The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association (GSTEA) has announced the appointment of Chiara Ronchini as its new secretary general, effective from 13 February 2023.

Ronchini will take over from Paul Simons and join GSTEA following eight years working with Historic Environment Scotland. She has been working as the organisation’s policy manager since 2020.

The application process involved Ronchini being interviewed by a panel of the mayors of the 11 Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) which make up the GSTEA (see full list of towns at end of article). They felt she was a highly passionate candidate who was extremely well-versed in World Heritage matters, both practical and academic.

Speaking from Baden bei Wien, mayor Stefan Szirucsek, GSTEA chair, said: “Chiara was an outstanding candidate in a very strong field of applications during our interview process. We’re looking forward to working with her and tapping into her expertise in the many areas which are essential to the future management of the site such as attracting funding, World Heritage Site management, team leadership, local capacity building and interaction with the local community.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who applied for this role – it was a challenge to shortlist candidates. We’re all looking forward to working with Chiara and wish her all the best in her future role.”

Ronchini added: “Joining the GSTEA at this time is a great honour. I’m very excited to get to know all 11 spa towns and the teams that work there – it’s going to be an amazing challenge and an adventure too!

“I look forward to working with all the partners and state parties to build on the fantastic work to date. The GSTE are an incredible UNESCO World Heritage site, not just for all their unique architecture and urban planning, but also for the social, medical and artistic ideas that originated there and that were exported all over the world.

“This uniqueness creates so many opportunities to bring the GSTE and European Spa Culture to the fore in Europe and beyond. I’m really looking forward to harnessing these opportunities in collaboration with colleagues, partners, and our local and global communities.”

The Great Spa Towns of Europe

• Baden bei Wien, Austria.• Spa, Belgium.

• Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.• Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic.

• Frantiskovy Lazne, Czech Republic.• Vichy, France.

• Baden-Baden, Germany.• Bad Ems, Germany.

• Bad Kissingen, Germany.• Montecatini Terme, Italy.

• Bath, UK.