Preservica Congratulates Jordi Serra Serra, Winner of the 2026 Emmett Leahy Award
The prestigious international award recognises more than three decades of contributions to records management, digital preservation and information governance
Barcelona, 15 October 2026— Jordi Serra Serra, currently Deputy Director-General responsible for data governance and the deployment of artificial intelligence at the Government of Catalonia, has received the 2026 Emmett Leahy Award, an international distinction recognising contributions and achievements that have made a significant impact on the records and information management profession.Â
Known within the profession as the “Nobel Prize” of archival science, the award recognises a spirit of innovation, dedication and excellence in records and information management.
The Emmett Leahy Award was presented to Jordi Serra Serra on 15 October 2026 in Barcelona, during the 14th Municipal Archives Laboratory, held this year under the theme Common challenges, shared solutions. The event aims to provide a forum for meeting, reflection, exchange and collaborative work to address the current and future challenges facing municipal archives.Â
Established in 1967, the Emmett Leahy Award honours individuals who have made exceptional and innovative contributions to the advancement of records and information management. Recipients are selected by the Emmett Leahy Award Committee, whose members are previous award recipients and the committee operates independently and has no formal affiliation with any professional organisation or association. Award expenses are underwritten by Preservica, which has no role in the selection process. Preservica is proud to continue supporting this long-standing tradition of recognizing those who have made an exceptional impact in the records and information management profession
The award recognises Jordi Serra Serra’s career spanning more than three decades in archives, records management, digital preservation and data governance. His professional work has combined the leadership of projects across Catalan public administrations with research, innovation, university teaching and knowledge transfer within the professional community. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to the development of the Government of Catalonia’s corporate records management system and led initiatives to integrate electronic administrative procedures, case-file management and digital preservation. At the Barcelona Education Consortium, he subsequently directed an information governance programme that brought documents, data and information systems together within a common architecture.Â
“Jordi Serra Serra is a true inspiration. His academic work and contributions to the archival science community are a guiding beacon for others in the field,” said Mike Quinn, CEO of Preservica. “At Preservica, we’re incredibly proud to sponsor the Emmett Leahy Award and celebrate Jordi for this well-deserved recognition."
Jordi Serra Serra (left) receives this year’s Emmett Leahy Award from past winner Joan Boadas Raset (right).
Since January 2026, he has served as Deputy Director-General for data governance and innovation within the Directorate-General for Artificial Intelligence, Efficiency and Data in Public Administration. His responsibilities include cross-government data governance, the deployment of artificial intelligence, innovation in administrative processes and the development of knowledge environments integrating structured data and electronic documents.Â
His academic work has focused in particular on the evolution of archival science in response to the rapid growth of data. His doctoral thesis, The Role of the Record Series in Datafied Management Environments, defended at the University of Barcelona in 2024, proposes integrating records management and data management within a single information governance model. The research received the highest possible grade and the University’s Extraordinary Doctorate Award.Â
Alongside his professional career, Jordi Serra Serra has undertaken extensive teaching and outreach work. He has taught at university level for more than twenty years, contributed to numerous master’s and postgraduate programmes, and delivered courses and seminars for professionals from public administrations and institutions in several countries. He has also delivered more than one hundred conference papers and presentations and published over fifty specialist works.Â
The award ceremony took place during the 14th Municipal Archives Laboratory, jointly organised by the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage of the Government of Catalonia, the Cultural Heritage Office of Barcelona Provincial Council, Barcelona Municipal Archives and the Association of Archival and Records Management Professionals of Catalonia.
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About the Emmett Leahy Award
The Emmett Leahy Award honors a pioneer in records and information management. The award recognizes an individual whose contributions and outstanding accomplishments have a major impact on the records and information management profession. Established in 1967, this award honors the spirit of innovation, dedication, and excellence in records and information management of Emmett Leahy, an icon in the development of the life cycle approach to managing records and information. The Award selection is made by the Emmett Leahy Award Committee, which consists of the immediate past ten Emmett Leahy Award winners and makes its decisions independently. It is not formally affiliated with any organization or professional association.
