international facility management community convened in The Hague (the Netherlands) for World Workplace Europe 2025, and it was an event to remember.
Over the course of two engaging and dynamic days, professionals from nearly 30 countries came together to share knowledge, foster new connections, and explore the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of FM. The atmosphere throughout the event was vibrant, with a strong sense of collaboration and purpose. From keynote sessions and panel discussions to informal networking moments, every interaction contributed to a shared goal: advancing facility management on a global scale.
EuroFM Highlights
As EuroFM, we were proud to host several key activities during the event. One of the highlights was he EuroFM Student Challenge 2025. This year’s challenge invited students to tackle the theme Urban Facility Management from a Placemaking Perspective. We were thoroughly impressed by the high calibre of the participating teams.
Their creative solutions, critical thinking, and professional presentation skills are a testament to the bright future of our field. We are incredibly proud of all three teams and thank them for their outstanding contributions.
Another standout moment was the EuroFM Ambassador Meeting, held at our stand. It was a pleasure to welcome so many dedicated members of our network in person, some of whom we had not seen face-to-face for quite some time. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on our shared mission, discuss important developments within the association, and look ahead to what’s next.
Looking Ahead
World Workplace Europe 2025 was more than just an event – it was a testament to the strength and resilience of our global FM community. The connections made, ideas exchanged, and energy shared over these two days will no doubt have a lasting impact.
We thank all attendees for being part of this journey with us. Your active engagement and passion for facility management are what make gatherings like these so meaningful.
Curious where World Workplace Europe 2026 will take us? Stay connected with us through our website and social media channels – more details will be announced soon. We look forward to continuing this journey together. We extend our sincere thanks to all who made this event possible – our valued partners, inspiring speakers, and the many professionals who attended with such enthusiasm and openness. We are especially grateful to our co-hosts, FMN – Facility Management Nederland and IFMA, whose support and collaboration played a vital role in the success of this year’s edition.
Are you researching Social Facility Management? We invite you to submit your paper for the 24th EuroFM Research Symposium, taking place on December 1-2, 2025, in Trondheim, Norway!
In collaboration with NTNU – Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet and part of the EuroFM Conference, this symposium will explore the role of Facility Management in fostering a socially just and sustainable society.
The theme of the 2025 symposium is Social FacilityManagement (FM). With increased inequalities, lack of social connection at work, and ethical concerns related to the new digital era, we want to focus on the opportunities of the FM industry to support a socially just and sustainable society.
We welcome research on topics including, but not limited to:
Social sustainability & circularity – revitalization & regeneration
Social connection & belonging – the workplace experience
Engagement & participatory FM – co-creation & involvement
Diversity & inclusiveness – gender, neurodiversity, and beyond
Ethics & AI in FM – integrity in the digital age
We warmly invite you to submit your research for the symposium and contribute to the advancement of Facility Management knowledge. The EuroFM Network encourages both academic and professional researchers to submit their papers and to join the EuroFM Research Symposium.
Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to the future of FM research! We look forward to your submissions!
Key dates (extended):
28 February 2025
Deadline for abstracts
20 April 2025
Deadline for paper submissions
8 June 2025
Reviews to the authors
31 August 2025
Deadline for revised papers
27 September 2025
Final decision on acceptance
1 November 2025
Deadline for camera-ready papers
1-2 December 2025
EuroFM Research Symposium, Trondheim
On behalf of the EuroFM Research Network, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Riikka Kyrö Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee Board Member, Research, EuroFM
On behalf of the EuroFM Research Network,
Asst. Prof. Dr. Vitalija Danivska Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee Board Member, Research, EuroFM
On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee, Prof. Dr. Alenka Temeljotov Salaj Prof. Dr. Carmel Lindkvist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nora Johanne Klungseth Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savis Gohari
Deep Coil 2024 was an unforgettable journey of collaboration and innovation! Over the past months, 45 students from six European universities, supported by 10 coaches, worked together on CSRD, sustainability, and ESG. From the kickoff in Zurich to the inspiring final sessions in Heerlen/Maastricht, this program showcased the power of international teamwork.
The closing event was packed with valuable insights and great moments. Experts from four companies shared their best practices at SNS Bank, teams put the finishing touches on their projects, and the final presentations impressed both peers and coaches. After two intense days, everyone celebrated their hard work with a well-deserved three-course dinner at the Hotel Management School. Want to relive it all? Watch the official aftermovie now! 🎥
EuroFM is excited to announce its partnership with The Workplace Event.
The Workplace Event, renowned for its focus on workplace strategies, design, and technology, will be held from 8th to 10th April 2025 in Birmingham, UK. This event provides a unique platform for FM professionals to connect with industry peers, explore cutting-edge solutions, and gain valuable insights.
By partnering with The Workplace Event, EuroFM aims to:
Enhance Industry Networking: Facilitate connections between FM experts from across Europe.
Drive Knowledge Sharing: Participate in a panel discussion.
Meet EuroFM at the event
EuroFM will have a dedicated stand at the event, where you can meet our team, learn more about our initiatives, and connect with like-minded professionals. And the best: the event is free-to-attend.
For more information about the event and EuroFM’s involvement, please visit the official website of The Workplace Event or contact EuroFM.
From 14 – 18 October 2024, the 13th International Week took place at the Facility Management Department of Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Heerlen. Supported by EuroFM, this event again was a great success. More than 180 students participated during this EuroFM International Autumn School Facility Management which was conducted exclusively on location in Heerlen (NL).
Combined student groups from Zuyd UAS, FH Kufstein (Austria), DHBW Stuttgart (Germany), UCLL (Belgium), and The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) competed in an exciting competition. Scores were tracked daily on a leaderboard, adding to the week’s excitement. The teams had to outdo each other with clever ideas on how companies in general, and Vebego in particular, can attract and retain young talent.
Clashing Cultures? With students from different countries, various specialisations came together. According to lecturer and co-organiser Stephan van der Linden, “Dutch students often have more knowledge about soft services, such as hospitality and customer-centric approaches, while the German and Austrian students are more knowledgeable about hard services, such as technical maintenance”. “This leads to interesting discussions, and that’s exactly why they learn so much from each other during this event.”
Valuable Collaboration with Vebego For the second year in a row, Vebego Facility Solutions was the client for the EuroFM International Autumn School Facility Management. During the week, students had the opportunity to offer their fresh perspectives on Vebego’s recruitment and retention policies. This provided valuable insights and improvements that Vebego can benefit from in the future. For the students, it was a unique opportunity to work with a leading company in the facility management sector, and for Vebego, it offered new perspectives to improve their connection with young professionals.
Students completed their group assignments with great success! Members of the jury included lecturers from the various participating schools/ FM programmes, and board members from both EuroFM as well as the Vebego Facility Solutions. The winning team was invited to visit the next EuroFM Conference and took home a certificate for € 1.500,- in order to facilitate their travelling and lodging costs during this visit. This cheque was presented to the winning team by Pieter le Roux on behalf of EuroFM.
The Proceedings of the 23rd EuroFM Research Symposium, organized in connection with the 29th EuroFM Conference, held 9-12 June 2024 in London are now available. The theme of the 2024 conference,´Transformation for future-proof FM’, is reflected in the papers included in the proceedings. The paper topics fall under Digital Transformation, Green Transformation, Spatial Transformations, and Services in Transformation.
The proceedings comprise 23 papers, a delightful record in recent Research Symposium history! The Scientific Committee thanks all Authors for their hard work, dedication, and good collaboration during the process which started already at the end of 2023. They feel humbled that so many have chosen the EuroFM Research Symposium 2024 as an outlet for their research.
All 23 papers have undergone a double-blind review process, with a minimum of two reviewers per paper. The Dr. Riikka Kyrö and Dr. Tuuli Jylhä (both Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee) are forever indebted to the members of the Scientific Committee for their commitment and expertise throughout the review process.
They are proud to note that the Scientific Committee hails from 10 different European countries, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, and Australia. Without their contribution there would be no proceedings, so a thank you to them. Dr. Kirö and Dr. Jylhä would also like to thank members of the Best Paper Committee for their efforts in selecting the recipient of the Best Paper Award 2024.
Congratulations to the winner Ronald Beckers for his innovative paper ‘Exploring the Home Office with Participatory Photography’!
The EuroFM Research Network wants to promote Open Access (OA) research. Consequently, the proceedings are available OA on Zenodo. Please check the following link to download your copy: https://zenodo.org/records/11658176
