Greetings from the Board of the International Young Professionals Foundation

We've been silent for a while, but now we are back. Expect to hear from us more - and get ready to get involved!

WHERE WE HAVE BEEN

For the IYPF, and for many in the world as a whole, the last year and a half has been rough. We were hit badly by the financial down turn. The last International Young Professionals Summit was held right at the start of the economic crash (August 2008) which made things very challenging for us. It had a dramatic effect on our finances. But in spite of these hard times, we are glad to have had the opportunity to add value and continue to contribute in small ways to creating a better world even in the face of global crisis.


WHERE WE ARE GOING

Emerging from the last Young Professionals Summit (IYPS) and our reflections during these hard times, we are now looking at a new direction for IYPF.

We want to work with your - our members, stakeholders and network - to carve out a niche and do things that only we do, and we do them well.
Specifically, we see IYPF engaged in 3 activities:

(1) An annual 'International Young Professional of the Year' award. It’s a big idea, challenging too, but the mechanics of an award are relatively easy to facilitate given our network and expertise. It’s something no one else is doing – and something we are well positioned to catalyse and run. As an initiative, it can focus our organisation and efforts, and highlight what YPs are doing around the world to create sustainable change and a better world

(2) Convening a regular International Young Professionals Summit to bring YPs together globally, perhaps every 3-4 years, with regional events convened in between times in partnership with other YP organisations.