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October 30, 2026
Twenty-Five Years of Fellows: Announcing the 2026 FFI Fellows
FFI on Friday: October 30, 2026 cover
F

FI Fellow status is the most prestigious professional designation offered by the Family Firm Institute, and it celebrates a significant anniversary this year.

As we announce the new FFI Fellows for 2026, we would also like to look back at the history of this recognition.

Please read on to join us in celebrating these accomplished professionals whose expertise continues to shape and elevate our field.

A Milestone for FFI Fellow Status
In addition to being the fortieth anniversary of FFI, in 2026 we commemorate twenty-five years since the inaugural class of eighty-two FFI Fellows was announced at the FFI Global Conference in London on October 11, 2001. The Fellow designation was FFI’s way of recognizing longstanding commitment to the field of family enterprise advisory and research.

Today, there are more than 350 Fellows from over thirty countries around the world. This prestigious recognition honors their sustained commitment, thought leadership, and outstanding contributions to the field of family enterprise. As FFI Fellows, they join a distinguished global community dedicated to advancing the understanding and success of family-owned businesses.

Congratulations to the 2026 FFI Fellows
The new 2026 FFI Fellows were celebrated at today’s FFI Fellows Breakfast, sponsored by Merrill Center for Family Wealth, at the FFI Global Conference in New York.
Arnaud de Coninck

Arnaud de Coninck

Trusted Family
Austin, TX, USA
Michel Prent headshot

Michel Prent

BDO Advisory BV
Utrecht, Netherlands
Daniel Trimarchi

Daniel Trimarchi

KPMG
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Bilal Zein

Bilal Zein

Quanon Capital Ltd
London, UK
FFI Fellows by the Numbers
FFI members who have been named as Fellows have had a lasting and foundational influence on the organization. From board members to FFI Award winners to presenting at the Global Conference this weekend, this selection of their achievements shows how the Fellows have shaped FFI.
2026 Committee Chairs: 5
Patricia Angus
Conference Program

Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez
Best Dissertation Award

Rania Labaki
Nominating Committee

Sandra McNeely
Finance & Audit

Daniela Montemerlo
Achievement Awards

Chairs and Presidents of the FFI Board of Directors, Past and Present: 13
Debbie Bing, 2026 chair

Craig Aronoff

Glenn Ayres

Carmen Bianchi

Joyce Brockhaus

Mike Cohn

Francois de Visscher

Mark Evans

Jane Hilburt-Davis

Ronald Norelli

Steve Swartz

Karen Vinton

Kathy Wiseman

FFI Fellows with Multiple FFI Awards: 26
Joseph Astrachan
2009 International Award
2000 Richard Beckhard Practice Award

Francesco Barbera
2024 Barbara Hollander Award
2019 FBR Best Article
2015 FBR Outstanding Reviewer
2014 Best Doctoral Dissertation

Cristina Bettinelli
2022 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2015 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2012 FBR Best Article

Joyce Brockhaus
2005 International Award
2002 Barbara Hollander Award

Fredda Herz Brown
2002 Richard Beckhard Practice Award
1996 Barbara Hollander Award

John Davis
2016 Richard Beckhard Practice Award
2015 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Alfredo De Massis
2025 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2023 Barbara Hollander Award
2022 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Kimberly Eddleston
2018 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2010 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Annika Hall
2005 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2004 Best Doctoral Dissertation

Dennis Jaffe
2006 Richard Beckhard Practice Award
2017 International Award

Nadine Kammerlander
2026 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2014 FBR Outstanding Reviewer
2013 Best Doctoral Dissertation
2013 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Denise Kenyon-Rouvinez
2014 Interdisciplinary Award
2001 Best Doctoral Dissertation

Rania Labaki
2020 Barbara Hollander Award
2015 FBR Best Article
2012 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Peter Leach
2011 Richard Beckhard Practice Award
2002 International Award

Isabelle Le Breton-Miller
2017 Barbara Hollander Award
2009 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2007 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Greg McCann
2016 Interdisciplinary Award
2006 Barbara Hollander Award

Nava Michael-Tsabari
2015 FBR Best Article
2012 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Danny Miller
2017 Barbara Hollander Award
2009 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2007 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Mattias Nordqvist
2011 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2005 Best Unpublished Research Paper

G. Tyge Payne
2023 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2010 FBR Best Article

Panikkos Poutziouris
2011 International Award
2004 Barbara Hollander Award

Ernesto Poza
2010 International Award
1996 Richard Beckhard Practice Award

Carlo Salvato
2016 Barbara Hollander Award
2014 FBR Best Article

Pramodita Sharma
2011 Barbara Hollander Award
2003 Best Unpublished Research Paper
2002 Best Unpublished Research Paper
1999 Best Unpublished Research Paper

Lloyd Steier
2024 Interdisciplinary Award
2010 Barbara Hollander Award

Kathy Wiseman
2021 Richard Beckhard Practice Award
1995 Barbara Hollander Award

Becoming an FFI Fellow
FFI members demonstrate their eligibility for FFI Fellow status by completing a rigorous series of requirements:

  1. Be a current member of FFI with ten cumulative years of membership
  2. Hold an FFI GEN core certificate (CFBA or CFWA) or its equivalent
  3. Hold an FFI GEN advanced certificate (ACFBA or ACFWA)
  4. Plus two of the following (within a reasonable time period):
  1. Published in FBR
  2. Published in FFI Practitioner
  3. Presented at an FFI global conference
  4. Served as either a member of the GEN faculty, Family Business Review (FBR) editor or associate editor, FFI Committee chair, or FFI board member
  5. Received either an FFI achievement or academic award, or received an FFI 2086 Society grant
  6. Chaired an FFI virtual study group

Representing the highest level of professional designation within the organization, FFI Fellows demonstrate ongoing expertise and commitment to the field of family enterprise.

See the full list of distinguished FFI Fellows, from 2001 to today.
FFI Annual Meeting
November 12, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time

Register via email invitation link by 12:15 p.m., Eastern Time on November 10, 2026.

Previous Edition
FFI on Friday: October 23, 2026 cover
Today’s FFI on Friday issue continues our series featuring 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
Nov 1
Enrollment Deadline for the Q4 GEN Core Program
Learn more and enroll
Nov 10
Registration Deadline for the Annual Meeting
Register by 12:15 p.m. Eastern
Nov 12
FFI Annual Meeting, 10AM Eastern
Register via email invitation link
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