The year 2025 marked the successful achievement of several key milestones for the UIA. Numerous important projects are currently under development and are expected to be finalised in time for the 2026 UIA World Congress and General Assembly in Barcelona.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Revision of Statutes
The revised Articles and Bylaws, including the decisions taken at the 2024 EGA in Kuala Lumpur, are now in force and published on the UIA website. The second part of the revision is in preparation.
With the adoption of the principle of collegial governance, the revised conflict-of-interest policy, the mandatory appointment of an independent auditor and a legal advisor, the modification of responsibilities for the preparation and conduct of elections, and the institutionalisation of Council Committees, the UIA has taken an important step towards becoming a more democratic, transparent, and well-structured organisation. With a clearer mission, the UIA is now stronger and better equipped to define its priorities and guide its actions.
The second part of the revision of the Articles and Bylaws– including provisions for more transparent and efficient governance, clarifications regarding conflict-of-interest cases, and financial regulations–is in preparation and will be presented for a vote at the 2026 General Assembly in Barcelona.
Retrospective Audit
The 2018-2022 Accounts Report was finalised in January, presented to Council in February and published on the UIA website. The auditors’ recommendations are implemented.
At the beginning of the 2023-2026 term, and in the interest of transparency towards all Member Sections, the UIA mandated an independent auditor in October 2023 to conduct a retrospective audit of the 2018-2022 accounts, in response to concerns expressed by some Member Sections regarding accounting practices. The report was finalised in January 2025 and presented to Council at its 170th meeting in February 2025.
The audit did not reveal any unjustified misstatements. Minor discrepancies detected were examined in detail and were explained. The accounting records did not present any significant risks of fraud or undetected errors. However, the report concluded that the UIA’s internal procedures for approving, validating and paying expenses during the mandates from 2018 to 2023 suffered from a number of shortcomings (lack of formalisation and separation of key functions; accumulation of approval, validation and payment powers in the hands of the Administrative Director; excessive dependence on a single individual) exposing the UIA to increased risks of fraud, error and misappropriation of funds.
The audit also identified major deficiencies in the Secretariat’s human resources management and payroll processes, which placed the organisation at financial, legal, and operational risk. All recommendations regarding approving and validating expenses have been taken into consideration by the current mandate and were already implemented at the start of the 2023-2026 term. HR procedures have been formalised, and previously missing regulations for the Secretariat have been elaborated and are now in effect.
Financial regulations have been proposed by the finance committee and the principles approved by Council. Furthermore, the UIA has ensured the collaboration of a Human Resources consultant since March 2024.
Paris Headquarters
New Address: 20 Avenue de l’Opéra, 75001 Paris
The UIA–graciously hosted by the CNOA since 2007–had to leave the Montparnasse Tower before the end of 2025. After several postponements in recent years the refurbishment works were scheduled to begin. A proposal to relocate the UIA Headquarters to Lausanne, where the Municipality and the State of Vaud had offered prestigious premises free of charge, did not receive the required two-thirds majority at the 2024 Extraordinary General Assembly. Since the beginning of 2025, efforts were undertaken to identify suitable premises in Paris. As the French authorities did not offer a solution for relocating the UIA headquarters, the “Paris Headquarters Task Force” chaired by the President, conducted a search on the open market. After evaluating several options, appropriate premises were found in the centre of Paris, and a six-year lease agreement was concluded. The UIA Secretariat relocated to the new address on 18 June 2025. For the first time in the UIA’s history, the Union has its own place and address. The Union will now be paying rent, which has serious implications for the budget.
Executive Director: Successful Call and Appointment
Following the resolution adopted at the 2023 Copenhagen Assembly to strengthen the UIA Secretariat and to establish a formal process for appointing an Executive Director, a detailed role profile and task description were defined with the input from external experts. A selection panel was constituted, and an open call for applications was launched and published in January via the UIA website, UIA mailing list, LinkedIn, Indeed, and APEC.
A total of 48 applications were received from candidates representing 18 different countries. Among several highly qualified candidates, the panel unanimously selected Olga Mihalikova from Slovakia for the position.
Holding a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Management, and bringing experience as Chief Executive Officer of both a Chamber and an Association of Architects, she was unanimously considered the most suitable candidate for the position. Olga Mihalikova took up her new role mid-June.
Secretariat
Final phase for Reinforcing and Professionalising the Secretariat Completed
A head-hunter was hired in September to identify qualified candidates for the posts of Executive Assistants. The panel selected one senior and two junior assistants to reinforce the Secretariat starting in January 2026.
The call launched in September for the positions of Competition and Awards Officer and Events Officer was also successful. In October, the panel unanimously selected two architects, with relevant experience for the respective posts. Both will serve as independent service providers and assume their roles in January 2026.