The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source. Last week, I had the privilege of attending a virtual gathering of IACP Past Presidents. What made it particularly meaningful was that in attendance were leaders whose terms of service stretched back for more than a decade.



What struck me most was the continued commitment of these leaders to IACP. After all these years, they remain loyal supporters, willing to give their time, energy, and experience. They are natural ambassadors and relationship-builders of IACP.

Past Presidents have represented IACP at conferences, partner events and international gatherings. In doing so, they extend IACP's presence around the world while demonstrating the strength and depth of our leadership community. I was proud to learn that Past President Shireen Meistrich delivered a keynote address at the ENCP Conference in Basel. I was also Heartened last year to see Brian Galbraith and Robert Arthur presenting at the Canadian Collaborative Rocky Mountain Conference in Banff, while Diane Diel hosted the Ethics Café to dive deep into Ethics and Standards, one of the defining tenets of IACP. Robert Arthur also virtually presented in a symposium in Guadalajara, Mexico and connected with our Latin American colleagues.

Past Presidents have lent their experience to specific initiatives and projects. Chris Farish co-chairs the Forum Organising Committee with current board directors; Robert Arthur our Immediate Past President, is charged with determining the recipients of the IACP Heart of Service Award which will be presented at the upcoming Forum. Selina Trigg was instrumental in promoting the idea of recognising global efforts to grow Collaborative Practice through the Global Horizons Council, and put into place an award for global achievers (details to be announced this fall).

Perhaps most importantly, our Past Presidents carry something that only comes with time and experience: institutional knowledge. They understand from where IACP has come from. They have experienced the challenges that accompany leadership, navigated difficult situations and built relationships over many years. Their collective experience provides a valuable reservoir of wisdom and perspective.

This is not about looking backwards or diminishing the role of those who lead IACP today. Rather, it is about recognizing that leadership does not end when a term of office concludes. It evolves into a different kind of service.

We have invited Past Presidents to share their leadership reflections, anecdotes, and stories for our future newsletters and I, for one, look forward to it. There is so much to learn from those who have led before us. These stories can provide insight, inspire future action and help mentor the next generation of leaders just as Julia McAnnich and Selina Trigg have done for me.

So, to our IACP community around the world, I would encourage you to think of our Past Presidents as a continuing resource and a community of ambassadors. When you are organizing a conference, a learning event, a webinar or a gathering of your practice group, ask IACP to help connect you with a Past President who may be able to share their experience.

The strength of IACP is not only in the leaders who serve today. It is also in the remarkable community of leaders who have served before and who remain ready to serve again.

See you at Forum!