The International Facility Management Association (IFMA): A Brief Overview
The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) was established in 1980 by a small group of facility professionals who recognized that managing workplaces, buildings and supporting services required its own professional discipline. What began as the National Facility Management Association in the United States became the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) in 1982, following the establishment of its first international chapter in Toronto, Canada. Over the past four decades, IFMA has helped shape facility management from an operational support function into a recognized profession that contributes to organizational performance, workforce experience, sustainability, and the management of the built environment. Throughout this journey, IFMA has contributed to professional education, competency frameworks, certification programmes and the development of international standards, including participation in the ISO 41000 series for Facility Management. Today, IFMA is recognized as the world’s largest and most widely recognized professional association for facility management, supporting more than 26,000 members across over 140 countries. Its global network includes more than 120 local chapters, 16 industry councils and multiple communities of practice, creating opportunities for members to learn, collaborate and advance the profession worldwide. Beyond membership, IFMA develops internationally recognized professional credentials such as the Certified Facility Manager (CFM®), Facility Management Professional (FMP®) and Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP®), publishes research and benchmarking, and organizes World Workplace®, the world’s largest conference series dedicated to facility management.
Our Vision : Lead the future of the built environment to make the world a better place.
Our Mission : Advance our collective knowledge, value and growth for Facility Management professionals to perform at the highest level.
The Indonesia Chapter of IFMA Indonesia has one of the largest and fastest-growing built environment sectors in Southeast Asia. As organizations increasingly recognize workplaces as strategic assets rather than operational costs, the need for a professional community dedicated to facility management has become increasingly important.
Recognizing this opportunity, a group of Indonesian facility management leaders initiated the establishment of the Indonesia Chapter of IFMA. The objective was not simply to create another professional association, but to connect Indonesia’s facility management community with IFMA’s global network of knowledge, professional standards, and collaboration.
Following a structured petition process involving governance review, chapter bylaws, operational planning, and founding member endorsement, the IFMA Global Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Indonesia Chapter on 29 June 2026. The Chapter was subsequently activated within the IFMA Global membership system on 17 July 2026, enabling professionals in Indonesia to join the Chapter directly as part of the global IFMA community.
