Gabriella Sanniti di Baja has provided exceptional and sustained service to the IAPR for more than three decades. She served three consecutive terms as IAPR Secretary (1994-2000) and demonstrated remarkable dedication and leadership. In 2000, she became the first woman President of the IAPR (2000–02) and continued as Past President (2002–04). She further contributed to the governance of the Association through service on the IAPR Advisory Committee (2016–18), the Maria Petrou Prize Committee (2016–18), and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee (2018–22). Beyond her extensive contributions to the IAPR, Gabriella Sanniti di Baja has also rendered tremendous service to the Italian member society of IAPR, CVPL (formely known as GIRPR), strengthening the pattern recognition community of Italy at both national and international levels.
Beyond her leadership and governance contributions, Gabriella has played a significant role in advancing IAPR’s scientific activities through its flagship conferences and journals. She served as General Chair of ICPR in 2008 and 2016, Track Chair of three ICPRs (2006, 2010, and 2014), a member of the ICPR 2012 Advisory Committee, and a Publication Chair for ICPR 1988. She has also played important roles in multiple events of the Italian member society of the IAPR, in addition to serving for 10 years (2000-10) as Editor-in-Chief of Pattern Recognition Letters (PRL), an important IAPR journal that saw a period of steady growth under her editorship. In summary, Gabriella Sanniti di Baja has been a positive force contributing to the success of IAPR for the past 30 years.