Introducing
Mrs Idermaa Garavsuren
3rd Vice President of FIAT-IFTA

In Krakow the I.C.D. Meeting elected Mrs Idermaa Garavsuren from Mongolia, President of the Mongolian Funeral Association (MFA) to be the 3rd Vice President of FIAT-IFTA. We asked Mrs Idermaa Garavsuren about her goals as a Board Member and her beginnings in the funeral industry, as well as the brief introduction of the Mongolian funeral sector.

My name is Idermaa Garavsuren. I was born and raised in Bulgan province, Mongolia, and graduated from Mongolian University with a degree in economics and accounting. I have over 20 years of experience in the funeral services industry. I founded Ulaanbaatar Buyan LLC and New Cemetery LLC, where I introduced cremation services in Mongolia. Today, our company operates two cremation facilities and two cemeteries in Ulaanbaatar, along with casket manufacturing, statue workshops, and headstone production. 

In addition to running my businesses, I contribute to developing rules and regulations for funeral services in Mongolia. As a member of a government working group, I helped establish essential national standards, including the General Requirements for Cremation Service Organizations (MNS5605:2006) and Funeral Services (MNS6841:2020). I have a keen interest in Mongolian funeral traditions, which led me to complete a Ph.D. in history on this topic. My book, The Burial of Mongols of the 20th and 21st Century (Ulaanbaatar, 2024), and over ten research articles have been published in journals in Mongolia, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine. 

Currently, I am leading a significant project to revitalize the Sambalkhundev Cemetery in Ulaanbaatar, aiming to transform it into a modern memorial garden and an integrated funeral service centre. Since 2003, I have actively participated in international conferences and expos related to the funeral industry. I became President of the Mongolian Funeral Association in 2008, which unites funeral service providers in Mongolia and promotes unified standards for quality, environmental care, health, and safety. We are also drafting a "Funeral Regulation Legislation," which we hope to present to Mongolia’s Parliament soon. 

Our work seeks to respect traditional customs while addressing modern needs. Together with the Mongolian Funeral Association, the Department of History at the Mongolian National University, and the Office of the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, we have organized academic research conferences to document funeral rituals, covering topics from traditional practices to modern trends. This research has been published in five volumes from 2018 to 2024 and helps us create funeral services that blend cultural heritage with contemporary practices. 

I am deeply honoured to have been elected as the Third Vice President of FIAT-IFTA, and I extend my gratitude to all members for their support. The recent 17th FIAT-IFTA Convention and 53rd FIAT-IFTA I.C.D. Annual Meeting in Krakow, Poland, provided a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues and discuss the current challenges and promising future of our industry. 

As Third Vice President, I am committed to advancing several key initiatives.

Read the whole article in the winter issue of THANOS magazine - you can read online at pages 16-18