- He has held various senior positions in the infrastructure and energy.
Antoni Llardén i Carratalà took office as the new president of the Board of Trustees of the University of Barcelona, appointed by the Government of Catalonia. The ceremony took place on Thursday in the University’s Historic Building. It was chaired by Rector Joan Guàrdia and attended by around 100 guests. Llardén succeeds Joan Corominas, who has chaired the UB Board of Trustees for the past 10 years.
An industrial engineer by training, Llardén has held several senior positions in the infrastructure and energy sectors throughout his professional career. He is currently the president of Enagás and president of the Foundation for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (Funseam). In the academic sphere, he has been dean of the Col·legi d’Enginyers and president of the Economic Commission of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Among other distinctions, he was named Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.
During the ceremony, Joan Corominas recalled his time as president of the Board of Trustees with "gratitude and pride" and shared his reflections: "I cannot claim that all the challenges have been met, but I can say that the UB has a clear roadmap," he said. He also described the University of Barcelona as "a social elevator, a generator of opportunities and an engine of research and innovation." He warned, however, that "there is still a worrying gap between the university and society, which is reflected in the political agenda." Looking ahead, he expressed his full confidence in Antoni Llardén, to whom he addressed these words: "It is an honour that my successor has your personal and professional calibre."
Antoni Llardén stated that he is taking on this new responsibility "with a willingness to ensure continuity and with determination to move forward." "The future of our country depends on the strength of the university system," he affirmed. He then emphasized that the "major goal is to strengthen the link with the institutional, social and economic fabric" and that "the UB cannot limit itself to responding to society’s current demands; it must also anticipate change." "In this rapidly changing environment, the University must be a space for strategic foresight," he added. To conclude, he expressed his conviction that "strengthening the University means strengthening society."
The Catalan Minister for Research and Universities, Núria Montserrat, stated that "Catalonia competes through knowledge, which is generated in the universities." She noted that "today marks the beginning of a new chapter" and referred to the UB’s 575 years of history: "The University of Barcelona has overcome wars, crises and revolutions. You have adapted without ever abandoning your principles; now the challenge is to lead and respond to the issues of our time, such as artificial intelligence." Shethen expressed her "commitment to a strong university system." "Universities are key to ensuring social cohesion and innovation."
Rector Joan Guàrdia highlighted the figure of Joan Corominas, whom he described as "kind, approachable, balanced and capable," and praised his work: "He has been the best catalyst for our projects, the best voice to give value to our reality." He also expressed his "absolute trust in the commitment of the new president of the Board of Trustees" and stressed that this body "is not just any structure, but a crucial component in the development of the University of Barcelona’s active policies." "We must manage a large, diverse and complex university, sometimes exposed to difficult external pressures," he stated.
The Board of Trustees is the body through which civil society participates in the governance of universities. It is made up of representatives from the social and economic spheres and collaborates with the UB’s governing team to define criteria and priorities.
