The UN Decade of Healthy Ageing is our opportunity to achieve transformative change for, and with, older people by working together in new and innovative ways – across governments, international agencies, civil society organisations, professionals, academia, the media, and the private sector. Without a joined-up response across sectors and stakeholders, real change will be challenging to achieve.
Jane Barratt, Global Advisor and former Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) since 2002, has devoted her professional life in service to and with older persons. Crucially, through her work with the IFA, Jane Barratt has been a global leader in bringing together diverse groups to drive action on a wide range of issues relevant to healthy ageing – including but not limited to adult vaccinations, eye health, age-friendly environments, combatting ageism, and older people’s rights. Jane Barratt’s efforts to reach across the aisle and work together with others are exemplary of the innovative and collaborative ways of working required to realise the vision of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.
Notably, Jane Barratt was instrumental in the organisation of the IFA 15th Global Conference on Ageing, entitled ‘Rights Matter’. Rather than pursue an independent agenda, the conference’s platform was shaped entirely to amplify the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’s framework for action, demonstrating committed leadership to reinforce and strengthen existing mandates. Beyond any single piece of work, Jane is highly active and generous in contributing her time to ongoing global work whether as a consultant, convener, chair, or member of various task forces, working groups, consortia covering a large array of substantive topics important to older persons.
Through the IFA and beyond, Jane Barratt works to drive the agenda of the world’s population ageing so that every older person can live their life to the fullest in a society that respects their past, present and future contributions.