Welcome

EVIE O’BRIEN

Executive Director of the Atlantic Institute

It is my pleasure to present the “Annual Review” (2019-20) for the Atlantic Institute. As Executive Director, I am humbled to lead and be part of a global community of extraordinary changemakers who together are accelerating the eradication of global inequities for fairer, healthier and more inclusive societies.

In 2019, the Atlantic Senior Fellows community became fully formed, with cohorts of Senior Fellows from all seven Atlantic Fellows programs around the world joining the global community. It was a watershed year of many firsts: the inaugural Atlantic Senior Fellows Global Convening held at Rhodes House, Oxford; the Atlantic Senior Fellow Awards; and the awarding of our first Atlantic Fellows Learning and Connection Grant. The Institute also curated smaller gatherings for Senior Fellows, with particular highlights being the thematic forum “Crossing Borders: Effects of Displacement on Health”, in Jordan; and the workshop “Changing the Leadership Narrative: Social Change and Values-based Leadership”, facilitated in partnership with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

In February 2020, the global pandemic swept the world, resulting in countrywide lockdowns to try to curb the spread of the disease and death rates in communities already impacted by inequities. We witnessed extraordinary leadership qualities in our Fellows, staff, colleagues and community as they responded to this crisis —

LEFT At the Senior Fellows Global Convening 2019: Amanda Brosnan, Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity US +Global; with Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in Southeast Asia Noraida Abdullah Karim (on far left) and Borwornsom (Ack) Leerapan (in the middle)

“In 2019, the Atlantic Senior Fellows community became fully formed, with cohorts of Senior Fellows from all seven Atlantic Fellows programs around the world joining the global community.”

whether on the front lines in hospitals, or in looking after their communities, or through providing virtual support. Atlantic Fellows and staff told harrowing stories about the effects of the virus on their work to advance health, social and economic equity, as they pivoted to provide rapid responses and emergent practice.

COVID-19 has revealed and continues to expose existing inequities across the world. The entire body of Fellows and staff, which crosses many borders and disciplines, shared a renewed sense of common purpose and commitment to equity in trying to combat the worst impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities. The effects of the virus are felt differently across the world, but this global crisis has been a catalyst for deep connection and solidarity. There has been increased engagement between Fellows on the Hub, and connections forged through Global Zoom Calls and the “(K)new World Reimagined” webinar series. Fellows have also collaborated on grant applications to deliver solutions in these unprecedented times.

COVID-19 has also had a significant impact on the Institute, as staff juggled the personal and professional challenges associated with this pandemic and shifted to working from home, like so many others. Initially designed to be primarily focused on providing face-to-face engagement, the Institute team worked hard to support the community with virtual offerings to allow Fellows to continue connecting, collaborating and working toward achieving impact. The challenge for the Institute team was to provide a different approach urgently. In this time of “unknown unknowns”, of course there was frustration at times. I am incredibly proud of how they pulled together, despite the stresses, working extraordinary hours in emerging and new areas of practice. This time of significant learning for staff and the Institute will strengthen our offerings and the community moving forward.

In 2020, the Institute underwent a strategic realignment process to refine our vision, mission and strategic goals. To create a new organizational structure and staffing profile, four existing leadership positions were disestablished and new positions have been created aimed at: • Increasing our capacity and excellence in community building and creating a system for meaningful connection and influence;

• Increasing capacity and excellence in programming for narrative change, shaping policy and the generation of new ideas;