CIAT celebrates 60th anniversary and welcomes new President at AGM

To mark its 60th anniversary, CIAT hosted a Diamond Celebration in Dublin over the weekend of 21-23 November. 

The 2025 Annual General Meeting and a Friday night social event organised by the Republic of Ireland Centre also took place.

The Friday night social event, organised by the Republic of Ireland Centre, took place at The Sin Bin Bar and was a relaxed evening with networking, live music and plenty of laughter, attended in great numbers by the AT community. Donations were made in support of Laois Down Syndrome, the chosen charity for the evening.

The Institute's 20th Annual General Meeting took place on the morning of 22 November. There was one Resolution to be debated and voted on by the Voting Delegates, made up of representatives from CIAT's Regions and Centres. This was:

• Resolution 1 [Special Resolution]
  To amend Bye-law 40 to include the aspiration Chair as a Trustee on the Executive Board
  Bye-law 40 stipulates how the Executive Board is formed and the people and positions that sit on it as a Trustee.

 The Resolution was approved unanimously.

Eddie Weir gave his closing President's address, reflecting on his historic two presidential terms, before stepping into the role of Immediate Past President.

Usman Yaqub PCIAT was inaugurated as the 32nd President of CIAT. Usman is Director at Studio Yaqub, a part time member of staff at University of the West of England and CIAT’s Regional Chair for Wessex, in which he established the highly successful ‘CPD in 43’ initiative. Usman received the Chain of Office at the close of the AGM and will hold office for the next two years. In his speech, Usman spoke of his journey overcoming his feelings of not belonging, and vowed in his presidency to implement initiatives to increase retention and engagement and enhance the value of the Institute’s membership.

In the evening, the Institute celebrated its 60th anniversary with a celebratory Gala, championing 60 years of excellence and prestige at the Round Room at Mansion House in Dublin. The Gala saw over 240 guests dressed to impress, and enjoy a sit-down three-course dinner, live music from The Mix Tape Band and plenty of dance floor moves.

On his inauguration and the anniversary celebrations, President Usman Yaqub PCIAT said:

Being President is a tremendous honour – the pinnacle of our profession – and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. That I was inaugurated in our 60th year is a further honour and a joyful thing. We have spent six decades representing and serving the very best of the profession and discipline, going from 43 people in a room to a Chartered body almost 10,000 strong, with members across the world. Who knows where we could be in another six decades!

With grateful thanks to our Headline Sponsors Kore Retrofit, Keystone Group and thanks to Fáilte Ireland and Meet in Ireland.

A full report on the AGM Weekend will appear in the next issue of AT Journal.