The 2025 UIAA General Assembly took place in Peja, Kosovo from 24-26 October and was hosted by the Kosovo Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation. Kosovo became the 35th country to host a UIAA GA. Annexed to the GA programme was the second edition of the UIAA Mountain Sports Symposium.
Over 90 delegates representing 54 member associations attended the GA. The GA programme, as has become tradition, included a Climate Change Summit and panel discussions dedicated to the UIAA Strategic Priorities, the role of innovations and ethics, and the development of climbing and mountaineering in emerging federations. Further details on these discussions will be posted shortly.
During the GA, the two main prizes awarded as part of the 2025 UIAA Mountain Protection Award, partnered by Lenovo and Altezza Travel, were granted. Flagship Shelters for the Environment from UIAA member association FFCAM (Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne) was confirmed as the overall winner and Walking the Tra Tra by fellow UIAA active/full member Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) was the Best New Initiative. The official prizegiving for the 2025-26 Mountain Protection Award will take place at the Alpine Museum in Bern, Switzerland held on 23-24 October, 2026 and jointly to the ceremony of the Albert Mountain Awards.
In addition to the GA, the autumn UIAA Management Board meeting was held as well as meetings for the Mountaineering, Safety and Medical Commissions as well as World Ice Climbing. The Mountain Sports Symposium, a two-day course focused on topics related to mountain medicine, safety and training with a particular focus on the Balkan region attracted over 60 attendees. A full review of this event will be available in due course.
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Voting Decisions
Below is a summary of the key voting decisions at the 2025 UIAA General Assembly:
President’s Report
Peter Muir’s President’s Report, which focused on progress across the UIAA and notably the Seven Strategic Priorities in 2025, was approved and can be viewed here.
Finances
The financial results for 2024 and budget for 2026 were approved as was a new membership fee proposal, for which one of the main components is there being a 6% fee increase for associate and full/active members.
Articles of Association (AoAs)
The following changes were approved:
Article 11.3: Voting right charts
Article 14.2: Commission President/Management Board no double roles permitted
Article 26.3: Commission President term limit
Article 26.6: One vote per country in a Commission
Article 26.8: CP/MB no double roles *explanation of 30-day timeframe
Annex 1: 3.e, 3.f: Membership fee update
Annex 2: c: Honorary nominations later deadline
The updated AoA document will be available on the UIAA website shortly.
Elections
Management Board
While there were no Executive Committee elections in 2025, there were the following for the Management Board:
Largest five member federations representative:
Claudio Nicati, Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) elected
Claudio Nicati replaces Juan Jesus Ibañez Martin (FEDME) whose term came to an end. The UIAA thanks Juan for the considerable dedication he gave not only to the Management Board but also in his previous roles including as Access Commission President.
Continental Representatives (CR):
Bouchra Baibanou, Royal Moroccan Ski and Mountain Sports Federation, elected as CR for Africa
The UIAA thanks Paul Carstensen, outgoing MB representative for Africa, for the commitment and dedicated he brought to the role throughout his four-year tenure.
Allan Brent, New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC), elected as CR for Oceania.
Allan Brent replaces Stuart Gray (NZAC) whose maximum term came to an end. The UIAA thanks Stuart for his long service to the Management Board as well as his commitment to many working groups including those dedicated to climate change and sustainability.
Willy Montenegro, Chile (FEACH), re-elected as CR for Central/South America
UIAA Court
UIAA Court elections saw Pierre Humblet (CMBEL, Belgium) re-elected as President and the following members Marco del Zotto (CAI, Italy) and Frank StämfplI (SAC, Switzerland) re-elected and former UIAA EC member Francoise Jaquet (SAC, Switzerland) elected.
Membership
At the GA there was one proposal for a change of membership and seven new membership applications.
Change in membership
Denmark: Following an agreement between the two Danish federation members of the UIAA, their roles have been switched. Dansk Bjerg – Og Klatreklub is now the Associate Member and Danish Climbing Federation becomes the Active/Full Member.
New active/full members
The following federations were elected as active/full members of the UIAA:
Armenia: Armenian Mountaineering & Hiking Federation (AMHF)
Estonia: Eesti Matkaliit (EM)
Syria: Syrian Association for Mountain Activities (SAMA)
New associate members
The following federations were elected as associate members of the UIAA:
Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurdistan Mountaineering & Climbing Federation (KMCF)
USA: USA Ice Climbing
New observer member
The following association was elected as an observer member of the UIAA:
Germany: Albrecht von Dewitz Stiftung
Subject to verdicts regarding the four members being given until the end of the year to pay outstanding fees, the UIAA currently has 100 member associations from 77 countries on six continents. They are comprised of 73 full members, one unit member, 19 associate members and seven observer members. The exact membership figure for 2026 will be confirmed at the end of the year.
Unit Member
The International Skyrunning Federation (ISF) provided an update regarding its activities and main events hosted in 2025.
As of the GA, the ISF representative on the Management Board is now Pavlos Georgiades (Cyprus, CMCF). He replaces Silvio Calvi (Italy) who has supported the ISF as an advisor since its creation in 2008, has been its Vice President since 2015 and played an instrumental role in the ISF becoming a Unit Member of the UIAA and in the successful collaboration between the two federations ever since. The UIAA thanks Silvio for his many years of support.
Commissions
Following Management Board approval, the UIAA can also confirm the following appointment of two new Commission Presidents:
Training: Ron Funderburke (AAC, United States)
Youth: Michael Nagal (DAV, Germany)
Commission lists will be updated on the UIAA website in due course.
Future UIAA General Assemblies
Next year’s GA will be held in Nepal, from 30-31 October. The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) will be the hosts. The 2027 UIAA GA will visit Santiago, Chile and be hosted by FEACH. Dates to be confirmed.
Thanks
The UIAA thanks all delegates for attending a very productive and enjoyable GA. Considerable appreciation goes to the hosting federation Kosovo Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation, led by its President Arianit Nikci, for their excellent organisation of the event, hospitality and seamless delivery of both the GA and the Mountain Sports Symposium. The UIAA would also like to thank its attending Honorary Members, Jordi Pons Sanjines and Frits Vrijlandt.
The UIAA also extends its thanks to all of its sponsors/partners who contributed significantly to several initiatives and events held within the UIAA. This includes Mammut for the merchandise provided; Namah Ropes for the rope bags and discount cards offered to all delegates; Lenovo and Altezza Travel for their support for the Mountain Protection Award; Petzl Foundation for its partnership with the Mountain Sports Symposium and Fixe Climbing for its considerable support to the UIAA Ice Climbing World Tour and UIAA safety projects.
Further Information
Photo Gallery – UIAA General Assembly
Photo Gallery – UIAA Mountain Sports Symposium
UIAA Annual Report
