IAPO's Transition of Leadership and Strategic Direction for 2024 and Beyond

We are thrilled to share below a joint letter by Neda Milevska Kostova and Ellos Lodzeni announcing updates on IAPO's Governing Board followed by an overview of IAPO’s strategic direction from our new CEO, Dani Mothci.

Transition of Leadership – Passing the Torch

 

Dear IAPO Community,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits.

We write to you to celebrate continuity and share some news concerning IAPO’s new leadership arrangements. After serving on the Board for several years in multiple functions, Neda Milevska Kostova has completed her term as IAPO chair and passed the torch to Ellos Lodzeni, who also has extensive experience on the IAPO Board, serving previously as treasurer and vice-chair.

As we collectively navigate through this transition, we take a moment to reflect on the past few years. The tireless efforts of all IAPO Board members under our co-leadership as chair and vice-chair have been instrumental in steering IAPO to new heights, and we are incredibly grateful for the privilege of working together and making an impact on the organization.

The change of leadership is inevitable and necessary. And, a change that brings new ideas, continued enthusiasm and sustainable commitment bears a promise of raising IAPO’s flag higher and making the patient voice heard louder and further.

We are thrilled to welcome our newly elected Board members: Fernanda de Carvalho, from the Brazilian Institute Side by Side for Life, and Flavia Kyomukama, ​​from the Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS in Uganda, and to congratulate Orajitt Bumrungskulswat, from Heart to Heart Foundation (Thailand) for her re-election to the Board for the second term.

With a tone of sadness and huge gratitude, we bid farewell to our dear Liliana Tieri, from CUI.D.AR Diabetes Argentina, who served on the Board for one term. We are certain that her incredible work at the national level and dedication to IAPO’s mission at global and regional levels will continue to echo within our patient community.

On a positive note, we extend our best wishes to the continuing Board members – Bisi Bright from LiveWell Initiative, Nigeria, Tony Holland from the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation, UK, Paul Mendoza from Psoriasis Philippines, and Lara Bloom from The Ehlers-Danlos Society, UK. Our joint message as a Board was loud and clear: "Nothing about us without us!", and we hope it will continue to inspire and encourage many more to join us in achieving the common vision and mission of the global patient community.

At its 25th anniversary this year, IAPO is entering a new era. But not one that leaves all behind to start something from scratch and re-invent the wheel. Not at all. This new era means introducing new leadership approaches, supporting new engagement strategies and continuing to build strong partnerships.

We are happy and excited to announce that our dear Dani Mothci, who has brilliantly led the membership role at IAPO since 2016, transitioning to partnership engagement director at the end of 2022 and acting as interim CEO since the passing of our beloved Kawaldip Sehmi, has accepted the CEO position in full. With an impressive track record and a deep understanding of our community, we are confident in Dani's ability and vision to lead the organization, bringing new qualities, ideas and approaches while ensuring sustainability, reliability and constant exchange with patients worldwide.

The passion and dedication we have witnessed throughout these years from our Board, Staff Team, and our membership are truly inspiring. We thank each of you for your unwavering commitment to our joint mission and your endurance during the hard times of the pandemic and the unhoped-for loss of our dear CEO Kawaldip Sehmi in 2023. Your hard work, creativity, and resilience have been the driving force behind IAPO's achievements after a challenging year. We hope your enthusiasm, passion and experience will continue to feed our collective efforts, creating an even greater positive impact on many more lives towards better and more equitable access to health worldwide.

We invite you, our global IAPO community, to join us in celebrating the achievements of the past and look forward to the exciting possibilities ahead!

Let us embark on this new chapter united, inspired, and ready to create meaningful change. We remain jointly committed to serving our community, amplifying the impact, and working together towards a healthier future for all with the patient at the centre.

 

Yours faithfully,

Neda Milevska Kostova, Board Immediate Past Chair

Ellos Lodzeni, Board Chair

IAPO's Strategic Direction for 2024 and Beyond

 

Dear all,

Building upon Neda’s and Ellos’s inspiring letter, I join their call to celebrate IAPO’s continuity and embrace new beginnings that promise a brighter future. We are dedicated to honouring Kawaldip’s legacy, envisioning an even stronger and more dynamic organization while building on our past accomplishments.

Stepping into the CEO role at IAPO fills me with humility and honour. These past months, marked by transition and loss, have underscored the strength of our community and the collective resilience that binds us together.

In 2024, while celebrating IAPO’s 25th Anniversary, we will focus on four foundational pillars: strengthening our organization, fostering effective and sustainable relationships, expanding our regional presence, and supporting patient organizations.

These pillars will be fortified within our existing strategic plan (2022-2024), ensuring a resilient foundation for the years ahead. IAPO's mission, conceived 25 years ago, remains unwavering – to champion patient-centred healthcare worldwide.

Alongside the Board, the IAPO Secretariat is growing and transitioning into a new arrangement. Rachel Githinji, formerly IAPO’s communications manager, now leads partnerships. Antonia Gama, who was part of IAPO’s external support in the past few years, has now permanently joined the team to lead policy and communications, and Kaya Taylor is overseeing finance and operations.

Lastly, I invite all our members and partners to join forces with us. Our doors are always open for fruitful conversations, engagement and collaborations. Coming together is the only way forward to cultivating a healthier world for everyone.

 

All the best,

Dani Mothci, CEO