ICCA announces new Office Holders and Governing Board Members
ICCA is pleased to announce the election of a new President-Elect and new Vice President, as well as the appointment of five new Governing Board Members who will take office on 1 April 2025.
Audley Sheppard KC has been elected ICCA President-Elect to succeed current ICCA President Stanimir Alexandrov in 2026. Mr. Sheppard KC is an arbitrator with more than 35 years’ experience in the field, he was appointed to the ICCA Governing Board in 2020, has served as an ICCA Vice-President since 2023 and was Co-chair of the Program Committee for the ICCA 2024 Hong Kong Congress. His term as an ICCA Vice President will come to an end on 1 April 2025 at which time he will hand over the role to current Governing Board Member Dyalá Jiménez.
Asked about his new appointment, Mr. Sheppard KC said:
“I am looking forward to working with the Governing Board, the Executive Body and the Bureau in implementing the mission of ICCA. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to continue the work being done under Stanimir’s leadership and to maintain the legacy of past Presidents.”
Mr. Sheppard KC will take over the Presidency at the close of the 2026 Madrid Congress, which will be held from 12-15 April 2026.
ICCA takes this opportunity to welcome new Vice-President, Dyalá Jiménez, to the ICCA Executive Body for a two-year term. Ms. Jiménez specializes in international dispute resolution and has previously served as the Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica. She is an active member of the ICCA Governing Board and is particularly dedicated to ICCA’s Judicial Outreach initiatives.
Speaking to her election, Ms. Jiménez said:
“I am honored to serve as the Vice President of ICCA and look forward to working with esteemed colleagues in pursuing ICCA’s mission to promote knowledge of international commercial arbitration and enhance its effectiveness around the world.”
ICCA has also elected five new Governing Board Members: Aisha Abdallah (Kenya), Chiann Bao (Singapore), Tunde Fagbohunlu (Nigeria), Shaneen Parikh (India) and Vladimir Pavić (Serbia). The new Board Members will replace Funke Adekoya, Vladimir Khvalei, Zia Mody, Lucy Reed and Eduardo Siqueiros, all of whom have now served two terms on the Board (the maximum permitted under ICCA’s Bylaws). The new Members will take office on 1 April for an initial four-year term.
Additionally, current Member Judith Gill has been re-elected to the Governing Board for a second and final four-year term.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Body, ICCA President Stanimir Alexandrov commented:
"I extend a warm welcome to the five new Governing Board Members joining us this year. Their individual expertise will undoubtedly strengthen ICCA, and I look forward to the valuable contributions they will bring. Additionally, I congratulate Audley and Dyalá on their respective appointments. Their leadership and vision will ensure a bright future for ICCA.”
The election process for the ICCA Governing Board begins with nominations by Governing Board Members and the identification of a shortlist by ICCA’s Nominations and Membership Committee. This Committee comprises Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Chair), Olufunke Adekoya, Abby Cohen Smutny, Judith Gill, Meg Kinnear, Sylvia Noury, Guido Tawil and Lise Bosman (ex officio). The candidates are then recommended to and approved by ICCA’s Executive Body. Thereafter, the candidates are elected by two-thirds majority of the full ICCA Governing Board.
The new Governing Board Members will join the Governing and Advisory Board at the joint ICCA-KIAC Conference that is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda on 5 June 2025. Entitled “Africa & International Arbitration: Untold Stories” the conference will consider how Africa is overcoming historical obstacles on the continent, explore the current challenges and opportunities for trade and investment in the region, and predict what the future holds for international arbitration in Africa.
For more information and to register for the ICCA-KIAC conference visit: https://iccakiac2025.org/.