Isabel Roig is new BEDA president

Roig replaces Design Business Association chief executive Deborah Dawton, who has been BEDA president for the past two years.

In her new role, Roig will work with the European Commission to develop design’s role at a European level.

This will particularly involve enhancing the role of design in pan-European innovation policy, following the publication of the European Design Leadership Board’s Design for Growth & Prosperity report last year.

Roig says, ‘We must work to ensure that design is recognised at the highest level, and leverage that the European Union is keen to promote design as a key factor in innovation and competitiveness in the business and design sectors of countries and regions.’

Robin Edman, chief executive of SVID, the Swedish Industrial Design Foundation, has been appointed as vice-president of BEDA.