Our Global 2026 President, Cesar Pereira, C.Arb FCIArb, who formally took office on 1 January 2026, succeeding Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab, C.Arb FCIArb in a ceremonial handover in December 2025, marking the start of a new chapter in the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He will be supported in his presidential role by the 2026 Deputy President, Michael Tonkin, C.Arb FCIArb.
Every CIArb President selects a theme to frame their presidency, signaling priorities for members, partners, and stakeholders. For 2026, President Cesar has chosen the theme “Trust in a Changing World”, reflecting the evolving realities of international dispute resolution and the heightened responsibilities of arbitration professionals.
Of his theme, Cesar remarked:
“Trust in international dispute resolution rests on ethics and professional conduct, and equally on efficiency and a steady focus on the interests of the end user. Today’s technological transformations and shifting international relations are converging to create an increasingly complex environment. As a global, century-old organisation, we are uniquely positioned to promote, preserve and project that trust, and to have confidence in our own ability to evolve, adapt and recalibrate as needed to meet the challenges of a world that is changing ever faster.”
President Cesar brings extensive leadership experience, having co-founded the CIArb Brazil Branch in 2019 and serving as its first Chair in 2022. His appointment signals a continued commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and professional excellence across the global CIArb community.
CIArb President’s Public Lecture and Panel Discussion
In line with his presidency theme, CIArb Kenya will convene a high-level Public Lecture and Panel Discussion under the banner:
“Arbitration on Trial: Accountability, Ethics, and Public Trust”
Date: 20 February 2026 | Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EAT | Venue: Nairobi (In-person)
Arbitration today faces critical scrutiny from courts, users, states, civil society, and the media, particularly around accountability, ethics, and public trust. While it remains the preferred mechanism for resolving complex domestic, cross-border, and investor–state disputes, questions about legitimacy, transparency, and ethical oversight are increasingly being raised.
This public lecture and panel discussion are designed not to weaken arbitration, but to strengthen it. By interrogating the system through a solutions-focused lens, CIArb Kenya affirms its role as a global standard-setter and custodian of professional ethics, ensuring that trust in arbitration is intentionally designed, governed, and earned.
Objectives of the Event:
- Examine why arbitration is perceived to be “on trial” in different jurisdictions
- Identify ethical and accountability gaps in domestic, international, and ISDS arbitration
- Compare legitimacy challenges across arbitration contexts
- Explore how professional self-regulation can restore public trust
- Position CIArb Kenya as a global thought leader and solutions provider
- Generate insights to inform training, policy engagement, and institutional reform
Core Discussion Questions:
- Who holds arbitrators accountable, and how far should that accountability go?
- Can arbitration remain private while demanding public trust?
- Where does party autonomy end and public interest begin?
- Are domestic arbitration systems vulnerable to capture by repeat actors?
- Are disclosure standards sufficient to manage conflicts of interest in international arbitration?
- Can investor–state arbitration coexist with democratic legitimacy?
Event Structure:
- Part I: President’s Public Lecture – Thought-leadership address on arbitration’s legitimacy challenges, accountability, ethics, and the role of CIArb as a global custodian of professional standards.
- Part II: Panel Discussion – Comparative and solutions-focused discussion with judicial, institutional, and professional perspectives.
Proposed Panelists:
Part II: Panel Discussion
Speakers: Prof. Githu Muigai, EGH, C.Arb, Prof. Wyne Mutuma, MBS, C.Arb, Hon. Justice Dr. Smokin Wanjala, CBS, FCIArb,Hon. lady Jus. Jacqueline Kamau, C.Arb
- Ciarb President Cesar Pereira, C.Arb FCIArb
- Ciarb Kenya Chairman
- Judge of the Supreme Court
- Law Society Representative
- Senior Arbitrator
This event reflects President Cesar’s commitment to building trust in a changing world, aligning perfectly with his 2026 presidency theme. It is an opportunity for members, users, and stakeholders to engage critically with the profession, explore ethical and accountability frameworks, and contribute to shaping the future of arbitration globally.
Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1szCrmLr-CON2czoNl8dIByfZa-gxUBkqugKVMGPp9lY
