EFA’s geographically, culturally, disease-wise and professionally diverse board steered and governed our work on behalf of members. Throughout 2022, the Board met six times and agreed on their EFA ambassador roles for their regions, and specific roles based on their expertise and disease area.
The Board examined and approved EFA’s quarterly financial accounts. They steered the Annual General Meeting preparations, and the planning of our first face-to-face meeting preparations after COVID-19 pandemic (became endemic), the Members Re-Union in Iceland, originally planned for 2020. EFA board was successful in delivering our governance and encouraging finding innovative ways to deliver our activities in the gradual shift from online activities and operations to hybrid. The Board supported move to new office, with ergonomic and sufficiently spacious working conditions, and health prevention in the new working mode for our staff. This board was our first in history who worked entirely in virtual mode, until their first face-to-face meeting in December 2022.
The board members participated in key high-level partnerships such as the European Lung Health Group (ELHG) arising from our Breathe Vision 2030 project or the partnership with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) supporting the Interest Group of the European Parliament on Allergy and Asthma, as well as high-level patient advisory groups of EFA’s sustainable corporate funding partners.
EFA 2022 Board:
- President Carla Jones from Allergy UK
- Vice President Marcia Podesta from Food Allergy Italia
- Treasurer Yvonne Spies from Longfonds, the Netherlands
- Secretary Frida Run Thordardottir from Asthma and Allergy Association, Iceland
- Member at Large Armando Ruiz from FENAER, Spain
EFA sincerely thanks the support and collaboration of the home associations of our board members: the Netherlands’ Longfonds, FENAER from Spain, Icelandic Asthma and Allergy Association, Food Allergy Italia and Allergy UK for their commitment in supporting our volunteer board members for our European cause.
The Board wishes to thank our amazing staff who tirelessly not only implements but drives our core activities and projects as a European level allergy and airways diseases patient organisation.