The IARU Alumni Associations Network, established around 2009 with its first summit at Yale, brings together alumni relations professionals from leading research universities in the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU). It was created to provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the exchange of best practices in alumni engagement, recognizing the shared opportunities and challenges of building and sustaining meaningful alumni relationships across diverse global contexts. The founding vision was to strengthen alumni networks internationally, enhance institutional advancement, and create more efficient and impactful alumni programs through collaboration. Over the years, the Network has hosted summits, joint events, and forums that allow members to showcase strategies, address issues such as staff development, resource allocation, and engagement innovation, and explore ways to connect alumni across borders. Its current focus areas include developing hybrid and digital engagement models in response to evolving global trends, fostering alumni-to-alumni and alumni-to-student connections, and advancing global collaboration that supports universities’ reputations and philanthropic goals. By leveraging collective expertise and networks, the IARU Alumni Associations Network continues to promote lifelong alumni engagement and strengthen the role of alumni as vital partners in higher education and societal impact.