World Chambers Federation announces new leadership for 2025–2028

Representing chambers of commerce from around the world, the World Chambers Federation (WCF) is the backbone of the global chamber network.  

The WCF 2023-2025 mandate saw the most diverse membership in WCF history. The new mandate, which will run from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028, will continue to build on global inclusion and representation efforts among WCF leadership to bolster WCF work and impact.  

In accordance with WCF bylaws, and in consultation with the ICC Secretary General and the WCF Executive Committee, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, whose second term as WCF Chair was recently ratified, appointed 20 additional members to join the 20 elected members of the WCF Council. 6 new vice-chairs have also been appointed and approved by the ICC Executive Board. The appointments reflect a more balanced and inclusive composition, with special attention to underrepresented regions and gender diversity. The position of WCF Vice-Chair for Africa, an essential region in our global strategy moving forward, will be confirmed and communicated in due course.

With an unprecedented participation of over 500 chambers from across the globe and a record number of candidates (59), this has been one of the most competitive elections in WCF’s history. The strong engagement has resulted in influential elected and appointed Council members who will help steer the WCF network in the years ahead. 

“This year’s election reflects the strength and diversity of our global chamber community. I’m proud to welcome such a high-caliber group to our Council and Executive Committee, and I look forward to working together to make WCF more inclusive, representative, and impactful than ever before.” 

— Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Chair, ICC World Chambers Federation 

 
The new WCF Council includes representatives from all regions of the world: 7 from the Americas, 10 from Africa and the Middle East, 9 from Asia-Pacific, and 14 from Europe. 

The new members of the WCF General Council 2025 – 2028 mandate are as follows: 

Mr. Marcelo Elizondo	Secretary and Member of the Board, Argentine Chamber of Commerce and Services (Argentina)
Mr. Andrew McKellar	CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Australia)
Mr. Atef Al Khaja	CEO, Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Bahrain)
Mr. Tom Laveren	CEO, Voka Chamber of Commerce Mechelen-Kempen (Belgium)
Mr. Jean Pierre Antelo	President, CAINCO (Bolivia)
Ms. Maria Bustamante	President, FIESC Chamber of Foreign Trade (Brazil)
Mr. Daniel Campos Caramori	Vice-President, Canadian Chamber of Commerce (Canada)
Mr. José Ovidio Claros Polanco	President, Bogota Chamber of Commerce (Colombia)
Ms. Rim Siam	President of the Economic Business Women Council, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce (Egypt)
Ms. Leticia Escobar	President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador (El Salvador)
Mr. Giorgi Pertaia	President, Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Georgia)
Mr. Volker Treier	Chief Executive of Foreign Trade and Board Member, German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Germany)
Mr. Ashish Vaid	Past President, IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (India)
Mr. Mohammad Khazaee Torshizi	Senior Advisor to the President, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (Iran)
Ms. Gilit Rubinstein	CEO, Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce (Israel)
Mr. Dario Gallina	Past President, Torino Chamber of Commerce (Italy)
Mr. Aigars Rostovskis	President, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Latvia)
Mr. Katsuya Igarashi	Executive Director, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Japan)
Dr. Erick Rutto	President, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kenya)
Mr. Rabih Sabra	Director General, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon (Lebanon)
Ms. Charlotte Parkhill	Chair, Auckland Business Chamber (New Zealand)
Mr. Gabriel Idahosa	President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nigeria)
Mr. Trajan Angeloski	President, Macedonian Chamber of Commerce (North Macedonia)
Ms. Tamader Al Thani	Director of International Relations and Chamber Affairs, Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Qatar)
Mr. Ovidiu Ioan Silaghi	Secretary General, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (Romania)
Mr. Marko Cadez	President, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (Serbia)
Ms. Melanie Veness	CEO and Chairperson, PMCB and Association of South African Chambers (South Africa)
Mr. Seong Woo Lee	Vice-President, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (South Korea)
Mr. Adolfo Díaz-Ambrona	Secretary General, Spain Chamber of Commerce (Spain)
Mr. Izzet Volkan	Chairman of the Board, Corlu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Türkiye)
Mr. Salem Al Shamsi	Vice-President for International Relations, Dubai Chambers (United Arab Emirates)
Mr. Gennadiy Chyzhykov	President, Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (Ukraine)
Mr. Ahmed M. El Wakil	President, Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) (Transnational)
Mr. Yousef Khalawi	Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (Transnational)
Mr. Natalio Mario Grinman	President, Ibero-American Association of Chambers of Commerce (AICO) (Transnational)
Mr. Peter McMullin	President, Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) (Transnational)
Mr. Ben Butters	CEO, Eurochambres (Transnational)
Dr. Khaled Hanafy	Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers (Transnational)

New WCF vice-chairs 

Ms. Marie Christine Oghly	Vice President of the Paris Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (First Vice Chair)
Mr. Gary Litman	Senior Vice President of Global Initiatives, US Chamber of Commerce (Americas)
Mr. Xiao Sun	Secretary General, China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) (Asia)
Ms. Shevaun Haviland	Director General, British Chambers of Commerce (Europe)
Mr H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani	Chairman, Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MENA)
Mr. Anindya Bakrie	Chairman, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – KADIN (Southeast Asia & Oceania)