ICN’s GNLI scholars address urgent health challenges in Geneva, supported by WHO Chief Nurse and international ambassadors
The 2025 Global Nursing Leadership Institute (GNLI) Geneva Week brought together 29 exceptional nurse leaders from 27 countries to tackle complex health policy issues and build strategic partnerships. The scholars travelled to Geneva to participate in an intensive week designed to elevate their impact from local and national levels to global influence as part of ICN’s year-long GNLI programme for transformational nurse leadership in policy. GNLI is now part of ICN’s new Leadership Centre, which brings together all of its impactful leadership development programmes.
The week included a powerful welcome message from ICN President Dr José Luis Cobos Serrano, who emphasized the critical role of nursing leadership in addressing global health challenges, ranging from the impacts of conflicts, crises, and climate change to workforce shortages, rising non-communicable diseases, and global funding uncertainties.
ICN’s President said:
“ICN passionately supports nursing leadership, including through our brand new ICN Leadership Centre which brings together GNLI and all of our other leadership initiatives. And the reason why is simple: because nurses know what needs to change and how to change it. You have the insights, knowledge, skills, and strategic abilities that mean your voices are absolutely critical to every decision, plan, or policy in health care.
‘Thinking locally and acting globally is the key to driving meaningful change and this week in Geneva will support you to connect local realities, challenges, and opportunities with the wider picture of global health policy and to connect with and learn from a wide and strong network of international nursing leaders."
The programme sessions were expertly facilitated by GNLI directors Dr Diana J. Mason and Dr Patsy Yates, covering essential policy leadership competencies including policy frameworks, creating policy briefs, political contexts, and framing and messaging for audiences including media. The programme featured distinguished guests including Dame Christine Beasley, a Burdett Trustee and former UK Chief Nursing Officer; Bruna Moreno Dias from WHO PAHO; Dr Pamela Cipriano, ICN Immediate Past President; Clare Cable, Burdett Trust CEO; and Holly Shaw, ICN UN liaison.
A highlight of the week was the scholars' visit to the World Health Organization headquarters, where they engaged with senior WHO leadership and met with WHO Chief Nurse Officer Dr Amelia Tuipulotu, who shared insights about her role in WHO policy development and global health leadership. Dr Tuipulotu herself completed the GNLI programme in 2013, serving as an inspiring example of the programme's long-term impact and the pathways it opens up to influence global health.
The WHO sessions covered critical contemporary topics including climate change and health, the global nursing workforce, emergency response, pandemics, and conflicts, and accelerating impact to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ICN also hosted a reception for GNLI scholars at its Geneva offices, where ICN CFO Jim Riordan welcomed the scholars and provided insights about the current challenges facing non-governmental organizations and how nurse leaders can provide crucial support.
Throughout the week, scholars presented initial plans for their regional projects, which address important pressing health challenges, from the mental health and wellbeing of nurses to the retention of staff, the promotion of advanced practice, and the development of nursing leadership in concert with the WHO Global Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery, 2020-2030.
The GNLI 2025 Geneva Week concluded with a closing ceremony attended by ambassadors and permanent representatives from many of the scholars' countries, both in person and online, demonstrating their support for the scholars and for the advancement of policy leadership by nurses.
ICN CEO Howard Catton delivered the closing speech. He highlighted the urgent need to develop nurse leadership at global levels, saying:
“The most recent WHO State of the World’s nursing report, that ICN was delighted to co-chair, clearly states that we need to ensure that nurses have an influential role in health policy formulation and decision making and contribute to the effectiveness of health and social care systems. It’s not just about having the leadership positions for nurses to go in, but also having the pipelines to support and supply the development of those nurse leaders, a gap that was identified by the 2025 WHO State of the World’s Nursing report.
With GNLI and our other leadership programmes, ICN takes very seriously our responsibility to support that pipeline, working closely with our colleagues all around the world and across global organizations to grow and nurture nurse leadership. Our health systems, our world, need nurse leaders — need all of you — like never before. Nurse participation in policy and politics is a critical driver of health for all and advancing the profession.”
Since its launch in 2009, GNLI has demonstrated significant impact, with graduates occupying national Chief Nursing positions and leading National Nursing Associations (NNAs) and major health initiatives across the globe. ICN’s new Leadership Centre brings together all of its leadership development programmes, including GNLI. The programme's success is made possible through generous sponsorship from the Burdett Trust and Health Carousel Foundation, whose support enables ICN to continue developing the next generation of global nursing leaders.