International heart specialist and Bond University Professor Julie Redfern has been elected to the World Heart Federation.
Prof Redfern, who recently won the NSW Woman of Excellence Award and an Australian Cardiovascular Alliance Award for Mentoring, said she has been involved with the WHF since being selected as an Emerging Leader in 2015.
The WHF champions heart health and acts to reduce the global burden of heart disease and stroke, which together claim 20.5 million lives every year.
Prof Taylor is joined on the WHF board by fellow Australian Tanya Hall, CEO and founder of patient advocacy group hearts4heart.
“I am thrilled to work with the new WHF Board as we pursue cardiovascular health for everyone,” Prof Redfern said.
“It is wonderful to see Australians leading the way."
Prof Redfern is Director and Research Professor at Bond University’s Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare and her election was praised by David Lloyd, Heart Foundation CEO and vice president-elect to the WHF Board.
“I am very excited to be working alongside other leaders in the field, including my fellow Australians Prof Julie Redfern and Tanya Hall,” Mr Lloyd said.
President-Elect is Dorairaj Prabhakaran of India and the new board includes members from the UK, Brazil, Spain and Kenya.
The elected board members will take office in January 2025, alongside four strategic partners, three co-opted board members, the Global Heart editor, and the chairs of the WHF committees.
The WHF’s membership of more than 200 heart foundations, scientific societies and patient organisations in more than 100 countries is an active hub, promoting heart health and driving change at the local, regional and global level.
As the principal representative body of the global cardiovascular community, WHF brings together a diverse network of multi-sectoral actors to share knowledge, guide policy, and give people the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives.
The Heart Foundation in Australia is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fighting the single biggest killer of Australians – heart disease.
For more than 60 years, it has led the battle to save lives and improve the heart health of all Australians.
Its sights are set on a world where people don’t suffer or die prematurely because of heart disease.