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ESTRO 2026 in Stockholm marked new leadership transition for our society, concluding the 2024–2026 presidency of Professor Matthias Guckenberger and welcoming our incoming President, Professor Barbara Jereczek-Fossa.
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The ESTRO Presidency
A moment of transition, continuity, and shared vision for our community.
- Prof Matthias Guckenberger ESTRO President, May 2024 – May 2026
- Prof Barbara Jereczek-Fossa ESTRO President, May 2026 – May 2028
This transition is grounded in our shared commitment to to strengthening radiation oncology. Through innovation and strategic partnerships, the ESTRO leadership will ensure that high-quality radiotherapy is fully integrated into multidisciplinary cancer care and accessible to everyone, worldwide.
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A legacy of partnership and innovation
Matthias Guckenberger
Zurich, Switzerland
ESTRO Past-President
During his presidency, Matthias Guckenberger championed a clear vision: strengthening radiation oncology through partnership and innovation. Recognising both the immense value of radiotherapy and its persistent underutilisation in Europe and worldwide, he focused on building stronger connections across the cancer care ecosystem and its important stakeholders.
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Key achievements across six stakeholder areas
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PATIENTS
Establishment of the Patient Advisory Group to better align ESTRO’s strategy and ork with patient needs.
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PUBLIC ADVOCACY
Creation of the Advocacy Executive Group to engage policymakers with one clear voice.
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INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Expansion of partnerships beyond MedTech to include all relevant stakeholders including the pharmaceutical industry.
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NEIGHBOURING SOCIETIES
Memorandum of Understanding with ASTRO to jointly develop future clinical practice guidelines.
ESTRO MEMBERS
Introduction of free under- graduate membership, joint membership with national societies, and a simplified, more accessible membership model.
VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY
Launch of “Fellow of ESTRO” programme to recognise the tremendous contributions of ESTRO´s volunteers.
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Driven by its partnership and innovation programme, ESTRO is breaking new ground. A successful joint membership strategy with Switzerland (SASRO), France (SFRO), and Poland (PSRO) has already pushed membership past the 11,000 mark, and the momentum continues with new alliances underway. At the same time, flagship initiatives like ESTRO Bridge and ESTRO Impact are redefining the organization's scientific and educational scope, allowing us to connect with and support the global oncology community more deeply than ever before.
The Championing Scientific Excellence initiative, which included collaboration with The Lancet Oncology, raised the scientific profile of the ESTRO Annual Congress and attracted record numbers of attendees, growing from 7,047 in 2024 to 8,891 in 2026. The global reach of the ESTRO Annual Congress in Stockholm is reflected by one third of speakers and one quarter of attendees coming from outside Europe.
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“It has been a huge privilege to serve the ESTRO society and the Radiation Oncology community — to connect with so many dedicated colleagues, collaborate, and share memorable experiences. This is why ESTRO is called a family, open and embracing everyone who wants to advance Radiation Oncology and cancer care.”
— Matthias Guckenberger
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Through his leadership, ESTRO has become an even stronger, innovative and attractive partner in shaping the future of oncology and cancer care. We thank Matthias warmly for his dedication and lasting contributions.
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Matthias Guckenberger shares his reflections on two years of partnership, innovation and community-building.
Watch his video message to the ESTRO community.
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Continuity and shared direction
The priorities of the new presidency build directly on this progress. ESTRO will continue to strengthen collaboration across disciplines and borders, champion patient-centred care, and ensure innovation translates into real-world impact for patients worldwide.
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A vision for the years ahead
Barbara Jereczek-Fossa
Milan, Italy
ESTRO President
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Barbara Jereczek-Fossa begins her presidency with a clear vision built around three core priorities: Empowerment, Global Outreach and Communication, rooted in a strong commitment to patients and the seamless integration of radiation oncology into the wider oncology continuum.
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EMPOWERMENT
Barbara Jereczek-Fossa believes that every radiation oncology professional should feel visible, connected, valued and supported in their professional development. By empowering ESTRO members at every career stage, she aims to strengthen the collective voice of the discipline and enable every professional to become an ambassador for high-quality cancer care.
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Professional Development: Supporting professionals through connection and continuous career growth.
Research & Innovation: Driving scientific excellence and accelerating its integration into cancer care.
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GLOBAL OUTREACH
Cancer is a global challenge, and access to radiotherapy remains unequal. Barbara Jereczek-Fossa advocates for stronger international collaboration to ensure that radiotherapy has a strong voice in cancer care decision-making and that more patients can benefit from its life-changing potential. This global outlook is firmly grounded in patient engagement.
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Patient Involvement: actively involving patient communities globally across all ESTRO activities.
Strategic Partnerships: across scientific societies, disciplines and industry
Global Access: improve radiotherapy access for patients everywhere.
Policy & Representation: Securing radiotherapy's rightful representation and active seat in global health policies, international guidelines, and clinical trials.
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"As a practising clinician, listening to patients is part of my daily life. As a society, however, ESTRO must go beyond listening—we must actively involve patients on a global scale. By working hand in hand with patient communities and addressing barriers to access together, we can help ensure radiotherapy is visible, accessible and recognised worldwide."
— Barbara Jereczek-Fossa
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COMMUNICATION
While radiotherapy is one of the most effective and innovative cancer treatments available today, its value is still too often underestimated or misunderstood.
By improving how ESTRO communicates with patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers and the wider public, Barbara Jereczek-Fossa aims to ensure that radiotherapy is recognised as a vital component of modern cancer care.
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Shifting Perceptions: Challenging misconceptions to showcase the safe, high-tech, and life-changing reality of modern radiotherapy.
Public Advocacy: Strengthening communication with patients, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public to raise awareness.
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Together, these priorities aim to make radiotherapy more visible, accessible, and impactful worldwide.
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President Barbara Jereczek-Fossa outlines her priorities to ensure radiotherapy has a seat at every major decision-making table.
Watc the video to discover her priorities for 2026–2028.
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Next Steps: Leadership Strategy Retreat
From 18 to 20 June, the ESTRO Board will meet in Bologna, Italy, to translate our new presidential priorities into concrete actions. We will keep the community fully updated on our strategic directions, so keep an eye out for a follow-up newsletter detailing the precise objectives and KPIs established during the retreat.
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Leadership in Action
Three presidencies, one shared mission. Matthias Guckenberger, Barbara Jereczek-Fossa, and Carmen Rubio Rodriguez (centre) — our President-Elect for 2028–2030—united in their vision for our society's future.
We warmly welcome Carmen Rubio Rodriguez (Madrid, Spain) to her new position as we look ahead to ESTRO's next exciting chapters.
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Looking ahead
Building on strong foundations, ESTRO enters this new chapter with confidence and ambition. We thank Professor Matthias Guckenberger for his outstanding leadership and warmly welcome Professor Barbara Jereczek-Fossa as she begins her mandate.
ESTRO’s greatest strength remains its community — open, collaborative, and united in advancing radiation oncology and improving cancer care for patients everywhere.
With warm regards,
The ESTRO Team
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