IFHE NEWS
Action-packed Toronto Congress hears from physician, astronaut, and First Nations elder
“For the first time in three years, IFHE members were able to meet face to face, with the Federation’s 2022 Congress held in downtown Toronto at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre from 17-21 September,” writes IFHE Joint General Secretary, Andy Wavell. He said: “Of the 366 delegates, and the 436 sponsors and exhibitors attending, 45 were international – from 22 countries. CHES (the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society) invited the Executive Committee to meet its Board and organising committee at an evening reception, where those involved ‘virtually’ over the past year or so could meet face to face. “Before the Congress began, IFHE held
its Executive Committee and Council meetings. There were also meetings of the European and South American groups of IFHE. At the Executive Committee meeting, outgoing President, Daniela Pedrini, from Italy, was able to officiate for the first and last time in a face to face meeting, and wear her chain of office. Exco focused on what was to happen in the Council meetings. Also discussed was membership – and particularly those in arrears – with a course of action determined that could help some member organisations suffering financial hardship to stay in the organisation, and sadly see some leave.
Communication challenges “Communication with members has proven a huge problem since the introduction of data protection rules, and in an attempt to overcome this, a Communications Group has produced and distributed an IFHE Newsletter via Mailchimp. Exco received a report on the present situation with the Newsletter, and proposals for the future. The Committee was also pleased to hear that nearly 2000
Left: First Nations elder and storyteller, Garry Sault, welcomed attendees with a prayer and traditional native song.
Above: Canadian contemporary indigenous dance company, Red Sky Performance, welcomed attendees with a traditional First Nations dance performance.
people have signed up to receive the newsletter. Exco is keen to see the IFHE website improved to give site visitors even more of an insight into what the organisation does. As part of this agenda, an update on the next issue of the IFHE Digest was given. Again this year, the response for papers has been good, and it is expected that around 24 articles will be published.
Observers from Singapore “Council met on Sunday 18 September, and was pleased to welcome observers from Singapore, currently ‘B’ Members, who hope, with assistance, to become full ‘A’ Members of IFHE. Also welcomed as ‘A’ Members, though not attending, were Indonesia and Bosnia Herzegovina. The Council’s normal business was conducted, with the addition of bids for the 2026 Congress from AMFP from America and WGKT/FKT from Germany. Both organisations gave excellent presentations promoting the value of holding an IFHE
Congress in their country. After a secret ballot, AMFP was declared the winner; the 2026 Congress will thus take place in New Orleans from 16-20 October 2026. “It was also agreed that interim meetings of Council will take place in Mexico City in 2023, and Antwerp in 2025. The outgoing President, Daniela Pedrini gave her report on her tenure as President (see page 20) which was, we all hope, a unique experience – since apart from the Congress in Canada, there had been no face to face meeting at all. She made particular reference to the work of small teams of architects and engineers in providing rapid assistance to WHO when it required designs to be prepared for COVID units in areas without the expertise to accomplish this quickly. The continuing relationship with WHO as an NGO in formal relations with it was noted.
International Building Awards “During the Congress the International Building Awards were presented, with
Daniela Pedrini (pictured left) and Andy Wavell both received Honorary Membership certificates from the IFHE’s new President, Steve Rees.
18 Health Estate Journal November 2022
Four-time Olympic gold medalist, female hockey legend, and physician-in-training, Hayley Wickenheiser, speaks to delegates.
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