Ana Maria Bordas, Director of Content Production at RTVE, has been elected as the new Chair of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group for a two-year term. 

She was elected to the role by an absolute majority during a meeting of the EBU’s TV Committee held in Brussels this week.

Ana Maria oversees Entertainment, Factual, Kids & Young Audiences, and New Formats at RTVE and also sits on the EBU’s TV Committee. She was also the Executive Producer of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2024 when it was hosted by RTVE in Madrid.

Ana Maria will replace Bakel Walden, from SRG SSR, who will leave the role in June after this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Basel.

"I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Chair of the Reference Group from June,” said Ana Maria.

 “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"

“Congratulations to my dear colleague Ana!”, adds Bakel. “It's great to see such a dedicated and experienced professional take the lead of the Reference Group and I wish Ana all the best in her new role.

“I am excited to focus now on my final edition together with my esteemed colleagues in the Reference Group for what promises to be a spectacular Eurovision Song Contest, coming home to Switzerland.”

The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group plays a crucial role in the governance and organization of the event.

Its purpose is to control and guide the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) including approving the development and securing the financing of the event as well as modernizing the brand and overseeing the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster.

Three Heads of Delegation were also elected to sit on the Reference Group this week at their meeting ahead of this year’s event in Host City Basel.

Carla Bugalho (RTP), Claudia Van Der Pas (AVROTROS) and Molly Plank (DR) will serve as members of the Reference Group from June. 

Carla Bugalho is a Senior TV Producer at RTP, has been Head of Delegation for Portugal since 2015 and was also Deputy Executive Producer and Show Producer when the Contest was held in Lisbon in 2018. She has been elected for a third successive mandate.

Claudia van der Pas is an Event Manager at Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS and was Assistant Head of Delegation for the Netherlands for the last 3 editions of the Contest before taking the Head of Delegation role in 2025. Claudia was also Delegation Manager when the Contest was staged in Rotterdam in 2021.

Molly Plank has been Head of the Danish Delegation for 13 years. A Production Manager and Executive Producer at DR, she has been responsible for organizing the Danish national final Melodi Grand Prix and other national events. 

The other members of the Reference Group consist of the ESC Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl, the Executive Producers from the Host Broadcasters of the last two editions and the current Executive Producer and two additional members chosen by the Chair and the EBU if deemed necessary.

All new members of the Reference Group will begin their 2 year mandate in June following this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Basel on 13, 15 and 17 May.