UK: third sector leaders call for professionalism and innovation

100 third sector leaders from across Europe will gather in Paris on 16 March to launch Euclid, the first European network of third sector leaders. They will make an appeal calling on all third sector leaders in Europe to join them in their efforts to promote professionalism and innovation across the continent.   Euclid promotes a modern and innovative third sector at the heart of European civil society, a third sector that is well led, professional and passionate, innovative, well-governed and accountable. It does this through gathering the top third sector leaders in Europe and combining their knowledge and expertise in a Network that will connect, develop and support its members.   Marianne af Malmborg, Executive President of Swedish third sector umbrella organisation Ideell Arena and one of Euclid?s founding members, said: ?It?s all about connecting people in order to gain excellence in your own performance as a leader.?   Euclid has already been backed by top figures such as UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and the European Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson. Speaking at a working dinner organised in Brussels for third sector leaders last September, Peter Mandelson said that Euclid?s work is ?interesting, creative and important?, and that ?public institutions need a network of third sector leaders to share knowledge and stimulate innovation?.   Euclid is the result of discussions that began a year ago between acevo ? the UK based association of third sector leaders ? and senior third sector leaders in France, Sweden and Italy. Since then it has developed into a network with members in 12 European countries, and with leaders from another 10 European countries expressing their interest in joining.   Upcoming events in Euclid?s calendar include a working dinner with European Commission Vice-President Margaret Wallstrom in July, and a two-day workshop on effective third sector leadership and quality assessment in Lisbon in September.