Barbados President becomes CPA Vice-Patron ahead of 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Barbados
The President of Barbados, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, GCMG, SC has agreed to become the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, ahead of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference due to be hosted by the Parliament of Barbados and CPA Barbados Branch from 5 to 12 October 2025 in Bridgetown.
Since 1989, the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has traditionally been the Head of State or Government of the CPA Branch hosting the forthcoming annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. In May 2024, His Majesty King Charles III, as Head of the Commonwealth, agreed to become Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association following on from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Biography: Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason began her career as a teacher before working in banking. She went onto work as a Magistrate of the Juvenile and Family Court and had a short time as an Attorney-at-Law in private practice. She served on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (1991 to 1999), became Barbados Ambassador to Venezuela, Chile, Colombia and Brazil (1993 to 1994) and was then appointed as Chief Magistrate and later Registrar of the Supreme Court.
In 2005, she was appointed to the Inner Bar of Barbados as Queen's Counsel and later that year, she was appointed as a High Court Judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court where she served until 2008 when she was sworn in as the first female Court of Appeal Judge of the Supreme Court of Barbados.
On 8 January 2018, Dame Sandra Mason was appointed as the eighth Governor-General of Barbados and on 30 November 2021, she was installed as the first President of Barbados as the country made the transition to a republic.
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.
