HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SIXTY-FIFTH WORLD HEART FEDERATION BOARD MEETING

The sixty-fifth Board meeting was held at the World Heart Federation headquarters, in Geneva, on 25 October. It saw the President Dr Shahryar A. Sheikh chair his last meeting before he hands over his presidency to Dr Pekka Puska in January 2009. He stated with good humour that “his parting gift to  the World Heart Federation was the new Chief Executive, Jeya Wilson” who was inaugurated during the meeting.

A sad farewell from the President

In welcoming participants to the meeting, President Shahryar A. Sheikh said that he spoke with emotion as this would be the last meeting he chaired as President before he steps down from this post, which would conclude a busy and eventful year. He stated that “it was an honour to be a representative from a developing country, Pakistan and as an Asian it sent out a message to the world that the World Heart Federation was truly global ultimately helping to fulfil its mission.” He said with pride that the organization was now “a major player in the international war against heart disease. The World Congress of Cardiology was also a major achievement and a success I hope to see continue.”

Introducing the new Chief Executive, Jeya Wilson

Jeya Wilson PhD, was inaugurated during the meeting and in welcoming her to the World Heart Federation, Shahryar A. Sheikh stated that “we as an organization have every confidence in her ability to implement our vision for the future.” Jeya responded by saying “Thank you Mr President for placing your confidence in me. I will do my best to deliver and fulfil your expectations. I am privileged to work alongside all our volunteers who are of such high calibre. There is a lot of talent in this organization. So let’s go forward together in the global fight against cardiovascular disease”.

Read the press release: World Heart Federation appoints Jeya Wilson as Chief Executive

Other News in Brief

• Lyn Roberts (Vice-President) is leading a project in which the governance of the World Heart Federation is being reviewed. By definition governance “is the process carried out by the Board of Directors, and its related committees, on behalf and for the benefit of the entity’s stakeholders to provide direction, authority and oversight to management to work together towards achieving its mission”. This process will feed into the 5-year strategy for the organization.   
• The Communications Agency, Weber Shandwick, presented the findings from a survey of our key stakeholders (members*, partners, sponsors) performed by them on a pro bono basis. To help develop a communications strategy for the World Heart Federation so that we could better meet expectations. The results were also reported back to our members during the Members Meeting on 10 November, in New Orleans. For those members that could not attend, the presentations are accessible in the members-only section of the website. Log-in and select http://www.world-heart-federation.org/members/members-area/educational-material/meetings-and-workshops/members-workshop-november-2008/  (AHA, New Orleans, 10 November)
• Dr Akira Matsumori (World Heart Federation Secretary) presented the Membership status report: To date, there are 195 member organizations made up of: 8 Continental Members; 157 National Members; 7 Associate National members; 23 Associate International Members; in addition, there are 5 Individual Members. The following membership applications were also approved:

- Associate International Members:

- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
- PCNA (USA) and Fundación Araucaria (USA)

- National Members:

- Cameroon Heart Foundation
- Iranian Heart Foundation

*Please note, a representative sample size was used for the member interviews hence not all not all our organizations were interviewed.