The first whole group meeting of the newly established Governance Consultation Working Group was held on 15th May 2025. The group has been created by the IBU and BIU to gain National Federation (NF) input and expertise for the Biathlon Governance Framework – a series of requirements for NFs to achieve high standards of governance across biathlon.

As part of this process, a group of highly experienced individuals has been brought together, with a focus on gaining different geographical NF perspectives. All NFs were invited to nominate members of the working group and provide their input. We are also delighted to have an athlete representative as part of the group to ensure that the athlete voice is heard.

The working group is formed of:

Anastasiya Merkushyna, Ukrainian biathlete and BIU Athlete Ambassador since 2021

Barbara Petrahn, Secretary General, Hungarian Ski Federation

Christian Scherer, Treasurer, IBU Executive Board; Secretary General, Austrian Ski Federation

David Windsor, Chairman, Biathlon Australia

Kalle Lähdesmäki, Former President, Finnish Biathlon Association

Mike Walker, Chair of Board of Directors, Biathlon Canada

The group has provided feedback on the BIU’s proposed governance requirements, offering valuable expertise about the realities of NFs. This feedback will be taken into account when finalising the Biathlon Governance Framework and will inform decisions about the project going forward. The group will continue its work over the next months to ensure NFs are represented in the Biathlon Governance Framework.