The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) convened for the 29th Governing Board meeting (GB29) in a hybrid format in early October 2022. This was the first meeting with in-person attendance since the GB26 held in conjunction with the Biodiversity_Next meeting in Leiden (20-25 October 2019).
BHL Program Director Martin R. Kalfatovic attended the meeting in person in his role of BHL Node Manager as well as Alternate Representative for the United States (and Second Vice Chair of the GBIF Budget Committee). BHL Immediate Past Chair, Connie Rinaldo, attended virtually as Acting Head of Delegation, standing in for BHL Chair David Iggulden. Preceding the first day of official meetings was for GBIF committees to meet. During this time, I attended the GBIF Budget Committee meeting. The close of the meeting saw a toast to the outgoing chair, Peter Schalk (Netherlands).
The main meetings were held in the historic Art Nouveau building, the former Waucquez Warehouse, designed by Victor Horta, and now housing the Comics Art Museum. GBIF delegates were joined by large models of Tintin, Smurfs, and others.