From the CEO's desk : farewell

Dear Friends and Fellow Colleagues

I send you all warm greetings from the WONCA Secretariat in Singapore.

The next WONCA Executive Committee Meeting will be held in London, United Kingdom, on October 1–2, 2012, after which, as you probably know, I will retire as the WONCA Chief Executive Officer after 11 plus years of service.

The new Secretariat with Dr Garth Manning as the Chief Executive Officer, will be located in Bangkok, Thailand. There will be a month of administrative transition in October 2012 after which the WONCA Secretariat in Singapore will close.
It has been an interesting, demanding and a learning experience for the staff of the Secretariat and especially for me but I hope these eleven years have yielded for WONCA growth in size, influence, stature and diversity. More importantly, I hope, it has also to some degree brought greater benefit to the members of this world organization and to Global Primary Care.

The Secretariat in Singapore, has worked with four WONCA Executive Committees under four World Presidents (Michael Boland, Bruce Sparks, Chris van Weel and Richard Roberts). As mentioned earlier, these were challenging and yet interesting years as the various Executive Committees and Presidents had different leadership styles and approaches in tackling the problems and challenges in advancing the mission and objectives of WONCA. I have learned and benefited much personally from working with the different Executive Committee Members and Presidents and I admire their dedication and commitment to WONCA.

My final report to WONCA executive outlines activites from 2001-2012.
CEO Final report October 2012.pdf

I will be failing in my duty as the CEO if I do not state here, my and especially WONCA’s deepest appreciation and gratitude to the two very loyal and hardworking Singapore Secretariat staff, Ms Yvonne Chung and Ms Gillian Tan. All these years, they have given their best, and sometimes more than their call of duty to the Organization in ensuring that the administrative and accounting aspects of the WONCA have, at all times, been efficient and reliable. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with such dedicated staff.

Yvonne Chung, WONCA Administrative Manager - well known to many colleagues for her calm and efficient assistance always given willingly and a with a smile - seen here with Dr Naidu of Fiji

Gillian Tan, WONCA accounts executive, also always ready with a smile

Finally, I wish WONCA every success in the many endeavors and challenges ahead and to thank all past and present Executive Committee Members and Presidents for their friendship, advice and cooperation during my term as Chief Executive Officer. I will also take this opportunity to wish every one of you good health, happiness, and fulfillment in all you do in your professional role as family doctors.

Kindest regards to all
Alfred Loh
WONCA CEO ( 2001 – 2012 )

Note: Dr Loh will be contactable at his current email address (ceo@wonca.com.sg) during the transition period should you need information on the past work of the Singapore Secretariat.