A Vision for Our Federation: Two Years, Four Priorities, One Purpose

It is a thought I carry with me as I begin this presidency. We live in a turbulent world. Conflicts, climate crises, emerging pandemics, and deepening inequalities do not wait politely for our strategic plans to catch up. Events will challenge our priorities. They will test our resolve and demand our flexibility.

But what events cannot change — what I am determined they will not change — is the DNA of this Federation. The reason each of us gives so much of our time, energy, and passion to this agenda is a shared and unshakeable belief: that global public health matters, that the health of our societies and our planet is a collective responsibility, and that our greatest obligation is to those who are most vulnerable. That conviction is our compass, however turbulent the waters.

With that compass firmly in hand, I want to set out four work streams that will shape my two-year mandate.

First: strengthening our member organizations. WFPHA is only as strong as the national public health associations that make up its family. I am committed to ensuring the center serves the membership by sharing regular updates, a bi-monthly newsletter that keeps every association informed of major events and opportunities, and by introducing travel grants to enable young public health professionals to attend key international gatherings. The next generation of leaders must have a seat at the table.

Second: supporting our World Congresses on Public Health. These congresses are among the most important convening spaces in global public health. I want to ensure they are exceptionally well planned, properly resourced, and financially sustainable — events that our members are proud to attend and that leave a lasting legacy in their host cities.

Third: the creation of a WFPHA academic journal. Knowledge must be a public good. I envision an open-access journal available free of charge to all our members, and one in which up to 20 percent of published articles incur no publication costs for authors from the Global South. If we are serious about equity, we must begin with how we share knowledge.

Fourth: building a true Global Public Health Alliance. We are not alone. The Global Network of Academic Schools of Public Health and the International Network of Institutes of Public Health share our values and our ambitions. Working more closely together — creating something genuinely greater than the sum of our parts — is both a strategic opportunity and a moral imperative.

None of this will be achieved alone. It will take all of us, working in the same direction, with generosity and determination. I am fortunate to have the support of our outstanding CEO, Professor Bettina Borisch, and COO, Dr. Marta Lomazzi. With a team of this caliber — and a membership of this commitment — I am confident we can deliver.

The journey begins now. I am honored to take it with you.