The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety enters a new chapter with the appointment of its 2026 Board officers, reinforcing its global commitment to advancing animal-free approaches in cosmetics safety science at a time of rapid regulatory and scientific change.
The International Collaboration on Cosmetics Safety (ICCS) has finalized its 2026 Board officers following elections conducted during the organization’s December 2025 Board meeting, marking a key step for this relatively young global initiative as it strengthens its role in advancing scientifically rigorous, human-relevant alternatives to animal testing in cosmetics safety evaluation. The newly appointed leadership highlights both consistency and the organization’s increasing maturity, building on a year of notable achievements while preparing to broaden its influence across regulatory, scientific, and industry spheres worldwide.
ICCS works at the nexus of science, policy, and collective action, uniting a broad array of stakeholders who pursue a shared mission: advancing the worldwide integration and recognition of animal-free safety science for cosmetics and their components. The appointment of the 2026 Board officers highlights the organization’s commitment to preserving a strategic trajectory while navigating an increasingly intricate global environment, where expectations surrounding ethical research, scientific robustness, and regulatory coherence are continually shifting.
Ongoing leadership stability and broad international representation
The 2026 Board leadership unites senior representatives from the cosmetics, consumer goods, and regulatory advocacy fields, underscoring the multi‑stakeholder foundation that has characterized ICCS since its beginning. Stéphane Dhalluin, Ph.D., DABT, Global Head of Human & Environmental Safety Evaluation at L’Oréal, has been chosen once again to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. His renewed mandate reflects sustained trust in a leadership style that prioritizes scientific rigor, international collaboration, and effective dialogue with regulatory bodies.
Serving alongside him as Vice Chair is Darren Praznik, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cosmetics Alliance Canada, whose long-standing work in industry advocacy and regulatory engagement provides a strong regional and policy-driven outlook. The role of Secretary will be fulfilled by Heike Scheffler, Ph.D., Safety Advocacy and Regulatory Toxicology Director for Global Product Stewardship in Beauty and Oral Care at Procter & Gamble, bringing broad expertise in regulatory toxicology and global product safety systems. Michael Southall, Ph.D., Senior Director and Head of Global Toxicology and Clinical Safety within Medical Clinical & Safety Sciences at Kenvue, has been appointed Treasurer, offering substantial leadership experience in toxicology and governance.
Acting collectively, the officers make up a Board leadership team whose experience extends across multinational corporations, industry groups, and regulatory science, strengthening ICCS’ role as a neutral forum for cooperation rather than an advocate for any particular sector. This equilibrium underpins the organization’s credibility, especially as it works to shape regulatory perspectives and promote alignment on animal-free safety approaches.
Advancing animal-free science through collaboration
At the heart of ICCS’ mission is the belief that animal-free approaches to safety assessment are not only ethically preferable but scientifically superior when properly developed and validated. Since its formation in early 2023, ICCS has worked to demonstrate that non-animal methods can provide reliable, relevant information for protecting both human health and the environment. The confirmation of the 2026 Board officers comes at a moment when this message is gaining traction, supported by tangible outputs and growing engagement from regulators around the world.
Throughout 2025, ICCS introduced a range of initiatives that reinforced its scientific framework and broadened its reach. Among these efforts was the publication of a Best Practice Guidance document, created to enhance clarity and uniformity in how animal-free safety assessment methods are applied. This guidance sought to close gaps between scientific progress and regulatory requirements, delivering a practical reference that stakeholders could use when generating or reviewing non-animal data.
In parallel, ICCS supported the development of new methodologies aligned with next generation risk assessment (NGRA), an evolving paradigm that integrates advanced in vitro, in silico, and exposure-based approaches. These methodologies are increasingly viewed as essential to modern toxicology, offering the potential for more human-relevant insights while reducing reliance on animal testing. ICCS’ involvement in this space reflects its commitment to advancing not only ethical outcomes but also scientific excellence.
Equally important has been the organization’s focus on sustained dialogue. Throughout 2025, ICCS held extensive exchanges with regulators, scientists, and policymakers in various regions, helping shape conversations on how animal-free data can be evaluated and incorporated within current regulatory systems. These discussions have played a key role in fostering mutual understanding and confidence, especially in places where the regulatory integration of non-animal approaches continues to evolve.
A pivotal moment for cosmetics safety regulation
The appointment of the 2026 Board officers takes place against a backdrop of significant change in global cosmetics regulation. Many markets are reassessing long-standing testing requirements, responding to public expectations, scientific advances, and international policy trends. In this context, organizations like ICCS play a critical role in helping align innovation with regulation, ensuring that progress is both credible and sustainable.
ICCS leadership has long stressed that advancing animal-free safety science cannot happen through fragmented initiatives; rather, it demands synchronized efforts involving industry, academia, regulators, and civil society. This approach is mirrored in the Board’s makeup, which unites leaders who grasp the technical, regulatory, and organizational aspects required to drive meaningful change.
Statements from ICCS leadership following the elections conveyed a blend of confidence and pragmatism, noting the progress achieved in recent years while recognizing that substantial challenges persist. They emphasized that gaining broad regulatory acceptance for animal-free methods will still demand sustained research investment, open data sharing, and continuous collaboration with authorities to address valid concerns regarding reliability, practical relevance, and the safeguarding of public health.
The re-elected Chair highlighted how crucial it is to draw on ICCS’ global, multi-stakeholder framework to narrow the distance between innovation and regulation, ensuring that progress in animal-free science moves beyond laboratories and becomes reliable, consistently applied tools that regulators can confidently use.
Strengthening foundations for long-term impact
As ICCS anticipates 2026 and the years ahead, the organization remains committed to strengthening its accomplishments while broadening its influence. The newly confirmed Board leadership is expected to serve a key role in defining priorities that balance scientific aspiration with practical execution. This involves pinpointing areas requiring further guidance or consensus, supporting the validation and dissemination of emerging methodologies, and encouraging international harmonization to minimize fragmentation in regulatory expectations.
Education continues to be a central pillar of ICCS’ strategy, with the organization striving to offer accessible, science‑grounded materials and spaces for dialogue that help clarify the principles of animal‑free safety science and support well‑informed choices. This effort becomes especially vital in a field where misunderstandings or uneven levels of expertise can hinder advancement, even when the science itself is robust.
The organization’s structure, bringing together leading cosmetics and ingredient manufacturers alongside trade groups, research associations, and animal protection organizations, uniquely positions it to confront these challenges. This broad mix of viewpoints helps keep discussions balanced, well‑rounded, and centered on common objectives rather than limited agendas.
Headquartered in New York, ICCS continues to operate as a global initiative, reflecting the inherently international nature of cosmetics development and regulation. Products and ingredients often move across borders, making harmonization and mutual recognition of safety approaches increasingly important. Through its collaborative model, ICCS seeks to contribute to this harmonization, reducing duplication and fostering trust in animal-free science worldwide.
In confirming its 2026 Board officers, ICCS signals both stability and forward momentum. The leadership team brings continuity from a year marked by concrete achievements, alongside the experience and perspective needed to navigate the next phase of change. As scientific innovation accelerates and regulatory expectations evolve, the organization’s role as a convener and catalyst for animal-free cosmetics safety science is set to become even more relevant.
Ultimately, the significance of the 2026 Board elections lies not only in the individuals appointed, but in what their leadership represents: a sustained commitment to collaboration, scientific integrity, and the responsible advancement of alternatives to animal testing. For ICCS and its stakeholders, the coming years offer an opportunity to translate vision into lasting impact, shaping the future of cosmetics safety in a way that aligns ethics, science, and global public trust.
