2020
After being elected as IPSA President during the 2018 World Congress of Political Science in Brisbane, Marianne Kneuer continued the significant changes already underway in the association. These changes were largely due to the reforms initiated by President İlter Turan (2016-2018, Türkiye ). Prof. Kneuer focused on modernizing and professionalizing IPSA's governance structures, building on the advancements made by her predecessor. To achieve this goal, she established and led an ad-hoc Committee on Administration Reform. The committee aimed to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and professional management within IPSA's internal operations.
A key outcome of this initiative was the transformation of the part-time Secretary-General role into a full-time Executive Director position. Bringing with her 20+ years of experience in the political, diplomatic and academic realms, Kim Fontaine-Skronski assumed this vital role, succeeding nine consecutive male Secretaries-General from 1949 to 2020.
This strategic shift has accelerated IPSA's professionalization and streamlined the association’s efficiency. Since her appointment, Dr. Fontaine-Skronski has demonstrated leadership and strategic foresight, driving IPSA's mission and objectives forward. She has played a pivotal role in formulating and implementing IPSA's policies, programs, and activities while fostering collaboration among members, partners, and stakeholders on a global scale. At the 2023 IPSA World Congress in Buenos Aires, the IPSA Executive Committee unanimously renewed Kim Fontaine-Skronski ’s second four-year term until September 2027.
