International Council (IC)
Responsibilities of the International Council (IC) of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association (IAA).
The roles and responsibilities of the IC are to:
- Supervise the operational functions of the International Award Foundation (IAF);
- Discuss and approve the agenda and arrangements for the Forum;
- Act on behalf of the International Award Association (IAA) between Forum meetings;
- Ensure that decisions made at the Forum are put into action;
- Accept qualified National Award Operators (NAOs) into provisional membership of the IAA.
Meetings
The IC meets once a year, either at the Forum, International Gold Event (IGE) or at a specific IC meeting, depending on where we are in the three year cycle of events. The most recent IC meeting took place online in April 2024.
Members
The International Council consists of the Trustees and the Secretary General of the International Award Foundation plus 12 representatives who were elected in 2025/28 (to represent the interests of National Award Operators and Independent Award Centres in an area) and eight new International Youth Representatives who were elected at Forum 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria.
12 representatives as elected in 2025:
| Africa | Nigeria | Mr Oshoke Joseph Bello, National Director |
| Mauritius | Mrs Dhanita Ramdharee, Permanent Secretary Youth and Sports | |
| Zambia | Mr Twaambo Chikoye, National Director | |
| Americas | The Bahamas | Ms Jacquetta Maycock, National Director |
| Bermuda/ Chair of CASC | Mr Ryan Eve, Chairman | |
| Canada | Ms Melissa MacAdam, Board Chair | |
| Asia Pacific | Australia | Mr Cameron Smart, Board Member |
| Bangladesh | Mr Rizwan Bin Farouq, Chairman | |
| China | Mr Garrison Lu, Chairman and National Director | |
| Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States | Bulgaria | Ms Liliya Harizanova, Executive Director |
| Slovakia | Mr Miloš Ondrášik, National Director | |
| United Kingdom | Ms Ruth Marvel, Chief Executive Director |
8 International Youth Representatives elected in 2025:
| Africa | Nigeria | Emerald Akhaumere |
| Kenya | Vivian Kinya | |
| Americas | Canada | Andrea Chakma |
| Bahamas | La’shan Gardiner | |
| Asia Pacific | Aotearoa New Zealand | Phoebe Li |
| Indonesia | Jordan Jans | |
| Europe, Mediterranean and Arab States | Czech Republic | Adam Proksch |
| United Kingdom | Esa Rehman |
International Foundation contacts:
| Chief Operating Officer | Hannah Stoddart |
| Global Operations Director | Edwin Kimani |
| Global Operations Director | Melissa Stoakes |
The Foundation and International Council thank the outgoing Emerging Leader Representatives (now IYRs) for their dedication and commitment to the development of the Award over the last three years.
