English
EspañolA new IAPO Chair and Board changes
Thanking our Chair
We thank KP Tsang who finishes his time as IAPO Chair after a successful number of years in the role. Jolanta Bilińska, Chair Elect, shared a few words thanking KP for the impact he has had.
'In the Board and my name I would like to thank KP for his term as a chair of IAPO. It was a challenging term and many new member organizations joined IAPO. We had under his guide a wonderful Global Patients Congress dedicated to Universal Health Coverage, we also published the Biosimilars Toolkit, and he was involved in the new strategic plan 2015–2017.
KP is a very enthusiastic person about patients issues, he shared his knowledge with another member organization in IAPO's twinning project, he always had time for others, and he knew all about policy and regulations which helped a lot during the challenging time of recruiting a new CEO. Many people who met KP during his IAPO activities can just say: he is an excellent person, modest and sensitive. I hope we can always ask him for help as he begins as Immediate Past Chair.'
'Many people who met KP during his IAPO activities can just say: he is an excellent person, modest and sensitive' - Jolanta Bilińska
Welcoming the new Chair
We are pleased to welcome Jolanta Bilińska as the new IAPO Chair. Jolanta begins her role on 1 August. KP took the opportunity to welcome Jolanta in to her new role as Chair.
'By this summer, Jolanta will take on the role of Chair of IAPO. Jola is a capable, enthusiastic and diligent leader. Her leadership will move IAPO on a solid track and accomplish our vision and mission under support by the Governing Board and the staff team. I wish Jola every success in the coming years.'
'Jola is a capable, enthusiastic and diligent leader' - KP Tsang
Governing Board changes
We also thank and say good-bye to Marc Boutin, Treasurer, and Hussain Jafri, Board Member, who step down from their roles on the Board. As current Chair, KP thanked them both:
'Hussain has served the Board since 2006. He pioneered IAPO's working relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) by collaborating on the Patients For Patient Safety (PFPS) initiative. The initiative opened an era of patient engagement in the health sector on global level. Hussain served as IAPO Chair in 2009 to 2011, and proactively developed IAPO's regional strategy that makes ever wider representation for IAPO on all continents.
Marc has been IAPO Treasurer since 2012. He oversaw IAPO's financial activities and worked closely with the CEO to ensure our financial position is always kept in a healthy and robust state. He also gave great assistance to me in the critical period of change with IAPO's CEO position.
May I extend sincere thanks from my heart to Hussain and Marc for their incredible contributions to IAPO in their terms. All the very best, Hussain and Marc!'
'May I extend sincere thanks from my heart to Hussain and Marc for their incredible contributions to IAPO in their terms. All the very best, Hussain and Marc!' - KP Tsang
New Governing Board members
We are really pleased to welcome Penney Cowan, from the American Chronic Pain Association, and Matthias Wienold, from the European AIDS Treatment Group, onto the Governing Board. They will both begin on 1 August.
