8th International Border Management Conference

18 -19 November 2025

The conference will take place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It will be organised in person, so that participants can exchange and interact directly amongst each other, and attend the presentations, which will be delivered live at the venue. Only invited and registered participants will have access to the conference.

The main objective of the conference is to enhance the implementation of integrated border management practices within and across the borders of priority partner countries. The focus of the conference will particularly delve into the strengthening conference participants' IBM-related knowledge and cooperation networks. The conference will offer a platform to share, present, and discuss up-to-date practices in border management, focusing on the concrete implementation of knowledge and networks across international borders. Participants will gain insights into current trends, exchange experiences, and strengthen expertise.

Presentations and discussions will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Arabic and French.

Lunch is provided both days, and the official welcome dinner will take place on the 18th of November. All attendees are welcome.

Full details of location, schedule and logistics will be shared with registered guests only. For further details, please contact the IBMC Team at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We look forward to meeting you in Amsterdam!

Agenda

Day 1 / 18 November 2025 (Tuesday)

11:00 – 12:00

On-site registration

Courtesy refreshment

Session I: Opening session

Chair Mr. Borut Eržen, Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy, ICMPD
12:00 – 12:20

Conference room
Welcoming address
Ms. Susanne Raab, Director General-elect, ICMPD

Mr. David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands
12:20 – 13:20

Conference room
High-level Panel 1 – Integrated Border Management in an era of uncertainty
Moderation: Ms. Sedef Dearing, Deputy Director General and Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, ICMPD

As geopolitical tensions and transnational pressures reshape mobility and security dynamics, state borders are taking on new strategic significance. No longer confined to control and enforcement, they are becoming vital instruments for resilience, crisis management, and regional cooperation. This high-level panel will bring together senior policymakers and experts to explore how integrated border management can evolve to meet emerging challenges—balancing security imperatives with rights protection, innovation, and international partnership.

Speakers:

Mr. Khalid Zerouali, Wali, Director of Migration and Border Surveillance, Ministry of Interior, Morocco

Mr. Hans Leijtens, Executive Director, Frontex

General Commander Hassine Gharbi, Director General, Commander of the National Guard, Tunisia

Ms. Ingie El Samanoudy, Minister Plenipotentiary, Director for Strategic and Security Organizations Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Egypt

Mr. Michael Karnitschnig, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, European Commission
13:20 – 13:30

Conference room
Introduction of the Conference agenda
Chair Mr. Borut Eržen, Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy, ICMPD

Photo, all participants
13:30 – 14:30

Lunch
14:30 – 15:30

Conference room
High-level Panel 2 – International Cooperation on Border Governance
Moderation: Ms. Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director, Clingendael Institute

Amid renewed geopolitical uncertainty and transnational challenges, state borders are evolving beyond control functions to serve as key instruments of resilience, crisis response, and international cooperation. This high-level panel will gather senior leaders and experts to discuss how national and regional border management can adapt to current realities while safeguarding rights and fostering collaboration.

Speakers:

Mr. Victor Cramer, Deputy Director General, International Migration, Bureau for International Migration, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands

Ms. Nicole de Moor, Member of the Flemish Parliament, former Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Belgium

Ms. Corinna Ullrich, Director for International and Horizontal Affairs, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission

Dr. Bassim Al Dahamsheh, Governor, Director of Residency, Foreign Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Interior, Jordan
Session II: Panel discussions
15:30 – 16:30 Incl. Q&A

Conference room
Panel 3: Emerging Challenges, Responses and Opportunities
Moderation: Mr. Tony Mihaitoaia, Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Building on the previous panel’s geopolitical reflections, this session examines how border management systems are adapting to increasingly complex and fast-evolving threats — from the instrumentalisation of migration and hybrid tactics to disinformation, digital fraud, and adaptive criminal networks. It will explore how innovation, digitalisation, and stronger cross-border cooperation can enhance operational resilience and interoperability while avoiding over-militarisation and safeguarding fundamental rights.

Speakers:

Mr. Eugen Levco, Deputy Head, General Inspectorate of Border Police, Moldova

Col. Pascal Wolf, Deputy Director of Operations, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Mrs. Ngozi Adikpo, Deputy Comptroller General, Migration, Nigeria Immigration Service

Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, Director, Free Movement of Persons and Migration, ECOWAS

Col. Bohdan Ihnatiuk, Chief of the Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
16:30 – 16:45

Coffee Break

Parallel sessions
16:45 – 17:45 Incl. Q&A

Plenary
Case studies: Bridging innovation and Border management – Ethical application of technologies to serve operational goals
Moderation: Mr. Tamer Kilic, Head of Representation Türkiye, ICMPD

Mr. Petr Malovec, Deputy Director for Economics and Information Systems, Directorate of the Foreign Police, Czechia

Mr. Taavi Pehme, Head of Digital Solutions Operations Department, EU-LISA

Mr. Blerim Gashani, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kosovo

Colonel Elwin van der Molen, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the Programme Manager Future Borders
16:45 – 17:45 Incl. Q&A

Meeting Room # 1 “Administratiezaal”
Case studies: Women empowerment in border management
Moderation: Ms. Monika Weber, Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Ms. Jagoda Walorek, Senior Fundamental Rights Monitor, Fundamental Rights Office

Ms. Marta Dubrovskiy, Policy Officer, Joint Coordination Platform, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Austria

Brigadier General Marwa Saoud, Head of Gender Department, Lebanese Armed Forces

Brigadier General Sandra Keijer, Directorate for Knowledge, Strategy and Innovation, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Ms. Olga Derkach, International Expert on Human Rights and Border Management
16:45 – 17:45 Incl. Q&A

Meeting Room # 2 “Veilingzaal”
Practical demonstration: Virtual reality in the training of border management agencies
Moderation: Mr. Emanuel Preda, Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Mr. Sergiu Vasile, Chief Commissioner and Director of Border Police Department, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Police Academy, Romania

Mr. Henk Wentink, Head of the Simulation Centre, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee
17:45 – 18:30

Plenary

Closing of the 1st day

19:00 – 21:00

Dinner Reception

Introduction by Mr. Peter Schuurman, Director, Migration, Displacement and COI Department (MOA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands

Welcoming speech by Ms. Annet Bertram, Secretary-General for Asylum and Migration/ Director-General for Migration, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands

Day 2 / 19 November 2025 (Wednesday)

08:30 – 09:00

Courtesy refreshment
09:00 – 09:15
Recap of Day 1 and setting the scene for Day 2
Chair Mr. Borut Eržen, Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy, ICMPD
Session III: Panel discussions
09:15 – 10:15 Incl. Q&A

Conference room
Panel 4: Embedding Human Rights in Border Management Practice
Moderation: Mr. Nicola Graviano, Deputy Director, Migration Dialogues and Development
Cooperation, ICMPD

The integration of human rights into day-to-day border management operations, highlighting real-world examples of safeguards, proportionality, and legal standards being applied by practitioners.

Speakers:

Ms. Ayla Bonfiglio, Regional Head of the Mixed Migration Center Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Yemen

Ms. Olga Derkach, International Expert on Human Rights and Border Management

Mr. Jonas Grimheden, Head of Fundamental Rights Office, Frontex

Lieutenant Colonel Ayad Lafta Maarij Al Dabyan, Head of the Criminal and Movements Division, Customs Police, Ministry of Interior, Iraq

Mr. Adriano Silvestri, Head of Migration and Asylum Sector, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
10:15 – 11:15 Incl. Q&A

Conference room
Panel 5: Strengthening the EU border architecture - border procedure under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
Moderation: Mr. Alfred Woeger, Senior Project Manager, Member States Programme, ICMPD

This panel will explore how the EU is reshaping its border management architecture through the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, with a focus on operationalisation of pre-entry and screening procedures, safeguards for vulnerable persons and the role of national Independent Monitoring Mechanism.

Speakers:

Ms. Emer Mullins, Programme Director, EU Pact on Migration, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Ireland

Mr. Mădălin Sava, Specialist Officer, General Inspectorate of Border Police, Romania

Mr. Jan-Willem Schaper, Deputy Director-General, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the Netherlands
11:15 – 11:30

Coffee break
11:30 – 12:15 Incl. Q&A

Conference room
Panel 6: Operationalising external border control and cooperation with countries along key migration routes
Moderation: Ms. Amala Obiokoye-Nwalor, Project Manager and Head of Office, Ghana, Pan-Africa, ICMPD

This panel will examine how countries along key migration routes are working to strengthen external border control, improve cooperation, and promote integrated, coordinated responses to irregular movements. It will highlight national experiences, operational partnerships, and practical measures that foster mutual trust and sustainable border management.

Speakers:

Mr. Diakalidia Konate, Executive Secretary National Border Commission, Cote d’Ivoire

Ms. Saija Kuivila, Border Guard, Lapland Border Guard District. Finnish Border Guards

Mr. Samuel Basintale Amadu, Comptroller General of Immigration, Ghana Immigration Service

Mr. Bakir Dautbašić, Secretary General, Ministry of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mr. Behar Tafa, Executive Assistant of the Department Director of Border and Migration Police, State Police, Albania
Parallel Sessions
12:15 – 13:15 Incl. Q&A

Plenary
Knowledge-sharing and capacity development, including modern approaches to the training in border management
Moderation: Ms. Monika Weber, Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Speakers:

Mr. Sergiu Vasile, Chief Commissioner and Director of Border Police Department, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Police Academy, Romania

Mr. Robert Mansour, Brigadier General Engineer, Lebanese Armed Forces

Ms. Tiina Koivuniemi, Chief Executive Officer, Triforma Oy

Colonel Husam Abbas Jhene, Risk Analysis Trainer, Planning and Follow-up Directorate, Ministry of Interior, Iraq
12:15 – 13:15 Incl. Q&A

Meeting Room # 1 “Administratiezaal”
Workshop by the Identity Fraud and Documents Expertise Centre
Speakers:

Ms. Lonneke Bontje, Senior Analyst, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Mr. Jeffrey Leeflang, Trainer, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee
13:30 – 13:45
Closing remarks
Final words and closing of the Conference and Evaluation of the event (online)

Lieutenant-General Annelore Roelofs, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Ms. Sedef Dearing, Deputy Director General and Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, ICMPD
13:45 – 15:00

Lunch, Courtesy refreshment and optional networking

Speakers

Susanne Raab

Director General-elect, ICMPD

Sedef Dearing

Deputy Director General and Director, Migration Dialogues and Cooperation, ICMPD

Borut Eržen

Directorate for Policy, Research and Strategy, ICMPD

David van Weel

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands

Khalid Zerouali

Wali, Director of Migration and Border Surveillance, Ministry of Interior, Morocco

Victor Cramer

Deputy Director General, International Migration, Bureau for International Migration, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands

Peter Schuurman

Director, Migration, Displacement and COI Department (MOA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands

Annet Bertram

Secretary-General for Asylum and Migration/ Director-General for Migration, Ministry of Asylum and Migration, the Netherlands

Hans Leijtens

Executive Director, Frontex

Michael Karnitschnig

Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, European Commission

Nicole de Moor

Member of the Flemish Parliament / Former Belgian Federal Minister of Asylum and Migration (candidate UNHCR)

Corinna Ullrich

Director for International and Horizontal Affairs, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, European Commission

Bassim Al Dahamsheh

Governor, Director of Residency, Foreign Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Interior, Jordan

Eugen Levco

Deputy Head, General Inspectorate of Border Police, Moldova

Pascal Wolf

Deputy Director of Operations, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Kemi Nanna Nandap

Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service

Albert Siaw-Boateng

Director, Free Movement of Persons and Migration, ECOWAS

Bohdan Ihnatiuk

Chief of the Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service, Ukraine

Petr Malovec

Deputy Director for Economics and Information Systems, Directorate of the Foreign Police, Czechia

Taavi Pehme

Head of Digital Solutions Operations Department, eu-LISA

Blerim Gashani

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kosova

Jagoda Walorek

Senior Fundamental Rights Monitor, Fundamental Rights Office

Elwin van der Molen

Colonel of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the Programme Manager Future Borders

Marta Dubrovskiy

Policy Officer, Joint Coordination Platform, Federal Ministry of the Interior, Austria

Marwa Saoud

Head of Gender Department, Lebanese Armed Forces

Sandra Keijer

Directorate for Knowledge, Strategy and Innovation, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

Olga Derkach

International Consultant on human rights and border management. Member of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement (UAWLE) and member of the International Association of Women in Police (IAWP)

Ayla Bonfiglio

Head of the Mixed Migration Center Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Yemen

Jonas Grimheden

Head of the Fundamental Rights Office, FRONTEX - European Border and Coast Guard Agency

Ayad Lafta Maarij Al Dabyan

Head of the Criminal and Movements Division, Customs Police, Ministry of Interior, Iraq

Adriano Silvestri

Head of Migration and Asylum Sector, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Emer Mullins

Programme Director, EU Pact on Migration, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Ireland

Mădălin Sava

Specialist Officer, General Inspectorate of Border Police, Romania

Jan-Willem Schaper

Deputy Director-General, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the Netherlands

Diakalidia Konate

Executive Secretary of the National Border Commission of Côte d'Ivoire, Senior Grade Prefect

Saija Kuivila

Border Guard, Lapland Border Guard District. Finnish Border Guards

Samuel Basintale Amadu

Comptroller-General of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS)

Bakir Dautbašić

Secretary General, Ministry of Security, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Behar Tafa

Executive Assistant of the Department Director of Border and Migration Police, State Police, Albania

Sergiu Adrian Vasile

Chief Commissioner and Director of Border Police Department, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Police Academy, Romania

Robert Mansour

Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Director of Signals, Lebanese Armed Forces

Tiina Koivuniemi

CEO of Triforma Oy and a Senior Lecturer at the Police University College of Finland

Hussam Abbas Juhaini

Risk Analysis Trainer, Planning and Follow-up Directorate, Ministry of Interior, Iraq

Monika Weber

Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Tony Mihaitoaia

Senior Border Management Specialist, ICMPD

Tamer Kılıç

Head of the Türkiye and Western Balkans Regional Office, ICMPD

Emanuel Preda

Senior Advisor, Border Management and Security, ICMPD

Monika Sie Dhian Ho

General Director of the Clingendael Institute

Eva-Maria Strachan

Senior Human Rights Advisor, ICMPD

Alfred Woeger

Senior Project Manager, Member States Programme, ICMPD

Ingie El Samanoudy

Minister Plenipotentiary, Director for Strategic and Security Organizations Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Egypt