15 November 2025: The International Federation of Actors (FIA) and its worldwide membership successfully conclude their 23rd Congress and elect their new governing bodies.
Today, Gabrielle Carteris, American actor and former SAG-AFTRA President, was re-elected FIA president by acclamation by the federation’s international delegates, meeting at the FIA 23rd World Congress.
Hosted by British union Equity UK in Birmingham, the FIA Congress gathered over 150 delegates from some 61 countries. It ran from the 12th to the 15th of November 2025, with its elections taking place on the final day. It was preceded by multiple thematic, linguistic and regional group meetings.
Gabrielle Carteris, FIA President, said: “As we leave this Congress, we do so with a renewed sense of solidarity. This is our first in-person Congress since 2016, and it marks more than a return to physical connection. It is a powerful act of union democracy, a reaffirmation of our shared values, and a space to envision the future we want, together.”
“The FIA World Congress reflects the true global character of FIA. The strength of our movement has always been in its diversity. We are channeling that diversity into unity, inclusion, resistance and solidarity”
Paul W Fleming, Equity general secretary, said: “I’m so proud to have hosted the FIA Global Congress in my home city of Birmingham – a multicultural city of workers which built Britain and celebrates culture alongside industrial innovation. I congratulate FIA on a successful conference which brought so many unions together – something that was badly needed after the COVID pandemic.”
“International solidarity and the collective pursuit of protections and improvements for artists is more relevant than ever. So many of the challenges facing workers in the performing arts and entertainment industries are global – from AI to freedom of expression, investment, pay and conditions. This is a truly global workforce in an internationally connected industry, and so our trade union response to the challenges of our members must also be global in outlook and in practice. I congratulate Gabrielle Carteris on her re-election as FIA President and know she will do an excellent job in steering the Federation’s work for actors globally. And I’m honoured to be re-elected Vice President of FIA. I will work with affiliates of all sizes to champion improvements for our members in their working lives in one of the most precarious industries in existence. Our unity makes us stronger.”
“It is my profound honour to be re-elected president of the International Federation of Actors,” said FIA President Gabrielle Carteris. The creative sector is challenged by forces that demand action. Artificial Intelligence undermines the very essence of human creativity and the common strategies we are developing together are crucial in strengthening our global response.”
I would like to thank all the FIA members for their renewed trust and for the work they do every day in pursuit of justice, dignity and respect for all creative workers. Together we are stronger, ready to write the next chapter of our shared story”
Carteris also congratulated the newly elected Presidium members and Executive Committee members. After the first round of voting for the position of President, a second round resulted in the election of the six Vice-Presidents, who join Gabrielle Carteris to compose the FIA Presidium. The third and final round completed the election of the full composition of the FIA Executive Committee, made up of the Presidium members’ countries and 8 additional countries. The new composition of FIA Executive Committee is as follows:
Presidium Members:
President: Gabrielle Carteris (SAG-AFTRA, USA)
Vice-President: Marie Soubestre (SFA, France)
Vice-President: Simon Norrthon, (S&F, Sweden)
Vice-President: Marie Kelly (ACTRA, Canada)
Vice-President: Alicia Dogliotti (SUA, Urugay)
Vice-President: Paul Fleming (Equity, UK)
Vice-President: Jennifer Ward-Lealand (Equity NZ, New Zealand)
Countries: Japan, Croatia, Denmark, Mexico, South Africa, The Netherlands, Turkey & Poland
In addition to the Congress sessions, all of FIA’s regional groups – AfroFIA (African), EuroFIA (European), FIAEA (Eurasian), FIALA (Latin American), FIA Nordic Group and FIANA (North American) as well as the FIA English Speaking Group – convened during Congress to exchange perspectives on regional and linguistic challenges and priorities. The Federation’s thematic working groups and committees also met, including the Gender Equality and Sexual Harassment Working Group, FIA Rainbow (LGBTQ+) Working Group, the Artificial Intelligence Working Group, the Commercials Working Group, the Racial Equality and Ethnic Diversity Working Group, the Performers with Disabilities Working Group and the young members committee FIA Future Now. Their discussions informed the Federation’s policy agenda and reinforced solidarity across its diverse membership.
