As part of ArbitralWomen’s (AW’s) ongoing efforts to enhance membership and increase global visibility, AW is launching a new initiative to appoint Country Representatives. This initiative responds to growing interest from members worldwide who are eager to contribute more actively to AW’s mission at the local level.
 
The idea emerged over the years from members and from the Board’s internal discussions on the importance of empowering AW Members across regions to take on visible roles that promote AW’s mission and expand its regional footprint.
 
The objective of this new initiative is to expand AW’s reach and engagement, and to promote female practitioners, particularly in underrepresented regions and countries. The goal is to create opportunities for local AW Members and female dispute resolution practitioners to connect, collaborate, and strengthen the AW network, by organising in-person and online events, (potentially in local languages), and to ensure that AW’s message is both accessible and accurately conveyed.
 
At its core, the initiative is about empowering committed AW Members to serve as visible representatives in their jurisdictions, while ensuring that all activities remain consistent with AW’s values and brand identity.
 
AW Members who meet the criteria below may apply for nomination as Country Representatives (CRs).
 
The first term of this new initiative will start in January 2026 and end in December 2027.
 
CRs must be based in the country they will represent, have a good network and be active AW Members. CRs will play an important role in sharing information about AW activities and initiatives, and in collecting feedback from members in their region and providing jurisdiction specific knowledge to AW.
 
Duties of Country Representatives
 
Meetings: CRs will participate in monthly meetings with Board Directors to report on their activities and to discuss future plans.
 
Regional Meetings: CRs will organise and participate in annual meetings of CRs of their region, whether in person or hybrid or fully virtually, to facilitate onboarding, share experience, encourage collaboration and network.
 
Local Networking: CRs will organise an annual meeting in the country they represent to gather their local AW Members, to meet the CR and comment on potential activities for their city or region. AW SpeedNet events can be an appropriate format. If possible, CRs will organise an annual regional meeting to allow members from countries in the same region to meet in person, or hybrid or virtually. Information about planned events should be shared with other CRs in their country and/or their region.
 
Promotion & Events: CRs will promote AW and organise at least one public event per year, open to both members and non-members, women and men, either on their own or in collaboration with other representatives.
 
AW Membership: CRs will encourage local female dispute resolution practitioners to join AW and to be active in forming city groups, and will assist with identifying and encouraging AW Members to take on the role of the original CRs.
 
CALLS FOR CANDIDATES

Candidates for both Young ArbitralWomen Practitioners (YAWP) and Country Representatives

There are two different roles to be filled.

Calls for two separate and distinct roles:
 

1. YAWP Steering Committee (SC) - candidates must be under 40;
2. Country Representatives (CRs) - no age limit.

 
AW Members may serve on either YAWP SC or as CRs, if they meet the following criteria:
 
Eligibility: candidates must be (i) paid-up AW Members, and (ii) in good standing continuously for at least one year at the time of the call for candidates.
 
Term: both YAWP SC members and CRs will serve for a two-year term, starting in January 2026 and ending in December 2027. These are unpaid volunteer positions and successful candidates must confirm that they have the support of their firm/organisation (if applicable), and to commit to undertake their duties for the entire two-year term.
 
Applications: candidates will be required to complete an online application form and provide their curriculum vitae within 15 days of the Call for Candidates.
 
(i) YAWP Steering Committee
 
Young ArbitralWomen Practitioners (YAWP) is a platform for networking and for promoting AW’s under-40 members. It shares AW’s purpose and goal of promoting women in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution but with a focus on the specific challenges that young women today face in our profession.
 
YAWP is managed by a Steering Committee (SC) constituted of the Vice-President as Chair, and six members selected by AW Board. They will work alongside and under the guidance of the Chair.
 
Members of YAWP SC must attend substantially all meetings, which are convened monthly, online, for an hour.
 
A call for interest in serving on YAWP SC for the 2026-2028 term will be issued in mid-August 2025.
 
(ii) Country Representatives
 
As explained above, this new initiative will start its first two-year term in January 2026 and end in December 2027.
 
A call for candidates interested in serving as a Country Representative for the 2026-2028 term will be issued in mid-October 2025.
 
We encourage AW Members to watch for the Call for Candidates, and to express your interest in serving on the YAWP SC or as a CR.
 

The ArbitralWomen Board