On 1 August 2026, the CERN Community Support Centre (CCSC) in Building 33 celebrated its second anniversary. The Centre plays a key role in onboarding newcomers; in June 2026 alone it welcomed around 6900 new arrivals. Working closely with services across the Organization, the team provides efficient first-line support to CERN personnel every day. Congratulations to the CCSC team for two years of dedication, professionalism and a warm, human welcome.

Their collaborative spirit extends beyond administrative and technical support. In partnership with the Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection (HSE) Department, the CCSC is now also helping to strengthen CERN’s safety culture by distributing Safety Fundamentals cards to all newcomers, regardless of status, helping make safety an integral part of everyone’s journey from day one. 

This anniversary also marks a leadership transition. Paula Barriere takes over the Service Desk operations, and with them the CCSC, bringing with her extensive CERN experience, enthusiasm and commitment. She succeeds Emilie Kirschner, who leaves the role after eight years of dedicated service, during which she forged strong partnerships across CERN and established more than 200 internal procedures that continue to underpin Service Desk operations today.

As the Service Desk enters its next chapter, it will continue to build on these strong collaborations while progressively integrating AI-powered virtual agents into its daily operations. By combining innovation with a human approach, the CCSC will continue to provide welcoming and efficient support to the CERN community.