We have so many people to thank for supporting our launch, it is hard to know where to begin.
It was great to meet face to face however we did have to keep the gathering small with Covid-19 still causing disruptions.
Vicki Mooney, Chair of ICPO and Executive Director for ECPO, hosted our evening and welcomed all to the event.
We started out with a pre recorded address from the Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing & the National Drugs Strategy, Frank Feighan.
Clinical lead for Obesity Professor Donal O’Shea continued his ongoing support for ICPO with a strong message that the patient voice is making a change within the HSE and decison makers.
Ken Clare, Chair of the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity, spoke of how ICPO are one of the most active countries within ECPO despite being such a new organisation.
We had some well wishes from colleagues both across the globe and from home.
Sarah O’Brien : HSE National Lead, Healthy Eating & Active Living Programme
Johanna Ralston : The world Obesity Federation
Ximena Rosa Salas : Obesity Canada
Joe Naglowski : The Obesity Action Coalition
Dr. Michael Crotty : My Best Weight
Professor Jason Halford : EASO President
Euan Woodward : EASO Executive Director
Representing the Association for the Studies of Obesity in Ireland (ASOI) Karen Gaynor spoke of how patient involvement changed how the ASOI committee works and patients were not simply tokens but involved in every process and decisions made.
Susie Birney, ICPO Executive Director gave a brief overview of the ICPO strategic plan and our involvement with peer support, advocacy, research and collaborations.
Our campaign video was played, which included many who were with us in the room celebrating our launch, highlighting that we are People First living our best lives despite living with a chronic relapsing disease.
We finished off with some poignant words from Ms Teena Gates, ICPO Vice Chair.
We are particularly grateful to Professor Francis Finucane, who is based in Galway and joined us on the night.
Solveig Sigurdadottir, President of the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)
Dr. Mary Flynn from the Food Safety Authority,
Dr. Aileen McGloin from Safefood
Maureen Busby from PCOS Vitality,
Associate Professor Andy Hogan, Maynooth University,
Dr. Grainne O’Donogue Programme Director, Prof MSc Physiotherapy Lecturer Physiotherapy School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science University College Dublin
Dr. Mallory Noone, Weight Management Service, St Columchilles Hospital.
Dr. Louise Tully, Postdoctoral Researcher, RCSI and ASOI
And of course our supporters from Novo Nordisk who we were delighted to meet in person.
Thank you Aisling Harris from Croi, we had already edited our video but your well wishes were kindly received.
Thank you Dr. Jean O’Connell, Dr. Cathy Breen, Dr. Sarah Brown, researcher Leona Ryan, Dr. Colin Dunlevy, Dr. Andy Grennell and Dr. Audrey Tierney who all unfortunately could not attend as previously planned. We hopefully will see you next time.
We set the entire networking evening for two hours, conscious of many travelling from far or following a long days work. But it wasnt long enough!
We were most delighted to see our other ICPO Board, Committee and members come together.
Ben, Linda, Bernadette, MF, Diane, Deirdre, Catherine, Eoin.
Bernie, Marion, Eithne, Yvonne, Aggie, Laurence, Suzanne, Frances, Sheila, Mags, Mick, Tracey.
With apologies on the night from Leanne and Dee.
Finally a huge thank you to our Secretary Maura Murphy who also was our photographer for the night.
We apologise if we left anyone out!
We look forward to continuing to Address Obesity Together!
