Meet the 2026 Nominees for the FFI Board of Directors

Prepared Exclusively
for FFI Members

Empty leather chairs lined up at a conference table in a modern high-rise boardroom.

July 24, 2026

Meet the 2026 Nominees for the FFI Board of Directors

T

he FFI Board of Directors provides strategic vision and oversight for the development of the organization. Over the past few months, the 2026 Nominating Committee has solicited suggestions for nominees and held interviews with potential candidates. The committee is pleased to announce the following nominees for four-year terms on the FFI Board of Directors. Voting will be conducted by electronic ballot, which will be sent to FFI members on August 28. New board members will take office following the annual meeting, which will be held virtually on November 12.

MEET THE 2026 NOMINEES

Patricia Annino

Patricia M. Annino, FFI Fellow, is a partner in the Boston office of Rimôn, P.C., where she advises multigenerational families, family enterprises, and family offices on governance, succession, trusts and estates, and philanthropy. An internationally recognized leader in her field, she has been recognized by her peers as one of The Best Lawyers in America (Trusts and Estates), a Massachusetts Super Lawyer, one of the Top 50 Women Massachusetts Super Lawyers, recipient of the Boston Estate Planning Council’s Estate Planner of the Year Award, the inaugural EuroMoney/Legal Media “Best in Wealth Management – USA” Award, and the Family Firm Institute’s Richard Beckhard Practice Award. Patricia is a founding member of the FFI 2086 Society, a frequent presenter at FFI conferences, and a regular contributor to FFI Practitioner. She is a Fellow of both FFI and ACTEC and holds degrees from Smith College, Suffolk University Law School, and Boston University School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation).

Statement of Purpose

Family businesses and enterprising families are navigating unprecedented complexity. As legal, governance, philanthropic, technological, and human systems become increasingly interconnected, FFI is uniquely positioned to lead the profession in developing the next generation of interdisciplinary knowledge and practice.

If elected to the board, I would focus on three priorities: strengthening FFI’s position as the global thought leader in family enterprise; expanding interdisciplinary collaboration among advisors, academics, and practitioners across generations and cultures; and helping develop innovative educational resources that prepare advisors for the emerging challenges facing enterprising families.

Throughout my career, I have believed that the most enduring solutions arise when technical excellence is combined with an understanding of family relationships, governance, and stewardship. FFI has profoundly shaped my professional journey, and I would welcome the opportunity to give back by helping ensure that the Institute continues to educate, innovate, and inspire the global family enterprise community.

Christopher “Chris” Graves

Chris Graves, PhD, is associate professor of family enterprise at Adelaide University, Australia, and director of the university’s Family Enterprise Group. He is a chartered accountant, trust and estate practitioner, and professional member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy as a probationary family therapist. Chris has contributed to family enterprise research, education, advising, and engagement in Australia and New Zealand for more than a decade.

He co-developed and delivers a research-informed advisor education program with Family Business Association Australia and New Zealand (FBA) to strengthen multidisciplinary advisor capability across the region. His applied research includes national family business surveys with KPMG Australia and FBA, as well as work on family offices and family enterprise wealth. Chris has advised business families directly and through KPMG, served on nonprofit boards, co-founded the Australasian Family Enterprise Research Network, serves on the Family Business Review board, and leads Adelaide University’s role as Oceania representative of the STEP Project Global Consortium.

Statement of Purpose

FFI’s mission to be the most influential global community of thought leaders in family enterprise strongly resonates with my work as an academic, educator, advisor, and leader in family enterprise research and education in Oceania. If elected to the FFI board, I would bring an Australia and New Zealand perspective, multidisciplinary expertise, nonprofit governance experience, and a commitment to translating research into practical education for advisors and business families.

I would seek to contribute to FFI in three areas: strengthening connections between research, education, and practice; bringing an Oceania perspective to FFI’s broader global community and conversations; and supporting educational pathways that complement FFI’s programs, including opportunities to deepen participation in online learning and global professional development.

I would be honored to serve FFI’s global community and contribute to its work fostering research, sharing knowledge, and developing family enterprise advisors, consultants, and educators.

Oghenevwoke Ighure

Oghenevwoke Shehu Usman Ighure, CFBA, is a family enterprise advisor, publisher, and board leader dedicated to advancing the continuity, governance, and sustainability of family-owned businesses across Africa and beyond. He is founder of My Family My Business, a pan-African family enterprise advisory, education, media, and community platform, and he convenes the Family Business Summit, which brings together family business leaders, advisors, academics, and policymakers.

He also serves as publisher of the Family Business Journal, an Africa-focused publication, is chairman of the Family Enterprise Network Nigeria (FENN), and sits on several boards. He is the executive producer of the documentary Chief Timothy Odutola: Building an African Family Business Empire, which chronicles the life and legacy of one of Africa’s pioneering industrialists as a case study in enterprise building, governance, and transgenerational continuity.

Oghenevwoke champions values-based stewardship, responsible ownership, and long-term enterprise continuity, advancing FFI’s mission of supporting family enterprises worldwide.

Statement of Purpose

I am honored to be considered for the FFI Board of Directors. Throughout my career, I have been committed to strengthening family enterprises across Africa through governance, succession planning, next-generation development, education, and storytelling.

I am a graduate of the FFI GEN Certificate in Family Business Advising (CFBA) program, and FFI has played an important role in shaping my professional journey and reinforcing my belief that strong family enterprises are built through lifelong learning, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to stewardship. I am particularly inspired by FFI’s global perspective and its ability to bring together advisors, academics, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds to advance the field of family enterprise.

If elected, I would bring a global and emerging-market perspective, as well as my experience building platforms and educational initiatives that support family business continuity and leadership development. I would be honored to contribute to FFI’s continued growth, help expand its global reach, and support its mission of advancing excellence in family enterprise advising worldwide.

2026 Nominating Committee

Thank you to the FFI members who participated in this process and especially to the 2026 Nominating Committee for its selection of these candidates:

Rania Labaki, chair
EDHEC Business School

Stacy Allred
J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

Dan Frosh
Merrill Center for Family Wealth

Ricardo Mejía
SALADEJUNTAS

Linda Murphy
University College Cork

Debbie Bing, ex-officio
CFAR

Previous Edition

In today’s FFI on Friday issue, we continue to feature FFI’s organizational members. The organizational members of FFI play a vital role in advancing the field of family enterprise advising through research, education, and practical expertise. Each of these organizations brings deep experience serving multigenerational family businesses, family offices, and enterprising families around the world. From innovative research and governance advisory to next-generation development and strategic planning, their contributions exemplify the collaborative spirit that defines FFI.

Read Previous Edition

Dates to Remember