2020 has taken away many important things from us: the chance to travel, to hug and to experience the wonderful AIJA events in person. But most of all, the year ended by taking away from us a very special colleague: Brandusa Tataru-Marinescu. She passed away on 28 December 2020 after being diagnosed with melanoma in January 2020.

We are extremely saddened by this news and we send our deepest condolences to her family, colleagues, and friends.

Those who have known her are well aware of her qualities. For those who have not had this chance, we will try to explain why she was so important to us.

Brandusa was a brilliant construction lawyer, a lovely mum, a passionate advocate and a true cosmopolite. She was precise and inspiring; the kind of colleague you can always rely on.

She first attended the Real Estate Commission meeting in September 2019 during the Annual Congress held in the wonderful setting of Rome. She immediately enriched the Commission’s work with her knowledge, her enthusiasm for law and her passion for diversity & inclusion matters. She truly believed that it was up to each of us to raise awareness among colleagues, clients, friends and families on the value of diversity & inclusion for the improvement of our society.

“We have to raise awareness about D&I matters”, she always repeated to us. Her deep belief was that everyone has the power to change the status quo by raising such awareness around people they encounter. That’s how Brandusa created the spark that brought into realisation the webinar “D&I in sustainable property development” held during AIJA’s first virtual Annual Congress in August 2020, which has won two prizes. Her contribution was essential for the start of the project and her passion was truly inspiring. For all these reasons, we are happy and honoured to dedicate both prizes – the “Work Coordinators Award for the Best Diversity Session” and the “Past Presidents’ Award” – to Brandusa, in her loving memory.

Thank you, Brandusa, for the great contribution you have brought to our AIJA life and to our personal growth. Alessia, Eva, Evelyne, Louise on behalf of the AIJA Real Estate Commission, the Environmental & Energy Law Commission, the SCILL Commission, and the entire AIJA family