Committees and Task Forces

IPA currently has three Standing Committees of the Board. Each Committee meets monthly via Zoom and reports back to the Executive Committee of the Board. There is currently one new limited-term Task Force in place as well.

These Committees and Task Forces are open to all IPA members in good standing and are an excellent way to get connected with peers and colleagues around the globe. IPA values all opinions and encourages members to reach out to the Secretariat contact information listed next to each Committee if you are interested in participating, or would simply like to learn more.

Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Week Task Force

Chair: Prof Huali Wang (China)

Chair: Dr Debanjan Banerjee (India)

Purpose & Composition
Launched for the first time in 2021, Older Adult Mental Health Awareness Week was a global program to highlight both older persons mental health issues as well as promoting healthy ageing initiatives.
For 2022, the Task Force will look to increase both the programming and resources as well as our global impact.
Volunteers to the Task Force will participate via Zoom planning calls and:

1. Share their ideas and input to create the 2022 programs
2. Provide resources as available/ needed
3. Be an active participant in as many calls as possible (minimum 50% call attendance desired)
4. Promote the Awareness Week initiative across their professional and social networks

Term: Late January through late October 2022

Contact the IPA Secretariat at jkowalski@ipa-online.org for more information or to join the Awareness Week Task Force.

Marcomm Ad Hoc Committee

Chair: Dr William Reichman (Canada)

Purpose & Composition
The Marcomm Ad Hoc Committee will address IPA Marketing and Communications, both current and future. This will include IPA branding and communications platforms (website, social media, etc.) as well as current messaging. Those with an interest in communicating the importance of older adult mental health to a global, multi-disciplinary audience are encouraged to join.

Goals:

1. Evaluate current IPA communications platforms and opportunities to optimize
2. Identify additional strategies to enhance IPA communications to stakeholders
3. Report recommendations to the Board via interim report (summer 2022) and final report (December 2022)

Term: Term ends December 2022

Contact the IPA Secretariat at jkowalski@ipa-online.org for more information or to join the Marcomm Ad Hoc Committee.

Advocacy and Public Awareness Committee

Chair: Dr Kiran Rabheru (Canada)

Purpose & Composition
The Advocacy & Public Awareness Committee works in conjunction with IPA staff as well as other Committees, Task Forces, Councils and Editors to strengthen IPA’s brand awareness, public image and impact as a leading global voice in the field of older adult mental health and cognitive disorders. The Committee will seek out opportunities and respond to requests for IPA to publicly comment on vital matters related to the field.

Mandate: This group will be responsible for:

• Ensuring IPA is effectively promoting the global importance of the field of older adult mental health
• Advocating that the needs of older adults with mental health and cognitive problems must be effectively addressed across all societies
• Demonstrating that IPA is a vitally important and impactful organization to be supported and called upon to address or comment on relevant public health issues
• Working to identify strategic partnerships with related advocacy organizations and other stakeholders in order to collaboratively promote older adult mental health prevention and treatment
• Identifying key performance indicators and performance goals that measure IPA’s effectiveness in advocacy and public awareness

Contact the IPA Secretariat at jkowalski@ipa-online.org for more information or to join this Committee.

Membership Committee

Chair: Prof dr Raymond Koopmans (The Netherlands)

Purpose & Composition

The Membership Committee works in conjunction with IPA staff as well as other Committees, Task Forces, Councils and Editors to strengthen IPA’s membership and benefits to both attract new and retain current members.

Mandate: this group will be responsible for:

• Establishing performance metrics and targets for retention and growth in membership
• Monitoring and reporting to the IPA board on our progress in achieving these performance targets
• Developing, prioritizing and implementing effective strategies and initiatives to retain and attract new members to IPA (including offering innovative and existing best practice member benefits, and identifying novel and creative products and services to retain and attract new IPA members—in collaboration with the Products & Services Committee)
• Developing an annual work plan in collaboration with the IPA secretariat

The Early Career Network (ECN) and Team Membership program are organized under this Committee.
Contact the IPA Secretariat at jkowalski@ipa-online.org for more information or to join either of the above initiatives or the Membership Committee.

Products and Services Committee

Chair: Dr Robert Madan (Canada)

Purpose & Composition
The Products & Services Committee works in conjunction with IPA staff as well as other Committees, Task Forces, Councils and Editors to strengthen IPA’s products and services to the membership.

Mandate: Determine, develop and implement a portfolio of educational and other products, services and programs that are of demonstrable value to a diverse audience of stakeholders in the field of older adult mental health and cognitive disorders including our present and future IPA members.

The International Congresses, Journal Club, Debate Series, Primer Course, and Webinar series are all organized under this Committee.
Contact the IPA Secretariat at jkowalski@ipa-online.org    for more information or to join this Committee.