“We are getting ready to welcome the world”: meet José Fonseca and Aurelia Ruetsch

The WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizing Committee introduces José Fonséca, Director of Competition and Aurélia Ruetsch, Director of Operations, who complete our management team alongside Franck Le Roux. Discover through this interview their professional background and their large experience, as well as their ambitions for the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Competition!

What is your professional background?

Aurelia: My professional background started originally with a degree in translation and interpretation, but I quickly fell under the spell of international events. I worked for about fifteen years on major international events such as the Olympic games, World Cups… Afterwards, I was invited to supervise the supporter delegations for 2011 WorldSkills Competition in London. I did this for about ten years during the EuroSkills and WorldSkills Competitions.

José: I am a carpenter by profession, which led me to join the WorldSkills adventure. At first, I was a regional jury and then an Expert in 2009. Next, I became a Skill Competition Manager for the Sao Paulo 2015 and Abu Dhabi 2017 Competitions. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to carry out the mission of Technical Delegate for the Competitions in Gothenburg in 2016, in Kazan in 2019 and more recently, the Special Edition 2022.

What is your position within the team WorldSkills Lyon 2024?

José: My job within WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizing Committee is Director of Competition. I am responsible for the technical aspect, the setup of all the workshops. Through these workshops I guarantee transparency, fairness, and a good visibility of the skills. My duties lead me to work hand in hand with Aurelia’s team but also the Partnership and Sponsorship or Communications departements to make this event a great success.

Aurélia: I am the Director of Operations for the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Organizing Committee. My role is to coordinate all the staff, equipment, services, areas, and the events surrounding and within the Competition. Behind the name “WorldSkills Lyon 2024” there is a competition, but also many other events gravitating around it.

According to you, what are the keys to success?

Aurélia: 2024 will be a success if we always remember to put the competitors and the skills at the heart of everything we do. It is the absolute key. The other key will be to design the Competition the best way possible to optimize its impact and offer the best experience for all the participants and the public. Of course, we will need to surround ourselves with a professional and diversified team. When hosting a global event, it is important to have a great sense of awareness. We are getting ready to welcome the world and we look forward to it!

José: We aim to organize a great event, for the public’s eyes as well as for all the participants (competitors, experts, juries). To achieve this, it takes rigor, methodology, determination, and enthusiasm which are qualities will all have!