International Right of Way Association

These are designed to provide input into the key management functions of the association.

• Ethics
• Nominations & Elections
• The Partnership for Infrastructure Professional Education
• Credentialing
• Finance

These focus on issues impacting the disciplines and industries associated with the right of way profession.

• Utilities Electric & Utilities
• International Public Agencies
• Oil & Gas Pipeline
• Transportation

These focus on issues related to the industries IRWA serves.

• Asset Management
• Environment
• Relocation
• Surveying and Engineering
• Valuation

At the top of IRWA's leadership structure is the International Executive Committee (IEC) and the International Governing Council (IGC), which comprises the IEC and the 10 region chairs.

The IEC is composed of an elected International President, International President-Elect, International Vice President International Treasurer and International Secretary as well as the association's Executive Vice President, International General Counsel and Staff Liaison. The Executive Vice President and General Counsel have a voice but no vote in the deliberations of the IEC.

IRWA's 2016-2017 international president is Mary Anne Marr, SR/WA.

IRWA's past international presidents make up an advisory council of active leaders who remain current and engage on IRWA education and service committees, in addition to chairing and serving on special project groups. Below is a list of all of IRWA's past presidents and their tenures served.

* Deceased

IRWA's board of directors is composed of representatives from all 74 chapters and 10 regions, as well as all members of the IEC, and is tasked with overseeing the policies and strategic planning of the association. The board meets annually at the International Education Conference to review association financial reports and budgets, consider and vote on any resolutions, and also elect new international officers.

As part of the association's strategic initiatives to create a right of way community and facilitate collaboration, IRWA has established a partnership with foundations, consulting companies, public agencies, sponsors, other associations and affiliates.

• Federal Aviation Administration[5]
• Federal Transit Administration[6]
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers[7]
• Federal Highway Administration[8]
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management[9]
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Appraisal Institute
• FIABCI - The International Real Estate Federation[10]
• NSPS - National Society of Professional Surveyors
• NAIFA - National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers[11]
• ASFMRA - American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers

• Japanese Consultants Council
• Compulsory Purchase Association - United Kingdom
• Institute for Underground Infrastructure - Germany

• Right of Way Consultants Council[12]

IRWA is also a sponsoring organization of the Appraisal Foundation

IRWA offers two career paths for right of way professionals: a generalist path and a specialist path, both of which can be achieved by taking IRWA educational courses.[13][14] IRWA's premier designation, the SR/WA Senior Right of Way Professional, is the highest designation available to right of way professionals.

IRWA has three levels of certification and one designation for the generalist right of way professional:

• Right of Way Agent Certification (RWA)
• Right of Way Professional Certification (RWP)
• SR/WA Designation

IRWA has six discipline certifications and one designation for the specialist right of way professional:

• R/W-AC Appraisal Certification
• R/W-AMC Asset/Property Management Certification
• R/W-NAC Negotiation and Acquisition Certification
• R/W-RAC Relocation Assistance Certification
• R/W-URAC Uniform Act Certification

Retired certifications

ARWP Associate Right of Way Professional

R/W-EC Right of Way Environmental

IRWA has two education foundations, the Right of Way International Education Foundation (RWIEF)[15][16] and the Canadian Right of Way Education Foundation(CRWEF), which were established for the primary purpose of funding right of way education initiatives. They were founded under the belief that continuing education and professional development are essential to the growth and advancement of the right of way profession. The foundation focuses on generating financial contributions and determining how to best allocate those funds on behalf of the right of way profession.

The Right of Way International Education Foundation and the Canadian Right of Way Education Foundation each provide funding for the development of IRWA education programming.

Each year, the IRWA holds its Annual International Education Conference at a different Chapter host site, which is attended by over 1,000 right of way professionals from all over the world who meet in one location to partake in educational sessions, network with other professionals, complete courses for credit toward a certification or designation, and showcase services at the Expo event.

The host site is typically voted on five years in advance at the IRWA Board of Directors meeting during the last day of the Conference.

The IRWA also hosts its Annual Awards Luncheon ceremony on the Monday afternoon at the Conference where it recognizes individuals, companies and IRWA chapters who have made valuable contributions towards advancing the right of way profession. In addition, the IRWA recognizes all of its members who have received the SR/WA designation after the preceding Conference at the SR/WA Breakfast ceremony, which is held on the Tuesday morning of the Conference.

In June 2015, the IRWA's 61st Annual Conference in San Diego, CA at the Hilton Bayfront was attended by 1,384 attendees — the most of any IRWA Conference.

The 62nd Annual Conference will be held June 12–15, 2016 in Nashville, TN at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.