Efficacy, timeliness and impact of the coordination and communication services we provide depends to a large degree on the willingness and availability of experts in our community to lead thematic elements of our portfolio. This is a voluntary service which, more often than not, demands engagement outside of working hours, outside of working days and sometimes outside of the direct expertise of those providing it. These Heroes need to be recognized and properly acknowledged, therefore in this message we would like to inform you about a few recent changes in the composition of the IOCCP Panel and Office. We take this opportunity to thank those rotating off and to welcome those assuming new roles.

First, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Kim Currie, for her consistent and devoted service as the IOCCP SSG member during three very successful terms in the years 2015 - 2023 and for 6 years of wise and efficient leadership as IOCCP SSG co-Chair during 2018 - 2023. As a versatile leader, Kim often steered the IOCCP to contribute to the vision for integration of several complimentary observing networks and observed variables to further our capacity to comprehensively monitor marine biogeochemistry globally. Kim also helped us tremendously to be less northern-hemisphere-focused in our everyday operations, as well as more sensitive to voices from indigenous communities. Thank you very much Kim!

In order to secure strong and active leadership in the IOCCP SSG, the Panel unanimously agreed to invite Adrienne Sutton to become our co-Chair starting in January 2024. We are pleased to tell you that Adrienne agreed to serve as the 6th Chair of IOCCP and a 3rd woman to do the job, in almost 20 years of our existence. In the past 4-5 years Adrienne has been strongly involved in several aspects of IOCCP activities and was actively participating in high-level national and international discussions around issues critical to IOCCP's mission. Adrienne also has prior professional experience in working with the high level science-policy interface, which will strongly benefit our current efforts. We are certain that Adrienne’s leadership will help our Panel provide a fit-for-purpose service reflecting the changing needs of our community!

The second change we want to update you on, took place in late 2023. After 7 years of dedicated service to our community, Siv Lauvset rotated off the Panel where she maintained the critical liaison between IOCCP and both SOCAT and GLODAP. During these 7 years Siv has been an instrumental part of the team of scientists developing both data synthesis products and her deep understanding of challenges related to all aspects of creating them allowed for efficient IOCCP contributions. Thank you very much Siv! In November 2023, we managed to fill this critical position in the Panel and we are delighted to inform you that for the next few years Nico Lange will provide strategic leadership to IOCCP’s support for existing and newly developing biogeochemical data synthesis products. Despite his ECOP status (PhD 2023), Nico has gained extensive experience with GLODAP and Time Series-based data products, has developed an outstanding recognition in the relevant community and has shown a very strong willingness to be flexible and accommodating when working with a complex international programmatic landscape. We are confident that with Nico’s involvement, IOCCP will continue to have positive impact on maintenance and development of data syntheses products, but also in areas where his scientific interest and expertise meet the requests from the community.

Finally, we would like to update you on changes in the IOCCP Office. After 9 years (2015-2023) as the IOCCP Project Officer, Artur Palacz moved on to focus on coordination of European research activities. Artur’s enormous contribution to IOCCP’s operations has been phenomenal and spans all aspects of our work in the Office. His tireless, enthusiastic and dynamic attitude combined with very synthetic and comprehensive mind, helped IOCCP successfully transition from carbon-focused coordination service to one encompassing several biogeochemistry EOVs and phenomena. Thank you very much Artur! And we look forward to your ongoing involvement in the ocean carbon and biogeochemistry community. We have a multi-stage plan for strengthening IOCCP’s Project Office following Artur’s departure, and today we would like to introduce Dominik Krzyminski, who has been with IO PAN since March 2023, and on 1 December 2023 has become a part-time IOCCP Project Officer. Dominik is responsible for development and maintenance of our communication channels, supporting logistics related to IOCCP organized events as well as general contribution to the Project Office tasks supporting IOCCP’s mission as described in our ToRs.

Please join us in thanking those rotating off and in welcoming those who will provide their precious time and expertise to our community in the foreseeable future!