On 2nd September 2025, the Blue Shield hosted its 2025 online General Assembly. We were delighted to welcome representatives from all our Blue Shield National Committees, Committees under Construction and the Founding Four organisations. Attendees from numerous countries around the world were able to attend the online meeting, hosted via Zoom.
The President welcomed the new and old National Committees to the General Assembly.
Approval of Annual Documentation
The first order of business was to approve the Blue Shield Annual Documentation. Members were asked to approve the following documents:
- Minutes of the General Assembly 2024
- BSI Annual Report 2024 with Financial Report
- Audit Committee Report
- 2026 Budget
- BSI 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.
He started by welcoming the two new National Committees, of Armenia and Sweden, remarking that 7 more are either under construction or being planned. The President noted that Newcastle University continues to support the Blue Shield Secretariat through the UNESCO Chair which, until 30th June 2025, comprised 2.5 members of staff. However, due to a budgetary review, this will only be 2 members of staff going forward. The President took this opportunity to thank
- Michael Delacruz (MD) for his hard work whilst he was with Blue Shield International.
- The elected and representative members of the Board for their time, not only attending Board and Bureau meetings, but also the work outside of these meetings.
- The members of the Countering Trafficking of Cultural Objects Working Group.
- Constance Domenech de Celles and Jessica Wagner for their support in fundraising for the Blue Shield.
- Tim Schnarr for his IT support, much of which is provided pro bono.
- All of the National Committees for the work they are doing around the world, which everybody has hopefully seen a taste of in the Annual Report.
- Emma Cunliffe for doing the vast majority of the work to keep Blue Shield functional, and picking up more work when MD resigned.
The BSI Annual Report 2024 was presented by the Interim Head of Operations (Emma Cunliffe). She began with a tribute to Patrick Boylan who sadly died in February 2025; his huge contribution to the founding of the Blue Shield and to CPP in general were noted, before highlighting key achievements of BSI and the National Committees, and then presenting the Financial Report 2024 and Financial Projections.
The Treasurer (Klaus Weschenfelder) spoke to the Audit Committee Report. Two members were approved for the Audit Committee by the 2024 General Assembly. Ömer Dabanli was later co-opted as a Board Member so could no longer serve on the Audit Committee.
The President reported on the BSI 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, indicating that it had not changed since the previous year.
The General Assembly approved the following members to the Audit Committee:
- existing member, Gerrit de Bruin, a conservator of books and paper, based at the State Archive in The Hague, who is a member of Blue Shield Netherlands and has served as an auditor for Blue Shield for several years; and
- Helene Rânlund, who introduced herself. Helene studied economics and has worked at various Swedish government agencies. She is currently Director of the National Swedish Museums of Military History and Chair of Blue Shield Sweden.
All reports were approved by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly approved the movement of the GA2026 to later in the year (Sept/Oct 2026).
Update on the Countering Trafficking Working Group
Working Group coordinator, Professor Patty Gerstenblith, presented on the group’s work countering the trafficking of cultural objects. With members from several national committees, the group’s primary activities are focused on supporting law enforcement, presentations and awareness raising, and acting in an advisory role.
Update on National Emergency Response
Anna Puhr, Blue Shield Board Secretary presented the on the National Emergency Response Initiative, started in 2024 to coordinate time sensitive emergency responses.
AOB and Close
The President presented the background to the JM Kaplan Fund financed Fulfilling Potential Review. This review will comprehensively investigate the governance of Blue Shield, led by an external consultant, and is due to report in September 2026, hence the vote to delay the next General Assembly. The review will establish Blue Shield is as a stronger, more robust organisation as it moves into the future.
The President closed the meeting, thanking those who had attended.
