CLEAR President's Message - February 2026

When I wrote to you in October, I spoke about connection and presence. Those remain important. As we move further into 2026, the environment facing regulators calls for disciplined capability alongside that connection.

Across jurisdictions, the pressures are clear. Accelerating technological change. Workforce constraints. Increased scrutiny. Rising expectations for transparency and speed. Decisions are made within tighter timeframes. The margin for error continues to narrow. In this context, regulatory excellence is an operational reality.

Public confidence rests on the quality of regulatory judgment.

CLEAR’s responsibility is straightforward. We equip regulators to meet that reality with judgment and confidence.

Participation in our educational programmes continues to grow. That growth reflects demand for practical learning grounded in regulatory experience. Sessions on de-escalation, emerging technologies, professional mobility, and workforce resilience respond directly to issues regulators are managing every day. They are designed for application.

We have also progressed our work in professional development and credentialing. Capability develops through deliberate investment in judgment, evidence informed decision making, and proportionate action. Strengthening those skills is one of the most concrete ways we advance public protection.

International perspective carries increasing weight. Professionals move across borders. Digital services operate transnationally. Public trust forms in a global context. CLEAR’s network enables regulators to test ideas, challenge assumptions, and refine practice through informed exchange. In 2026, that perspective is foundational.

Members have spoken clearly about the importance of meeting in person. Virtual learning continues to expand access and will remain an important part of our work, but there is still no substitute for gathering together, for the conversations between sessions, the relationships strengthened, and the ideas that emerge through shared experience.

We will continue to balance virtual access with the value of meeting in person. The 2026 Annual Educational Conference in Portland, Oregon, will provide space for rigorous learning and candid discussion. Earlier this year, the Winter Symposium and Midyear Business Meetings focused on governance and strategic direction. Planning is advancing for our next International Congress, bringing research and practice into meaningful dialogue.

CLEAR is sustained by participation. More than 150 volunteers contribute through committees and working groups, shaping programme design, research priorities, and professional pathways across the organisation. Regulatory systems strengthen when experienced practitioners step forward. I encourage you to consider deeper involvement.

The year ahead will continue to test regulatory judgment. Innovation will challenge existing frameworks. Public expectations will remain high. Trade-offs will persist.

What remains within our control is the quality of our response.

CLEAR will continue to strengthen capability, foster disciplined exchange, and support regulators as they navigate increasing complexity. Thank you for the professionalism you bring to this work. I look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

Paul Byrne

President, CLEAR