Leadership for the Future of Women: Advocacy and Partnerships
Women told us something striking. Many could not identify a single institution, individual, or organization that they felt was publicly and consistently championing women’s health. That absence of visible leadership left women feeling alone in navigating their health journeys.
The need: Women’s health needs clear, visible, sustained leadership. It needs institutions willing to step forward, name the gaps, and stay at the table. The IWK Foundation is doing exactly that. But we cannot, and should not, do this alone.
We are proud and grateful for the partnerships already taking shape.
- Right here in Halifax, The Halifax Tides Football Club just finished their inaugural season. The leadership of this team made sure the community knew this was about more than what happens on the pitch. With the IWK Foundation as their front-of-jersey partner, they are highlighting women’s health – a subject that, like women’s sport, has long been overlooked.
- Deloitte Canada, has provided pro bono support to collaborate on and publish a national report, Advancing the Case for Women’s Health in Canada. This work tells an important story about the history of women’s health in this country and the urgent need for a national women’s health strategy.
- We also want to acknowledge the work of McKinsey Canada, in partnership with the Women’s Health Collective Canada, on their upcoming report: The Blueprint for Action to Close the Women’s Health Gap. We’d like to recognize these regional champions who contributed to this Blueprint: Dr. Christina Atkinson, Dr. Maria Migas, Valerie Malone, Emma Beukema, and Dr. Shawna O’Hearn.
- We’re also seeing community advocates and volunteers step up in powerful ways. Like the volunteer group behind the sold-out Atlantic Menopause Show, demonstrating what’s possible when people come together, driven by a shared commitment to women’s health.