Annual Report 2025–2026

Message from the Chair

The 2025–2026 period marks the Global Institute of Behavior's first full year of certification operations. Establishing a credible, independent certification body in any discipline requires deliberate attention to process integrity before scale. We have held to that priority.

Our first cohort of examination sittings was administered through approved testing centres operating under formal examination conditions. Our governance structure — including the Board of Governors, Scientific Advisory Council, and standing committees — was fully constituted and operational. Our Code of Ethics was ratified, published, and made a binding condition of credential issuance and renewal.

We enter the second year of operations with approved training organisations across multiple continents, a published competency and ethics framework, and a credential registry now live for public verification. Our priorities for the year ahead include expanding the approved training organisation network, commencing Level III Master Educator pathway development, and releasing the first full series of research publications.

— Prof. Margaret L. Hargreaves, PhD, Chair, Board of Governors

Purpose of This Report

The Global Institute of Behavior is committed to transparency as a principle of responsible institutional governance. This annual report provides a public summary of certification activity, governance operations, and public-benefit achievements for the year ending 31 December 2025.

This is the Institute's Year 1 Annual Report, covering the period from establishment through 31 December 2025. Detailed financial statements and expanded activity data will be included in future reports as the Institute matures its reporting infrastructure.

Governance Highlights

• Board of Governors convened and commenced oversight of Institute operations
• Scientific Advisory Council established with initial terms of reference adopted
• Standards & Assessment Committee commenced development of competency frameworks for Division I and Division II certifications
• Ethics & Professional Conduct Committee established with formal complaints procedure adopted
• Conflict-of-interest policy adopted and disclosures obtained from all Board and committee members
• Code of Ethics ratified and made a condition of all credential issuance and renewal

Certification Activity Summary

The Institute commenced certification operations during the report period. The following summary reflects activity through 31 December 2025:

• Approved Training Organizations: enrollment ongoing; current status available via the Approved Training Organizations page
• Certifications issued: figures will be confirmed and published following end-of-year registry reconciliation
• Credential renewals: renewal cycle commenced for practitioners holding credentials issued during the initial cohort period
• Examination sittings: examination administration commenced through approved assessment centers

Detailed certification statistics will be published in the Year 2 Annual Report.

Public Benefit Statement

The Global Institute of Behavior advances public benefit through the following activities:

• Developing and maintaining evidence-informed, competency-based examination standards for behavioral science practitioners
• Providing independent certification that enables employers, clients, and the public to verify the assessed competency of behavioral science practitioners
• Establishing and enforcing a Code of Ethics that promotes responsible, non-exploitative application of behavioral science knowledge
• Publishing educational standards and competency frameworks that contribute to the wider professional development of the behavioral science field
• Providing transparent complaints and appeals procedures for members of the public and professional stakeholders

Ethics Summary

During the period ending 31 December 2025:

• Formal complaints received: none reported in this inaugural reporting period
• Investigations commenced: none
• Sanctions applied: none
• Appeals received: none

The Ethics & Professional Conduct Committee completed its first full year of operation with procedures in place. The Institute is committed to publishing annual ethics summaries as a matter of ongoing transparency.

Next Annual Report

The Year 2 Annual Report will be published in Q1 2027 and will include expanded certification statistics, financial highlights, ethics summary, governance review, and commentary from the Chair of the Board of Governors.