We all know that personal development takes time. It is a lifelong experience that allows us to incorporate new skills and qualities so that we can better face current and future challenges. Something similar happens with organisations. Many of them start small, just an idea in the head of their founders. But as time goes by, that idea grows and expands to horizons never dreamt of before. This is also the case of IFIC.
Since the appointment of Nick Goodwin as Professor and Director of the Central Coast Research Institute (New South Wales, Australia) was announced in our website last March, the expressions of gratitude and acknowledgement to Nick’s contributions have not ceased. This was not a surprise: Nick was one of the co-founders of IFIC and it is thanks to his vision and commitment that the Foundation enjoys today worldwide reputation as the leading body in the science and practice development of integrated care. And I am sure that Nick’s enthusiasm will now go to the development of IFIC Australia hub, part of the global strategy that the Foundation is following, also in other parts of the world, to become a leading network for change.
Certainly, in the last five years, IFIC has experienced an unprecedented growth. The Foundation has evolved and will continue to do so as new and exciting opportunities emerge. And indeed, this will require strong leadership. Thus, as announced earlier and led by our vice-chair Prof. Mirella Minkman, IFIC is currently under the process of renewing our Board and our governance to prepare the Foundation for the next stage. The interest in the vacancies in our board has been huge and this is a reason of satisfaction for us all. More will be announced next October.
But all IFIC’s strategic and ground floor work of our very dedicated staff has to be lead in the visionary way of our mission. As a Board, we are therefore very pleased that Dr Toni Dedeu, current IFIC’s Director of Programmes, has kindly accepted the invitation of the board to act as interim CEO. Dr Dedeu was former Director the Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia and accumulates more than 20 years of experience at international level in the field of quality assessment and health systems development. For the past 8 months, Nick and Toni had been leading the work of developing the new IFIC business plan in collaboration with the board and IFIC senior management team. This is the core document that sets out the foundation’s goals and strategy for the coming years.
With this vision, we would like to announce the vacancy for CEO of our Foundation, which is open for internal and external candidates. More information about this position can be found here . Please feel free to spread this vacancy announcement in your network
W e are confident that the future that lies ahead of us will be even brighter. At IFIC we will be delighted to keep your company in this journey.
Dr Albert Alonso
Chair
International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC)