In this final blog of 2022, members of the ADI team reflect on the last 12 months and set their sights for 2023.
Paola Barbarino, CEO
Though this year has certainly had its trials and tribulations, I have never felt more optimistic about the future of our mission.
For ADI, this last year continued to be marked with successes. In addition to hosting our first hybrid international conference, we continued with our series of popular open webinars; continued to build on the strength and momentum of the annual World Alzheimer’s Month campaign; launched our biggest ever World Alzheimer Report on post-diagnosis support; developed a new three-year work plan with the WHO and increased our advocacy work at global, regional and national levels.
As we look towards 2023, I can promise you that we still stop at nothing in continuing our fight to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families.
Listen to Paola’s full end of year message
Chris Lynch, Deputy CEO and Policy, Communications and Publications Director
In 2022, ADI’s working relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO), with whom we are in official relations, further strengthened as we continued to work towards the targets of the Global action plan on dementia.
This was reflected in the creation of our urgent #WhatsYourPlan campaign; a direct-action campaign to galvanize governments to develop national dementia plans, the most robust tool available to tackle the challenge.
In 2023, we look forward to working on our new triennial workplan with WHO and to exploring an exciting opportunity to host side events, alongside WHO regional committee meetings, with a specific focus on national dementia responses.
Learn more about #WhatsYourPlan
Michael Lefevere, General Manager
In 2022, as the ADI team continued to grow, we looked to improve our support systems, including outsourcing IT support for the first time. Gathering our Board for an in-person meeting, prior to the global conference in London in June, reflected the improving situation with the global pandemic.
In 2023 ADI will also move to a new office in London and we will further explore solutions, including finance software, to reflect the more hybrid nature of work, post-pandemic.
Wendy Weidner, Head of Research and Publications
For me, 2022 has been a year marked by endings and new beginnings!
In March, the STRiDE (STrengthening Responses to dementia in DEveloping countries) project came to a close after 4 years. This was bittersweet as it meant that close contacts with project teams whom I’d worked with frequently (albeit virtually) would sadly become less regular – but as ADI is committed to continuing the policy and advocacy work, we started with STRiDE, these connections remain strong as we forge new ways to collaborate.
A significant new start this year has been taking on the role of Head of Publishing, joining forces with the inimitable Chloé Benoist to form our tiny but mighty publishing team. It has been a tremendous experience working on our From Plan to Impact and World Alzheimer Reports this year – and I am looking forward to revealing the exciting publications we have planned for 2023!
Nikki Bayliss, Head of Development and Rosie Houghton, Corporate Partnerships Account Manager
2022 has been an incredibly exciting year! However, our highlight has to be ADI’s Global Conference which took place at The Kia Oval, London in June.
It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces in one room for the first time in over two years. We were happy to have welcomed many different types of companies, all showcasing exciting innovations and technological advancements in diagnosis, treatment and care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Given the events of the past two years, meeting people in-person again has never been more rewarding.
At this exciting time in Alzheimer’s and dementia research and with many creative innovators focussed on developing products and services to improve the quality of life for people and families affected by dementia, we are really looking forward to seeking new partnerships and collaborations that will benefit ADI’s members and bring hope to families wherever they live in the world, in 2023 and beyond.
Read more about the 35th Global Conference of ADI
Jane Cziborra, Head of Events
It was a real delight to bring everyone together for ADI’s first hybrid conference in London this year and to see people once again face-to-face. Bringing the global ADI family together at ADI 2022 was filled with joy, learnings and new connections.
It was exciting to have so many people participate, presenting the latest in dementia research and activities, whether it was in-person or virtually and with presentations or posters or at exhibition stands. In 2022 we were ‘Building on Hope’ and in 2023, we will continue to build on the hope we have as a global dementia community.
In 2023, I am looking forward to continuing the theme of bringing people together but this time with ADI regional meetings and conferences in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean as well as activities around the world, addressing particular topics relevant to the regions. I’m also looking forward to sharing more soon on ADI’s next international conference in 2024!
Watch session recordings from ADI 2022
Katie Bingham, Events and Office Manager
In 2022, we were finally able to host our Alzheimer University (AU) for emerging associations in-person – the first step in becoming a member of ADI – in London, again. It was great to feel and see the energy from the group and I am always so inspired by the individuals I meet during these events.
For this year’s AU, we had a chance to review the format of the programme and include new sessions and workshops. I’m looking forward to more of this in the form of our regional conferences and meetings.
We have an exciting schedule spanning all regions in 2023 and I cannot wait to see everyone, old and new faces included!
Isabella McLeod, Office Coordinator
Since joining the organisation in April 2022, I have had the privilege of working alongside and supporting the entire team at ADI.
As the team has continued to expand this year, it has been wonderful to bring in more organisation and infrastructure to the day-to-day administration at ADI, such as helping with membership and governance.
I’m particularly looking forward to finalising the move for our new office in the New Year! After a long few months of office viewings and continuous building work at our current location, it will be great to see staff in-person more regularly, in a nice working environment.
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting and learning from the team this year and look forward to continuing to do so in 2023.
Laura Aubert, Membership Manager and Membership Development Programme Lead
In 2022, we held our first ever hybrid regional members meetings during the ADI Conference in London. We also built on the success of the Francophone roundtables with France Alzheimer and A.C.M.A. Cameroon, which will lead to the first ever ADI Francophone Day being organised at the African regional conference in 2023.
My priority is always to get member voices highlighted in our events, publications, webinars, campaigns and more which I hope was achieved as best as possible this year.
I am looking forward to developing the structure and content of the regional member meetings and the Alzheimer Universities which we will be holding around the world next year. These are always great opportunities to share best practice and innovations, strengthen regional collaborations and we will finally be able to network face-to-face again!
I will also be focussing more on creating practical resources, including around fundraising, as this is one of the main challenges that members are facing.
Lewis Arthurton, Communications and Policy Manager
In light of the impending completion of the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia in 2025, we launched the #WhatsYourPlan campaign in 2022, aiming to galvanise and encourage Member States to commit to achieving the targets of the plan.
Through boundless official letters, emails, statements, meetings and much more, we are pleased to report that a year after the start of the campaign, tangible progress has been made. Even as we speak, ADI continues to engage with governments on their national dementia plans across the world.
While progress has been made, there is undoubtedly more that needs to be done. In the new year we will further increase pressure on governments by tailored campaigns in some regions. All WHO Member States committed to develop a national dementia plan in 2017, and we will continue to do all that we can in the campaign to ensure those commitments are met.
Learn more about the Global action plan on dementia
Taylor Paatalo, Digital Lead
Like the rest of our team, 2022 proved to be incredibly busy and forward moving for ADI’s communications, making it particularly difficult to summarise all of which that encapsulated! From further refining our YouTube channel, through to writing and developing advice for people living with dementia during emergencies, there was no ‘quiet period’ this year.
In 2022, the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign continued its trajectory of success from the past few years, with nearly recording breaking numbers around engagement, activities and interest. As most of us know by now, awareness raising and advocacy work is key in stamping out stigmatic attitudes and ideas around dementia, as well as making ‘real’ change for those who are most affected. To help catapult this year’s campaign, we trialled a digital intern scheme where 6 interns from across the world ran their own ‘mini campaigns’ across Instagram and Twitter, with the aim of reaching new audiences.
As we look towards 2023, I eagerly look forward to what World Alzheimer’s Month 2023 will entail, especially as we further refine the digital intern scheme and aim to begin recruiting interns in the late spring. I also look forward to working further with some of members around communications support, whether it be in the form of workshops at the AU or impending regional #WhatsYourPlan campaigns.
Read more about this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month campaign
DY Suharya, Regional Director for Asia Pacific and Irma Rachmatiah, Finance Officer
2022 has been such a busy year indeed!
We are grateful for the incredible progress being made in the Asia Pacific region, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our members who are working tirelessly to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their family caregivers in their respective countries. On 8-11 December, our member in Chinese Taipei did an excellent job in bringing us all together at the Asia Pacific Regional Conference, providing an opportunity for all the members to come together and share knowledge, stories and ideas.
As 2023 approaches, we are excited to have another impactful year in the Asia Pacific region. This includes following up on government commitments to implement national dementia plans, as well as continuing to assess the most effective ways to support people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
Amalia Fonk-Utomo, Head of Accreditation
In 2022, the ADI Accreditation programme had its ‘take off!’ moment.
For those who don’t know, our accreditation programme intends to support the improvement of dementia awareness care towards global dementia issues by applying culture-appropriate contexts. In 2022, we attended several conferences in Europe and Asia, as well as awarded ADI Accreditation to Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau, the first ADI provider accredited on 25 January 2022.
In 2023 we are looking forward to our forthcoming accreditations from UK, Australia and Qatar and then continuing to expand across the globe.
Learn more about ADI Accreditation
Chloé Benoist, Publications Manager
I joined ADI in January of 2022, so this has been a memorable year for me during which I’ve learned a lot about my role in the organisation and the wider world of dementia advocacy and research.
It has been fascinating getting to work with the passionate people who have contributed to this year’s World Alzheimer Report and From Plan to Impact V, and I am looking forward to continuing this journey in 2023 with even more enthusiasm as I settle more confidently into the role.
Read the World Alzheimer Report 2022
Diego Aguilar, Head of Development for the Americas
I joined the ADI team as Head of Development for the Americas during the last week of September 2022.
During these months, we have framed a development strategy for the Americas office and began to raise support for ADI work in Latin American and the Caribbean. In October, we visited Uruguay for the first ever AIB Alzheimer’s University and a successful meeting with the Minister of Health. I also participated in regional conferences organized by ECLAC in Buenos Aires and Santiago.
In 2023, I look forward to continuing to boost ADI’s impact in the region with new sponsors and networks.
Nick House, Corporate Partnerships Development Manager
As a recent addition to the team, I am eager to deepen my understanding of ADI’s work and build upon my knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in the coming weeks and beyond.
But more importantly, I believe that 2023 holds great potential for new opportunities and partnerships with corporates that can help us make a positive impact on the lives of people around the globe who are impacted by dementia. I am excited to be part of this important mission and contribute to its success.
