Ana Maria Bordas, the Spanish Head of Delegation, has been unanimously elected as the new Reference Group Chair at this week’s EBU’s TV Committee’s meeting in Brussels.
Ana Maria Bordas (RTVE) will be taking over from Bakel Walden (the current ESC Reference Group Chair) in June after the 2025 Eurovision edition. Ana Maria Bordas has great experience when it comes to the Eurovision Song Contest, as she has served as the Spanish Head of Delegation from 2017-2021 and from 2023-present. She has been the co-producer of the Spanish national selection Benidorm Fest since its inception.
Bordas was the Executive Producer of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 which was held in Madrid and produced by RTVE last November.
Ana Maria is also the Vice-Chair of the EBU’s TV Committee and an elected member of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Sterering Group.
Bordas currently holds a prestigious position on the Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE, she is the Head of Entertainment, Factual, Kids & Young Audiences, and New Formats.
RTVE’s official press release reads:
RTVE strengthens its position in the Eurovision Song Contest with the election of Ana María Bordas, Director of Content Production, as the new President of the EBU Reference Group. This committee is the highest supervisory body of the music festival and is responsible for approving its development, financing, and modernization. Bordas was unanimously elected to the role during a meeting of the EBU’s TV Committee held in Brussels this week and will take office in June for a two-year term.
With this designation, RTVE now holds the most prominent position within the festival’s steering committee. In March 2023, the Corporation returned to the Reference Group after several years of absence, solidifying its role in the organization of the competition. Furthermore, RTVE hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Madrid, where Bordas served as Executive Producer.
With this new role, RTVE solidifies its position as one of the most influential broadcasters in the Eurovision organization, ensuring the continuity of the Festival as Europe’s most important music event.
Ana Maria Bordas says:
I am honoured and excited to take on the role of Chair of the Reference Group. 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.
Bakel Walden says:
Congratulations to my dear colleague Ana! 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.
Ana Maria Bordas- Extensive career and expertise
Bordas has served of the Spanish Head of Delegation at the Eurovision Song Contest since 2017 and has been a board member of the Junior Eurovision Committee since 2021. She has played a key role in RTVE’s strategy for the EBU festivals and has an extensive professional career within Spanish Public Broadcasting.
Throughout her career, she has worked three consecutive terms on the EBU Television Committee, most recently serving as Vice President for the past four years. She is currently RTVE’s Director of Content, overseeing areas such as Entertainment, Children’s and Youth broadcasting, and New Formats.
She graduated from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona with a degree in Communication Sciences. Ana María Bordas began her career at RTVE in 1984 after passing the public service exams. She has held various roles, including News Editor, Head of Broadcasting, and RNE’s correspondent in Washington. She has held leadership positions at RNE and TVE for over 20 years, serving as Director of RNE in Catalonia, the TVE Production Centre in Sant Cugat, La 2, and TVE Programming.
Source: RTVE
Photo credit: RTVE
