Emanuele Riva Vice President of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated
Emanuele Riva has been elected Vice President of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, the leading global organization of accreditation bodies and quality infrastructure stakeholders. He will serve alongside President Brahim Houla.
The election took place on October 23 in Bangkok, during the organization’s first General Assembly, which sanctioned the merger between the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Cooperation (IAF), of which Riva is currently President.
As Deputy Director General and Director of the Certification and Inspection Department of Accredia, Riva will begin his term at Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated on January 1, 2026, alongside President Brahim Houla and the other governance bodies, which will be appointed between October and December 2025: the Technical Committee, the Financial Audit Committee, and the Board of Directors, responsible for appointing the Treasurer and the Quality Manager.
During his tenure at the IAF, Riva worked closely with many partner organizations, developing a strategic approach to building and maintaining effective international cooperation. Today, 156 accreditation bodies and stakeholders have already joined Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated.
“Over the years,” said the new Vice President, “I have had the privilege of serving our global community during a period of extraordinary challenges and profound transformation, which has strengthened my belief in the importance of collaboration, dialogue, and continuity in leadership.”
“I believe in leadership that listens, unites, and builds progress through consensus and respect,” Riva concluded. “It will be an honor to continue serving our community with this spirit—with dedication, energy, and a sense of shared purpose—as Vice President of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated.”
The new organization therefore aims to be a central player in the global accreditation landscape, committed to seizing the opportunities and addressing the challenges related to Artificial Intelligence, sustainability, and the strategic use of data.