IFHE COUNCIL MEETING 2025


The Council met at the Hotel Mercure Antwerp City South. IFHE President Kevin Poggenpoel


provided an update of activities he has been pursuing since his appointment in Cape Town, South Africa in 2024, and encouraged all members to work together to support improved healthcare facilities management around the globe to ensure that safe and quality care is available to our communities. Following discussion on matters surrounding the establishment of IFHE, a Financial Report was provided with a draft budget still being developed. This meeting was held in the early part


of the year, and the 2025 financial situation, membership renewals, and activities for the period were still being undertaken, making it difficult to establish and agree on a budget for 2026. It was agreed this would continue to be developed and that a further Council meeting would be held at a later date to allow Council to agree to future actions and budgets for 2026. Reports from sixteen A Member


associations had been received – as well as from IFHE-EU – and all were reminded of their obligation to provide these annual reports to the IFHE secretariat. These were taken as read, and were accepted.


Goodbye to Gunnar Importantly, our long-time secretary general, Gunnar Baekken – a generous contributor to IFHE Executive Committee functions for 20 years – took the opportunity of this meeting to retire from ExCo. Gunnar was recognised with a certificate and a standing ovation for his dedication and commitment to IFHE and his support of many activities. In accepting his certificate of service, Gunnar commented on the joy that his service to IFHE has given him, and the many friends he has made and treasured during his tenure. While Gunnar leaves the ExCo, he has committed to supporting IFHE through the Senior Advisory Group that he has helped to establish, and will


IFHE DIGEST 2026 Post-lunch Japanese-style exercise led by HEAJ representative Yoshihisa Hirayama.


provide a genuine benefit to future ExCo and Council members. Gunnar, we thank you for your


contribution and dedication and wish you all the best into the future. The balance of the meeting was used


to bring Council up to date on the various working parties including; Newsletter & Communications; Education; Website and Social Media; Strategic Partnerships with WHO, IHF and ASHRAE; Statues and Standing Order Review, and a report on the 2025 IFHE Digest provided in absentia by Andy Wavell.


Other activities that gained attention included the 2026 IFHE Congress, Carbon Reduction Awards, and the 2026 Building Awards programmes. At the conclusion of the meeting, the group gathered for the obligatory photo, capturing excellent memories of a worthwhile day spent together in collaboration. The IFHE-EU/ZORG.Tech Congress


kicked off in earnest on Thursday for two wholesome days of technical and scientific presentations and site visits to some of Belgium’s premier health and aged care facilities. Opportunity was provided for superior networking events including the outstanding gala dinner event hosted in the Handelsbeurs Antwerpen – the world’s oldest stock exchange – a historic, strategic, and architectural stunning location enjoyed by over 1,000 guests. The IFHE Executive Committee and


Council congratulates ZORG.tech on an outstanding event, and thanks them for their generous hospitality allowing the IFHE fraternity to gather, share, network, and reconnect. We look forward to our next gathering


Gunnar Baekken is recognised with a certificate and a standing ovation for his dedication and commitment to IFHE and his support of many activities.


in October, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. All members are encouraged to make preparations to join in with what will be a superb event – not to be missed.


IFHE 15


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