The International Forensic Strategic Alliance (IFSA) met on October 3-4, 2019 at the Leverhulme Research Centre (LRC) for Forensic Science at Dundee University in Scotland. LRC Director, Niamh Nic Daeid, and Deputy Director Michael Marra, were gracious hosts for this two-day event. The objectives for the meeting were to re-establish priorities for IFSA and to identify clear commitment for the next year and beyond.

The LRC has extensive research capability, and dedicated funding to support the conduct of research with direct applicability to forensic practitioners and operational forensic laboratories. IFSA has committed to having LRC as a Strategic Partner moving forward. The bulk of the two days was spent on developing a research priorities document, which attempts to capture key areas of global importance and interest. The document will be used initially by ENFSI in the consideration of research funding administered from the EU.

ASCLD has traditionally provided website supports for IFSA and a request for a continuance of this has been made. Updates to the site are required with respect to Minimum Requirements Document (MRD) uploads and a request has been made through the UN (Justice Tettey) for some website analytics related to the download of those documents.

Over the coming year, under the leadership of the new Chair, Linzi Wilson-Wilde, IFSA will be focused on several priorities including the development of a formal Research Statement and a Business Plan.