IATI welcomes new Governing Board for 2026–2028

The International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) has welcomed its newly elected Governing Board for the 2026–2028 term, with new leadership appointed at its first meeting.

Meeting virtually for the first time on 31 May 2026, the Governing Board appointed:

• Chair: Jack Lightley, ODA Transparency Team Leader, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
• Vice-Chair: Horia Sohir Debbiche, Principal Results and Transparency Officer, African Development Bank

The appointments follow the Governing Board elections held in March 2026, in which IATI members elected seven representatives to serve a two-year term beginning on 1 April 2026.

The meeting brought together both outgoing and incoming Board members, supporting a smooth handover of responsibilities and continuity in IATI’s governance. Discussions focused on priorities for the period ahead, with a strong focus on delivering the IATI Strategic Plan 2026–2030.

The Governing Board plays a central role in shaping IATI’s direction, guiding the development of the IATI Standard, and setting the annual workplan and budget.

The Board and Secretariat extend their sincere thanks to the outgoing Governing Board for their leadership and contributions over the past two years — including outgoing Chair Thea Schepers (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands), Vice-Chair Zainab Al-Azzawi (UNICEF), and Board members Mohamed Gele (Government of Somalia) and Siem Vaessen (Zimmerman BV).

For more information about how IATI is governed, read Governance.