Dear NB/HK Community,
As 2025 comes to an end, I am reflecting on a year of profound transformation for our NB/HK community. Some years stand out for the tangible changes they bring—the emergence of new challenges, fruitful collaborations, and a renewed sense of purpose in our work.
This year was particularly significant as we acknowledged the major challenges that lie ahead and demonstrated a collective readiness to embrace new opportunities. In response to these challenges, we have been taking several proactive initiatives. We have organized a symposium to collaboratively define potential pathways forward. Additionally, we are launching the not-for-profit organization NBG USA in the upcoming year. We are also making changes in leadership, updating our Board, and appointing a new Executive Director (ED).
The process of hiring the new ED is complete, and Brian will officially resign from the ED position at the beginning of January. He will continue to serve as Chair of the Board, as he has since I assumed the presidency.
Our community is made up of passionate and enthusiastic individuals, a spirit that was reflected in the survey of students and practitioners that was conducted this year. The survey highlighted both our strengths and the areas where we need improvement, such as training manuals, marketing, licensing, certification, and communication. We recognize the need to do better, and we are committed to making meaningful progress, anticipating significant developments in 2026. To that end, we have organized a symposium with approximately twenty participants from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and Mexico. The purpose of this symposium, still ongoing, is to facilitate discussions on our shared identity, address the challenges faced by NB/HK, and collaboratively define potential pathways forward.
This year, I’ve witnessed our community engage more openly in dialogue and launch new initiatives, a testament to our organization’s vitality for the future. It is crucial that we continue to build on this momentum to address the challenges ahead. Fortunately, the conversations I’ve observed have been marked by kindness and cooperation—qualities essential for our growth. Amidst the difficulties, innovative approaches and successful initiatives have emerged in various areas, thanks to the dedication and creativity of our instructors, practitioners, and students worldwide. I am deeply grateful for your contributions.
Six years have passed since Jimmy Scott formally entrusted NB/HK to a new generation, and a new structure has been built that will hopefully endure the test of time. This progress is the result of passionate people who dedicated enormous efforts to build a resilient structure.
One of them is Brian Mathews. Today, I want to especially acknowledge Brian, who has served as Executive Director and held other key roles in NB Global. On behalf of our entire community, I offer my deepest gratitude to Brian. His countless volunteer hours and unwavering generosity have made possible the establishment of a structure that will bring stability and predictability, guiding our interactions in a constructive, legal and ethical way. By listening to our stories and honoring our history, Brian has helped lead us toward a brighter future. His commitment to strengthening our community and creating a more robust administrative structure is highly valued. Brian’s ability to navigate cultural changes and raise important questions has brought clarity and confidence to our journey. Thank you, Brian, for your invaluable service as ED, and we look forward to your continued leadership as Chair of the Board.
I also want to express heartfelt thanks to Brian’s wife, Sharon, and their children, whose support has enabled Brian to devote so much to NBG. Their sacrifices have made a meaningful difference for our entire community—students, practitioners, teachers, and all those we serve.
Our gratitude extends as well to another volunteer, Ron Loewen, who has partnered with Brian and the Board for nearly a decade, helping us navigate complex challenges. Ron’s remarkable ability to foster cooperation has been key to our progress. Thank you, Ron, for your generous and dedicated volunteer service. You will be greatly missed!
As we say goodbye to some and welcome others, I am pleased to introduce Theresa Stone as our new contracted ED. Theresa will oversee daily operations, implement Board policies, and manage operations. She is a conscious business guide with over 15 years of experience supporting solopreneurs and small business owners to build sustainable, values-led businesses. Drawing on both practical leadership experience and a deep understanding of the human side of entrepreneurship, she helps organizations create clarity, alignment, and long-term resilience. We look forward to Theresa’s leadership as we prepare to meet our challenges and further grow in the coming year.
This year (or early next year), we’ll incorporate NBGlobal as a not-for-profit organization in the USA. This means that anyone paying taxes in the USA can donate to the NBG organization as a tax-deductible contribution, anytime and/or in their will. This will bolster our fundraising efforts, enabling us to enhance our functional capabilities to meet our challenges, foster more dialogue, and promote both shelved projects and new initiatives.
As we close this year and look ahead to the next, let’s acknowledge our challenges, appreciate what we’ve built together, and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. May the spirit of kindness and cooperation we’ve witnessed this year continue to flourish and bear abundant fruit. Let’s be grateful to stand together, preparing to embark on our next steps in our shared journey.
Thank you for your passion, dedication, and belief in our mission.
With heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for the new year,
Thibaud d’Oultremont, Ph.D.
President
