December 2024

As we step into the new year, excitement continues to build for #IFACONF2025 and the 17th Global Conference on Ageing. We’re thrilled to bring together experts, thought leaders, and advocates from around the world for an impactful in-person event.

A few must knows:

• Registration is now open! Along with securing your spot, you can opt in for our exclusive Gala Dinner, which will be part of our pre-conference event. This evening will offer an opportunity for celebration and networking with fellow attendees, setting the stage for the conference ahead. Plus, throughout both the pre-conference and conference days, we’ve designed multiple networking opportunities during breaks, ensuring plenty of chances to connect and collaborate with peers across the globe.

• Abstract submissions are now open! If you're interested in showcasing your research, don’t miss your chance to contribute to the thought leadership at the conference in any of the 9 conference themes.

• We’re also proud to announce our Committee of Expert Advisors, whose guidance and insights are shaping the direction of the conference. Learn more about the influential experts contributing to the event here.

Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for an unforgettable experience!

Global Café with our new Secretary General, Mr. Gregor Sneddon: Watch the recording!

We kicked off 2025 with a special Global Cafe session led by our new Secretary General, Mr. Gregor Sneddon!

During this insightful discussion, Gregor shared his vision for the year ahead and provided valuable perspectives on the future of our community. If you missed it or would like to revisit the conversation, the recording is now available!

Don’t miss the chance to hear directly from Gregor and learn more about the exciting initiatives on the horizon.

Welcoming New Talent to Our Team

We are delighted to welcome Ms. Cara Murdoch and Ms. Claudia Delgadillo as the newest members of our team! They each bring a wealth of experience, fresh insights, and a passion for making a meaningful impact. Their expertise will undoubtedly enhance our ability to serve our community and achieve our shared goals.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Cara and Claudia as they embark on this exciting new chapter with us!

Meet Cara, Executive Assistant to the Secretary General

Cara joined the IFA in January 2025 with a passion for ageing and experience in senior leadership at an older persons’ charity in Scotland. She holds a BA (Hons) in Business with Marketing and has a background in global market research.

Now in Canada, Cara enjoys exploring, good coffee, and time with loved ones.

Meet Claudia, Social Media and SEO Specialist

Claudia joined the IFA in January 2025 with nine years of experience in social media, content creation, and campaigns. While completing her Master’s Certification in Digital Art and Global Communications, she’s eager to bring her expertise to IFA.

She enjoys lifting, reading about social issues, and crafting.

Shingles Matters-

Asking Canadians to share their journey on accessing the Shingles Vaccination

Shingles is a painful and potentially debilitating condition that disproportionately affects individuals aged 50 and older, and vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent it.

In light of Shingles Awareness Week (24 February - 2 March), the IFA is inviting Canadians aged 50 and older to participate in a discussion about their experience with accessing the shingles vaccination in Canada.

This initiative aims to boost shingles vaccine uptake across provinces in Canada. The IFA will spotlight the voices of those at-risk of shingles and address barriers like complex referral pathways and limited awareness of shingles' serious health risks, working to improve access and prevention.

For more information, or if you’re interested in sharing your experiences, please contact Ms. Salsabila Ahmed at sahmed@ifa.ngo.

To address the growing need to improve eye care for these populations, the Barometer Program has conducted a global survey of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), along with their healthcare providers which reveals key challenges and opportunities to enhance patient outcomes. The results provide practical and meaningful interventions to support patients, health care providers and clinics.

The results of the survey have now been published in two papers in Ophthalmology and Therapy.

The publications can be accessed via here and here.

Expansion of Messaging on Vision Health and Ageing

Currently, older people comprise an estimated 73% of people living with avoidable vision impairment, equating to 800 million people globally. This number will increase as the population ages, reaching 1.28 billion people by 2050.

Vision health is crucial for promoting many aspects of healthy ageing, including overall physical and mental health, mobility, social interaction, and ability to carry out daily activities. For older people, vision impairment can lead to loss of function, limited independence, social isolation, and overall declines in health, yet there is a lack of alignment amongst vision and ageing sectors and limited resources to describe the influence of vision on ageing and vice versa to support engagement of key stakeholders. 

To address these gaps, IFA has created a shared narrative amongst vision and ageing sectors, so that vision health may be integrated into ageing agendas and older people may be considered in vision health policy, and practice.

The adaptable resource features a Message Framework on Vision Health and Ageing, Message Bank and Good Practices developed in consultation with patient groups.

IFA and EuGMS Statement of Action on Adult Vaccination



As our global population ages, it is crucial to prioritize the health of older adults. Vaccination is a key public health intervention, especially for older adults who experience greater risk of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). However, vaccine uptake among older adults remains low due to various challenges.

Arising from a joint meeting, held at the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Congress key recommendations and actions were developed to improve vaccination policy and practice for older adults, ultimately supporting healthy ageing and maintenance of function into later life.

Key actions call for strengthening National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) operations and expertise, investing in robust data collection on vaccination uptake and VPDs, supporting access and education on vaccination to enhance uptake in older adults and ensuring stakeholder engagement and accountability.

Sign up here to receive weekly invitations to join the IFA’s Global Café, hosted every Friday at 7:00 a.m. EST. Have topics or speakers you would like to see on the IFA Global Café? Feel welcome to contact Senior Policy and Project Coordinator Mitali Mistry (mmistry@ifa.ngo) with your recommendations!

IFA Global Café Archive

If you were unable to attend any of the IFA Global Café sessions, we have great news for you! All past sessions, along with valuable resources and materials, are now accessible on our website. Whether you're interested in exploring specific topics or simply want to catch up on the insightful discussions, you can conveniently view the recorded sessions at your leisure.

We invite you to visit our website to experience the wealth of knowledge and expertise shared by our distinguished speakers and panelists. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the thought-provoking content from the IFA Global Café series.

Stay up-to-date: Follow the IFA on Twitter today!