Content
- ELACTA Board Meeting, Frankfurt, Germany
- Presidents’ Meeting – Summary Report
- Upcoming Events
- Converence News
- Looking Ahead
ELACTA Board Meeting, Frankfurt, Germany
The ELACTA Board met in person in Frankfurt on 28–29 November 2025 for a two-day working meeting of the 2024–2026 Board. The meeting was attended by Mihaela Niță (President), Dinka Barić, Helen Borg, Renata Vettorazzi, Daiva Sniukaite, and Asta Vilpisauskiene, with Livia Bratu joining online for conference-related discussions. Minutes were prepared by Asta Vilpisauskiene and Helen Borg.
A key focus of the meeting was preparation for the upcoming ELACTA conference, including financial planning, registration and payment systems, contractual arrangements with the professional conference organiser, programme finalisation, and promotional strategies. The Board confirmed that speaker contracts were finalised and discussed actions to strengthen promotion, sponsorship opportunities, and engagement, including renewed calls for poster abstracts.
The Board reviewed internal governance and working processes, agreeing on clearer timelines for minutes and agendas, improved communication practices, workload sharing, and updated travel and subsistence allowances applicable to all ELACTA-related travel. These measures aim to support transparency, efficiency, and equitable participation.
Strategic discussions addressed the General Assembly, future conferences (including preparations for 2026 and early planning for 2030), CERPS International 2027, and Board continuity. Membership structures and benefits were reviewed, with agreement to improve visibility of IBCLC and non-IBCLC membership data and to further examine membership fees and benefits.
Additional agenda items included financial oversight, CERPs administration, collaboration with the Editorial Team, and updates from ELACTA task groups covering education, research, core values, communications, recognition, and conference planning. The meeting concluded with agreed action points and a schedule of upcoming Board, Presidents’, and strategic meetings extending into 2026.
Presidents’ Meeting – Summary Report
The ELACTA Presidents’ Meeting took place online on 4 November 2025 and lasted approximately 90 minutes. The meeting was chaired by Mihaela Niță, President of ELACTA, with Helen Borg, secretary of ELACTA, taking the minutes. More than 25 representatives from member associations across Europe and other regions participated, reflecting ELACTA’s broad and growing network.
The meeting opened with updates on communication with member associations, the welcoming of new member associations from Moldova and Canada, and discussions regarding the potential return of the Swiss association. Membership developments were reviewed, noting that ELACTA currently includes around 32 member associations and individual members, organised within a two-tier structure (IBCLC and non-IBCLC).
Following that, updates were shared on organisational activities, including the involvement of new volunteers supporting task groups Core Values and Education, Translation and Research. Upcoming Board meetings and the importance of maintaining in-person collaboration alongside online meetings were highlighted.
Participants discussed upcoming events and educational initiatives, including national conferences, webinars, and activities linked to International IBCLC Day. Ongoing collaboration with partner organisations in education and professional development was reaffirmed, alongside interest in future projects such as online CERPs events and the exploration of AI tools in lactation support.
Significant concerns were raised regarding IBLCE processes, including exam accessibility, costs, transparency, and communication. There was strong agreement to draft a joint letter outlining shared concerns and to request a formal meeting with IBLCE. Ethical collaboration with industry was also discussed, with ELACTA reaffirming its commitment to the WHO Code.
The meeting concluded with agreed next steps, including follow-up communications, continued project development, and planning for future conferences. The next Presidents’ Meeting is scheduled for February 2026, ahead of International IBCLC Day events.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these exciting opportunities:
- 20-23/03/2026 Greece’s Annual Conference in March (bilingual, Greek/English, with translation services)
- 04/03 & 11/03 & 18/03/2026 Austria’s webinar on tongue-tie management in March
- International IBCLC Day events planned for early March 2026
Conference News
Following member feedback, we’re adjusting our conference format. A poll showed over 80% of presidents prefer keeping the Presidents’ Meeting as a workshop rather than a lunch format, allowing full participation in conference activities. The board is working to accommodate this preference while finalising the programme . Early bird registration opens soon!
Looking Ahead
We’re seeking volunteers to host the 2027 CERPS International event and inviting national association to submit bids for the 2030 ELACTA conference (to be announced at our 2026 Romania conference). We’re also exploring AI tools in lactation support and developing educational collaborations with EISL.