On July 3, the International Gender Champions (IGC) announced the creation of a new tier of alumni engagement: the Patron’s Initiative. Designed to foster continued support and engagement of IGC alumni Champions with the IGC network beyond their positions in either Geneva, New York, Nairobi, Vienna, the Hague or Paris, the Patron’s Initiative will allow select, invited alumni to promote the network, creative new communities of support, and advise the IGC Secretariat on direction for the network going forward.
IGC Alumni Champions will be invited to join the Patron’s Initiative on a voluntary, exclusive basis, with criteria for entry restricted to those who served in an executive role with the network during their time as active IGC Champions. Patrons will work to support the IGC by:
- Fostering new avenues for IGC Alumni Champions to continue to support the IGC network in their new roles;
- Reenergising the momentum for gender equality in an evolving global landscape by creating new networks for engagement within IGC;
- Drawing on the strategic insights and expertise of Alumni Champions who have actively shaped IGC’s programming and strategy during their time as active Champions;
- Facilitating outreach and mobilising new partners, advocates and donors to strengthen the network’s future.
The first three IGC Patrons were inaugurated during the IGC’s 10-Year Anniversary celebration at the Palais des Nations: Former U.S. Ambassador to Geneva Pamela Hamamoto, former UN Office in Geneva Director-General Michael Møller, and former IGC Chair and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre Arancha González. Together, these three Patrons and proud IGC alumni have blazed a path for future Patrons to come, and for the IGC to continue expanding its reach and focus—without losing its connection to its roots and some of its most committed Champions.