The ASOIF Governance Workshop 2025 was hosted by the ASOIF Governance Task Force (GTF), which took place on 1 October 2025 in a hybrid format in Lausanne.


Welcome (09:00-09:10)

Speaker: Ingmar De Vos - President, ASOIF; President, International Equestrian Federation (FEI); ASOIF GTF Member


Keynote Speech (09:10-09:30)

Speaker: Snežana Samardžić-Marković - Chair of ASOIF GTF; former Director General of Democracy, Council of Europe; Independent Senior Expert for Human Rights in Sport


Introduction of ASOIF guidance notes on suggested components of IF electoral rules and processes (09:30-09:35) (download here)

Speaker: James Carr - ASOIF Executive Director

Managing International Federation Elections (09:35-10:45)

Speaker: Margot Foster OLY - ASOIF GTF Member, Boardroom Excellence and Governance Specialist, Sports Lawyer


Coffee Break (10:45-11:15)

Panel discussion: National Sports Integrity Organisations (11:15-12:10)

Facilitator:

  • Benjamin Cohen - Director General, International Testing Agency (ITA); ASOIF GTF Member

Panellists:

  • Laura van Tiel - Legal, Swiss Sport Integrity
  • Sarah Kenny - Chair of Advisory Council, Sport Integrity Australia

Panel discussion: Supporting and Monitoring National Federation and Continental Federation Governance (12:10-13:00)

Facilitator:

  • Giuseppe Deleonardis - Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, International Olympic Committee (IOC); ASOIF GTF Member

Panellists:

  • Clare Barrell - Director International Relations and Member Services, World Rugby
  • Marco Ienna - Chief Operating Officer, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
  • Erica Ricci - Head of General Affairs, International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC)

Lunch Break (13:00-13:45)

Update from International Olympic Committee (13:45-14:00)

Speaker: Giuseppe Deleonardis - Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, International Olympic Committee (IOC); ASOIF GTF Member


Introduction of Plans for Sixth Review of International Federation Governance (14:00-14:15)

Speakers: 

  • James Carr - ASOIF Executive Director
  • Christine Sciberras - Sports Governance and Sustainability Consultant, I Trust Sport

Breakout Session: Discussion on Future of ASOIF Governance Work (14:15-15:15)

Speaker: Snežana Samardžić-Marković - Chair of ASOIF GTF; former Director General of Democracy, Council of Europe; Independent Senior Expert for Human Rights in Sport

Breakout Group Discussions:

Participants were divided into five different groups to discuss different topics. Each group was facilitated by a moderator.


Panel discussion: International Federation Technical Officials (15:15-16:15)

Facilitator:

  • Stephen Bock - Head of Legal and General Counsel, International Volleyball Federation (FIVB); Chair of ASOIF Legal Consultative Group

Panellists:

  • Dr Hugues Mercier - Managing Partner, Maelstrom Analytics and Technologies
  • Fabrice Prahin - Chief of Sports, International Skating Union (ISU)

Conclusion (16:15-16:30)

Speaker: Ingmar De Vos - President, ASOIF; President, International Equestrian Federation (FEI); ASOIF GTF Member