ICPA Welcomes New Board Member and Re-elects Experienced Leaders
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New Board Member from Zimbabwe
Dr. Moses Cyrial Ngawaite Chihobvu, Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Prisons & Correctional Service, has been welcomed as the newest member of the ICPA Board of Directors. His appointment marks an important step in strengthening African representation within the global correctional leadership community.
Accepting his nomination, Dr. Chihobvu expressed his profound gratitude and sense of responsibility: "I am deeply honoured and humbled by this nomination and the trust it represents not only me personally, but in the African correctional community that I am privileged to represent."
He continued, "I accept this responsibility with a deep sense of purpose and commitment, to contribute actively to our shared mission of advancing humane, safe and effective correctional practices across the world. This nomination is not only a personal honour, but also a reminder of the collective responsibility we share as global correctional leaders to learn from one another, support one another and strengthen the profession together."
Re-elected Board Members
David Brown, Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Correctional Services, has also been re-elected for a second term. With thirteen years of leadership experience in South Australia, Mr. Brown has guided the agency through substantial reform and improvement across custodial operations, community corrections, and rehabilitation services.
Commenting on his re-election, Mr. Brown stated: "As a Board member, I have played an active role in the stewardship of the International Corrections and Prisons Association during my first term as a Board member, and I hope to be able to continue this contribution through a second term."
Mr. Brown's contributions to ICPA include supporting the association's annual and thematic conferences and responding to a short-notice request to host the first International Corrections Research Conference in the southern hemisphere. He looks forward to supporting the first International Research in Corrections Conference in New Zealand in March 2026.
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Dr. Marayca Lopez i Ferrer, Justice Sector Planning Leader and Principal at DLR Group in the USA, has been re-elected to serve a second four-year term on the ICPA Board of Directors.
Reflecting on her continued service, Dr. Lopez i Ferrer stated: "It is a privilege and an honour to be given the opportunity to continue to serve on the ICPA Board of Directors for the next 4 years. Since joining my first ICPA Annual Conference back in 2012, being part of this global organisation has allowed me to grow personally and professionally through the meaningful exchange of experiences, knowledge, and innovative solutions in corrections worldwide."
She added, "Over a decade of involvement with the ICPA has made me appreciate the tremendous value of connecting with corrections experts and leaders from multiple backgrounds in fostering understanding and collaboration and in supporting strategies to drive change, empowering people, organisations and communities to thrive."
Dr. Lopez i Ferrer brings extensive international experience to the board, having devoted her entire career to prison reform. She holds three advanced degrees in Criminal Justice and has worked on justice reform projects across Africa, America, Australia, and Europe. Currently serving as P&D Network Board Liaison and member of the Programme Committee, she also actively participates in the ICPA-LA and ICPA-NA Chapters.
The combination of new leadership from Africa and the continued expertise of re-elected board members positions ICPA to strengthen its global reach and advance its mission of promoting humane, safe, and effective correctional practices worldwide. The diverse backgrounds and experiences of these leaders reflect ICPA's commitment to fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange in the corrections field.