The International Federation of Robotics has elected Jane Heffner as its new president. She takes over the rotating presidency from Takayuki Ito of Fanuc. At the same time, Adrien Brouillard, Executive President of Stäubli’s robotics division, was elected vice president. Together, the new leadership team will head the international robotics association and guide the industry through a phase characterized by increasing automation and the use of artificial intelligence.
International Federation of Robotics focuses on continuity and future-oriented topics
With the election of Jane Heffner, the IFR is relying on an experienced leader with many years of expertise in the fields of robotics and automation. In her first statement, she praised the work of her predecessor while also looking ahead to the industry’s future challenges. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Takayuki Ito for his outstanding leadership and dedication since taking office in 2024," Heffner says in a statement following her election. "The global robotics industry is at an important inflection point, driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and automation. We will continue to build on the excellent work that Takayuki has done as ambassador of the global robotics industry."
Jane Heffner brings international experience to the role
Jane Heffner has more than two decades of leadership experience in the fields of automation, robotics, the automotive industry, and aerospace. In addition to her new role as President of the International Federation of Robotics, she will remain Global Vice President of Channel Communication at Teradyne Robotics. Headquartered in North Reading, Massachusetts, the company is one of the world’s leading providers of collaborative and autonomous robotics solutions.
International Federation of Robotics elects Adrien Brouillard as Vice President
The IFR’s leadership team is joined by Adrien Brouillard as the new Vice President. A native of France, Brouillard has been with Stäubli for more than 15 years, where he has held various international leadership positions. As Global Head of Business, he was responsible for the General Industry & Customer Services division before taking over as head of the robotics division in September of last year. Together with Jane Heffner, Brouillard will continue to develop the association’s strategic goals. The focus will be on international cooperation and the promotion of robotics and automation technologies in a market where global demand is growing steadily.
