General Assembly
The General Assembly is the supreme governing body of the Union for International Cancer Control.
UICC's General Assembly meets every two years to elect a new board of directors as well as the new President-elect. During the General Assembly, member organisations are generally presented with a business performance overview, a review of the past two years since the last Assembly, and insight into the future plans and ambitions for UICC. Those eligible to vote do so for the minutes of the previous General Assembly as well as to approve the financial accounts for the previous two years.
Eligible attendees
As per the Constitution, the General Assembly shall be attended by:
- Full member organisations
- Associate member organisations
- Other observers by special invitation of the President
- Members of the Board of Directors
- The Chief Executive Officer
Voting rights
Only full members have the right to guide UICC priorities and activities through voting at the General Assembly.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at generalassembly@uicc.org
Find out more about the upcoming General Assembly 2026
FAQ
Do I have to be a full member of UICC to vote at the General Assembly
Yes, only full members who have completed their membership dues for 2026 are eligible to vote.
Can I vote if I am an associate member?
No. You must be a fully paid full member to vote.
How can my organisation become a full member of UICC?
Please contact the Member Services team in UICC via membership@uicc.org and they will arrange this for you.
Can I attend the General Assembly event if I am not a full member of UICC?
Yes, all members of UICC will be invited to join the General Assembly, but only full members may vote.
What is the duration of the General Assembly?
90 minutes.
Will there be a chance to ask questions at the General Assembly?
Questions can be submitted in advance and during the General Assembly.
Once I submit my votes, will I be able to change my mind?
Yes, you can change your vote until the voting closes, which is mid-way through the General Assembly.
Where will the General Assembly take place and can I attend in-person?
The Assembly is fully virtual and run from a studio in Geneva. No-one attends in-person.
By making it virtual we hope that more UICC members can join the General Assembly.
How many candidates can I vote for?
There are 24 candidates for the Board, and you can vote for up to 14 individuals, but you can also vote for fewer if you wish.
When will I be able to vote?
The voting platform will open on 13 October at 09:00 CEST, a full week before the General Assembly opens.
Voting will close mid-way through the General Assembly.
Your choice is an important one, so please take your time deciding.
Can I vote for two or more President-elects?
There is only one President-elect.
However, unlike previous General Assemblies, UICC full members are being asked to vote for their first preference candidate and a second preference candidate. If there is a clear first preference vote winner, then the second preference votes will not be taken into consideration. If there is a tie on the first preference votes, then the candidate with the most second preference votes will be the new President-elect.
When will we know who is on the new Board and who is the new President-elect?
The results will be announced live on screen during the second half of the General Assembly.
No-one will know the results until they are ware revealed to all (including the candidates).
How do I find out information about the candidates?
Full candidate profiles and videos are available here: Candidate profiles for 2026-2028 Board of Directors and President-elect | UICC
Additionally, many of the candidates will be attending the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong in September before the General Assembly takes place and will be available to meet representatives from UICC member organisations who are attending the Congress.
The UICC General Assembly 2026 will be held on 20 October 2026.
The UICC General Assembly 2024 was held on 8 October 2024.
Learn more about past general assemblies and watch their recordings.
UICC is governed by its member organisations, who meet in a genera assembly, held virtually shortly before the World Cancer Congress, every two years. Between assemblies, a board of directors, elected by the General Assembly, acts as the executive body of UICC.
Governance
Between assemblies, a board of 16 directors, elected by the General Assembly, acts as the governing body of UICC.
Board of Directors
The UICC President represents the organisation at the highest level and is elected for a two-year term. The President chairs the Board and oversees organisational governance. Ulrika Årehed Kågström from Sweden is UICC President 2024-2026. She assumed the role of President-elect from 2022-2024.
President
Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, from Nigeria, is UICC President-elect 2024-2026.
President-elect
Dr Cary Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of UICC. He has occupied this position since 2009.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Last update
Thursday 06 August 2026