London, 30 October 2026 — As the International Institute of Leadership & Management (IILM) prepares to inaugurate its two institutional councils on Saturday, 31 October 2026, attention is turning to the professionals entrusted with safeguarding its training quality, ethics and professional recognition. The Professional Standards Council brings together experience in educational administration, technology governance and community development.
The council’s three announced office-holders are Mrs Olushola Adekemi Karin Keshinro, Chairperson; Mr Sam Daramola, Scribe; and Ms Veslyn McLean, Member. Their appointments form part of IILM’s effort to develop structures that support credible professional development and accountable institutional practice.
The council’s mandate
Unlike the Institute’s Advisory Council, which provides strategic guidance on partnerships, international engagement and growth, the Professional Standards Council has a specific quality and standards remit. It is tasked with helping to safeguard the quality of IILM’s training, programmes, ethics, Fellowship eligibility, continuing professional development and assessment.
For an international professional institute, these responsibilities are especially important. Standards must be understandable to learners and members, applied consistently, and periodically reviewed as programmes evolve. The council’s work will therefore concern not just what the Institute offers, but the criteria by which learning and professional recognition are evaluated.
Mrs Olushola Adekemi Karin Keshinro: Chairperson
Mrs Olushola Adekemi Karin Keshinro brings more than 25 years of experience in education and educational administration. Her professional background includes service as a Director of Education in Lagos, with experience in institutional leadership, school administration and the development of educational practice.
Her academic and professional background includes postgraduate study in Business Administration and Educational Administration. She is also associated with the Karin Foundation, reflecting a commitment to education and community development beyond formal administrative responsibilities.
As Chairperson of the Professional Standards Council, Mrs Keshinro will lead its deliberations and help coordinate scrutiny of institutional standards, professional learning and assessment. Her long experience within educational administration provides a practical perspective on how standards are developed, communicated and maintained.
Mr Sam Daramola: Scribe
Mr Sam Daramola is an experienced enterprise security architect and technology professional whose career spans approximately four decades. His work has involved enterprise architecture, information security, risk governance, information systems auditing and the oversight of complex organisational technology environments.
His professional experience brings a complementary dimension to a standards council: the disciplines of governance, documented processes, risk management and accountability. These are relevant in institutions seeking to make decisions transparently and maintain reliable records of policy and practice.
As the council’s Scribe, Mr Daramola will support the recording and organisation of its proceedings and decisions. His background in structured systems and governance aligns with the need for clear documentation, consistent procedures and institutional continuity.
Ms Veslyn McLean: Member
Ms Veslyn McLean is a London-based professional with experience in administration, community development and educational support. Her background includes work connected with youth development and learning, with earlier professional experience associated with The Prince’s Trust and Applied Scholastics.
Her experience offers a people-centred perspective on professional standards. Alongside formal assessment and quality assurance, successful training requires attention to learner support, access, development and the practical value of programmes for participants from different backgrounds.
As a member of the council, Ms McLean will contribute to discussions about learning quality, professional development and the responsibilities of the Institute to its members and wider community.
Establishing an institutional foundation
The council’s inauguration will take place during a one-hour virtual ceremony on Saturday, 31 October 2026, beginning at 12 noon UK time, under the theme “Laying the Foundation: Leadership That Builds the Future.” Members will be formally introduced and take an institutional oath of office administered by a barrister, before Founder and Global President C. Titilola Aboyade-Cole formally declares the councils inaugurated.
The Professional Standards Council sits alongside the IILM Advisory Council. While the latter focuses on strategic counsel and relationships, the standards body is intended to concentrate on the integrity of professional learning and recognition. Together, the councils are designed to support the Institute’s governance as it develops internationally.
IILM describes itself as an international professional institute dedicated to developing and recognising ethical, character-led leadership through practical learning, continuing professional development, professional membership, Fellowship and mentorship. It is not a university and does not award academic degrees.
For the Professional Standards Council, the immediate significance of the inauguration lies in the responsibilities its members are accepting: to support an institution in which learning, recognition and professional conduct are guided by principles that can be clearly explained and consistently upheld.
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