2025 CPA General Assembly takes place in Barbados: Key decisions taken at 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

During the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Barbados, Commonwealth Parliamentarians attended the 2025 CPA General Assembly on 10 October 2025.

The CPA General Assembly was presided over by the CPA President (2024-2025), Senator Hon. Reginald Farley, JP, President of the Senate of Barbados and was attended by Members from 121 CPA Branches.

The CPA General Assembly, the Association’s supreme authority, is constituted by delegates to the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

The CPA General Assembly also included a topical debate on 'The Commonwealth – A Global Partner' with presenters from CPA Branches including India; Kenya; Sri Lanka; Canada Federal; Cyprus; Maldives; Australia Federal; Pakistan; Jersey; Punjab, Pakistan; Guernsey; Fiji; Singapore; New Zealand; Cook Islands; Bermuda; Malta; Balochistan.

During the 2025 CPA General Assembly, CPA delegates approved the nomination of Senator Hon. Sue Lines (Australia Federal) as the new CPA Treasurer for a three-year term. The role holder overseas the finances of the Association and works closely with the Trustees and Finance team at the CPA.

Senator Hon. Sue Lines is the President of the Senate in the Federal Parliament of Australia and was previously one of the three CPA Regional Representatives for the CPA Australia Region on the CPA Executive Committee. She was first chosen by the Parliament of Western Australia in 2013 to represent the State in the Senate and was subsequently elected to the Senate for Western Australia in 2016 and 2022. She has held a number of parliamentary roles including as Deputy President and Chair of Committees from 2016 to 2022. Prior to her parliamentary service, she worked as a teacher and as a union organiser.

Some of the key decisions and outcomes from the 2025 CPA General Assembly were:

• Delegates approved the new CPA Strategic Plan 2026-2029 which sets the priorities for the Association for the next three years.
• Delegates were updated on the progress of the new legal status akin to an international, interparliamentary organisation following the UK Parliament passing the 'Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act 2025' and progress on the UK Government’s secondary legislation.
• Delegates were also updated on changes to the CPA’s structural changes and the creation of the CPA Charitable Funds (CPACF).
• Delegates approved the 2024 CPA Annual Report (including the audited Financial Statements), the CPA Membership Report, the CPA Budgets and Financial Management Reports.
• Delegates endorsed reports from the three CPA networks - the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) and the CPA Small Branches.

The 2025 CPA General Assembly also approved the Chief Pleas of Sark as a new CPA Branch. One of the smallest Legislatures in the Commonwealth, the CPA Sark Branch joins the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIM) and the CPA Small Branches network.

Delegates also looked ahead to the next Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference – the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (#69CPC) to be hosted by the CPA South Africa Branch and Parliament of South Africa in 2026, following their approval as the next host Branch.

CPA Vice-Chairperson from New Zealand re-elected at new CPA Executive Committee meeting in Barbados

The CPA Chairperson, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) chaired a meeting of the new CPA Executive Committee at the conclusion of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados.

During the meeting of the new CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, MP, Member of the Parliament of New Zealand and Regional Representative for the CPA Pacific Region was re-elected to the position of Vice-Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee. 

The position of Vice-Chairperson is for a term of one year and the holder is also a Member of the CPA Co-ordinating Committee.

Recognition for 68th CPC host Branch

At the conclusion of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (#68CPC), the CPA President (2024-2025), Senator Hon. Reginald Farley, JP, President of the Senate of Barbados was presented with a commemorative silver salver by the CPA Chairperson, Hon. Dr Christopher Kalila, MP (Zambia) to thank the CPA Barbados Branch for the hosting of the conference.

For images from the 68^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference visit the CPA Flickr page where images will be uploaded throughout the week.

One of the largest gatherings of Commonwealth Parliamentarians, the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference will bring together over 500 Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and decision makers from across the Commonwealth for this unique conference and networking opportunity.

During the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, there will also be a number of additional conferences and meetings including: 41st CPA Small Branches Conference; 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference; meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network; the 2025 CPA General Assembly and meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; and the 59th Society of Clerks at the Table (SOCATT) meetings.

During the conference, a number of elections will also take place for the Chairpersons of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, the CPA Treasurer and the CPA Vice-Chairperson.

The 3rd Lifaka Lecture will also take place as well as the presentations for the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards.

-ENDS-

Further information about the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) can be found at the 68th CPC Hub.

On social media follow the hashtag #68CPC

Images of the 68th CPC are also available at the CPA's Flickr page. 

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) organises its annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) to address global political issues and developments in the parliamentary system through conference workshops and sessions for leading Parliamentarians representing Parliaments and Legislatures throughout the Commonwealth.

The CPA is an international community of almost 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.