Monash University takes charge of World Health Summit presidency baton - Prepares to host the 2024 regional gathering in Melbourne
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The 2023 World Health Summit was held from 15-17 October in Berlin, where Monash University’s Professor Christina Mitchell and Professor Sophia Zoungas officially commenced their terms as the International Co-Presidents of the World Health Summit global gathering.
Last year Monash University successfully bid to host the WHS Regional Meeting in Australia, a landmark event for public health in Australia and the Asia Pacific region, as Monash became the first Australian university to be invited to host a regional meeting. Monash’s transnational convening power will provide a platform for leaders across the region to come together on some of the biggest challenges in global health today.
The handing of the baton to Monash at the Berlin Summit coincided with the launch of the 2024 Meeting event website and first ticket sales.
The 2024 Regional Meeting will focus on shaping the future of health across Asia and the Pacific. Bringing the spirit of the World Health Summit to our vast, diverse, ancient and complex region will provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand the challenges we face, to build collaborations, and to co-create pathways forward. Over three days, prominent thought leaders will provide perspectives and insights on priorities for our region, with a focus on solutions and systems change.
Participants will be challenged to consider the questions:
What would it take to achieve and sustain better health and wellbeing for people in the Asia-Pacific over the next 5-10 years? What are the strengths we can build on? and What are the systems that need to change or evolve?
Monash hosted a preview symposium at the Berlin World Health Summit exploring public health issues affecting Asia and the Pacific. The session was chaired by International Co-President and Head of the University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Professor Sophia Zoungas and explored climate and health impacts in our region, health workforce challenge for small island nations, participatory health and community involvement in research and driving more effective research outcomes.Speakers also include Dr Claudia Stoicescu from Monash University, Indonesia, Dr William May, the Dean of Fiji National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Professor Teo Yik Ying, from the National University of Singapore, and Professor Chang-Chuan Chan, from Taiwan National University.
“We wanted to provide the delegates in Berlin with a preview of what we will be focusing on during next year’s regional meeting in Melbourne. In 2024, we have the opportunity to catalyse big shifts in the way we, as a global health community, tackle some of the most complex health challenges facing our region–like closing the gap on First Nation’s health outcomes, addressing health inequities more broadly across communities, curbing the rise of non-communicable diseases, and putting health at the centre of economies to deliver a fairer health system for everyone.” Professor Zoungas said.
Monash University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Susan Elliott AM, said Monash was proud to be the first Australian university to host a regional meeting. “As a member of the M8 Alliance, Monash University is helping to shine a light on public health in the Asia Pacific region at the 2024 World Health Summit Regional Meeting next April,” Professor Elliott said.
“We are proud to have been selected to host next year’s meeting in Melbourne, and we look forward to collaborating with the leading universities, experts and thought leaders from across the Asia Pacific to advance public health knowledge, awareness and outcomes throughout the world.
“Monash is a global health leader and, as a university, it’s our job to be spearheading the response to the world’s most significant challenges of our time. The 2024 World Health Summit Regional Meeting is a key component of Monash’s global health commitment.”
Monash University is a founding member of the M8 Alliance - a global network of leading health centres and research institutions, which together form the academic backbone of the World Health Summit.
“We look forward to working with our partners, including our Pacific and Asian colleagues, to convene an important event that will strengthen collaborations and advance our collective efforts to address the key challenges for health in our region” Professor Mitchell said.
The University is also proud to announce VicHealth as a major partner of the event. VicHealth is the world’s first ever health promotion foundation, and VicHealth CEO and Monash alumnus Dr Sandro Demaio knows the importance of the summit in convening experts here in Australia. “We are proud to partner with Monash University on the 2024 World Health Summit. The summit will offer the chance for local and international experts to come together and share insights so we may better understand the barriers preventing people in our region from experiencing good health and wellbeing,” said Dr Demaio.
Over three days in Melbourne, delegates will share perspectives and insights relevant to key issues for us here in Australia, as well as those impacting our neighbours and communities across Asia and the Pacific.
Professor Mitchell added that climate and health will be a major focus of both Berlin and Melbourne meetings. The Monash Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, of which Professor Mitchell is Dean, is hosting the Grand Challenges in Health and Climate meeting in Prato, Italy from 27-29 November.
Monash University will also be the first Australian university to host a Blue Zone pavilion at the upcoming UN climate change conference, COP28 from 30 November to 12 December 2023, further demonstrating the university’s commitment to addressing global challenges impacting communities around the world.
Monash is a global catalyst for transformational health care
Monash is distinct for its global knowledge networks and high-quality practice that enable transdisciplinary collaboration on a scale not seen before in a research intensive institution.
Monash boasts the largest medical school in Australia and consistently ranks among the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical, and health sciences.
With an investment of approximately $500 million in health and medical research annually, Monash Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is a frontrunner in pioneering innovations, treatments, and therapies that transform lives.
Situated within the Monash Technology Precinct, Victoria’s largest hub for employment and innovation outside the Melbourne CBD, the 2024 Regional Meeting will unite experts from all corners of global public health. This hub is home to major global partners, including Moderna, which recently announced its first mRNA production facility in the Southern Hemisphere at Monash’s Clayton campus. Additionally, the Victorian Heart Hospital also located on Monash Clayton campus ground and Australia’s only dedicated heart hospital, will enhance clinical research, cardiovascular research, and medical device innovations.
Monash University’s active role in the World Health Summit 2023 and the upcoming 2024 Regional Meeting reaffirms its position as a global catalyst for transformative healthcare solutions.
For more information, visit www.WHSMelbourne2024.com