November 3, 2008, Brussels, Belgium – The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) announced today that Ms Ann Keeling has joined the organization as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director.
The International Diabetes Federation, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is an umbrella organization of over 200 diabetes associations worldwide. It is the global advocate for the more than 250 million people with diabetes, their families, and healthcare providers.
Ms Keeling takes the helm of the Federation at a time when the diabetes pandemic is growing fast and placing unrelenting strain on global healthcare resources. She will help steer the response of the Federation as it broadens its efforts to increase awareness and encourage action. IDF leads the World Diabetes Day (14 November) campaign and the Unite for Diabetes campaign, which resulted in a UN Resolution on diabetes. The organization will hold its flagship World Diabetes Congress in Montreal, Canada next year.
For over 50 years, the Federation has been at the vanguard of global diabetes advocacy. It is an NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and an associated NGO with the United Nations Department of Public Information. IDF is committed to raising global awareness of diabetes, promoting appropriate diabetes care and prevention, and encouraging activities towards finding a cure.
“Diabetes is often thought to be a disease of the rich. Yet the world is in the grip of a global diabetes epidemic that affects rich and poor countries alike. In many countries, diabetes threatens to overwhelm health systems. I want the International Diabetes Federation to be the place for people everywhere to learn more about diabetes. A place to join the global diabetes community and help turn back the tide of this disease. The landmark UN Resolution on diabetes gives us our mandate,” said Ms Keeling.
Ann Keeling joins the Federation from the Government of the United Kingdom, where she was a senior civil servant in the Government Equalities Office. She has global experience, having lived in the Pacific, Caribbean and Asia working for the United Nations and the Governments of Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Great Britain. She has also undertaken short assignments in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Her work has centred on policy reform and programme delivery in health, education and poverty reduction.
Previously, Ann Keeling served as Director Social Transformation Programmes Division (leading on health, education and gender) in the Commonwealth Secretariat supporting the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. In that capacity she worked with the Federation on the UN Resolution on Diabetes and was a member of the Global Health Worker Advisory Council convened by Mary Robinson and the Global Health Workforce Alliance.
Dr Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation described Keeling as an incredibly gifted and experienced leader. He considers her the ideal choice to lead the Federation at such an important time. “Ms Keeling’s appointment is of major significance to the continued development of the International Diabetes Federation. Her appointment has the full support of the Executive Board. We are extremely pleased to have her onboard to help steer the future of the Federation,” said Dr Silink.
