Stephen Macliver, Sparke Helmore's national executive officer, has been elected secretary-treasurer of the public and professional interest division of the International Bar Association (IBA). 

The IBA has 40,000 individual members worldwide, including more than 200 Law Societies and Bar Associations. 

The honorary appointment sees Macliver assume a number of senior, strategic roles within the IBA, including member of its peak Council, member of the IBA's Management Board and Treasurer and Council member of its Human Rights Institute. 

He is now one of only nine elected officers that constitute the senior leadership of the IBA.

He is a former worldwide chair of the IBA's Law Firm Management Committee and is a fellow of the College of Law Practice Management.

Macliver joined Sparke Helmore in February 2010 in the new role of national executive officer, working closely in a leadership capacity with the firm's national managing partner. 

He joined the firm from New Zealand law firm Bell Gully where he was chief executive and previously held managing partner roles at Minter Ellison.