We are proud to celebrate the election of two GPI members, Saara Thakur and Genevieve Haupt Ronnie, to the ISPCAN Distinguished Advisory Council, a global body that guides efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect worldwide.
Saara brings her long-standing commitment to strengthening parenting support systems and connecting research, policy, implementation, and funding communities. In this role, she aims to elevate the evidence and innovations emerging from the Global Parenting Initiative and ensure parenting remains central within global violence prevention efforts.
“I am most looking forward to contributing to ISPCAN’s strategic thinking on how the network can convene and support partners in practical and useful ways, beyond the annual congress, including improving knowledge exchange, supporting national priorities, and the needs of stakeholders”- Saara Thakur.
Gen’s appointment reflects her deep involvement with ISPCAN through workshops, presentations, and her expertise in community-of-practice development. She will provide strategic advice on parenting within child protection, contribute to discussions on ISPCAN initiatives such as regional hubs (including the Africa hub), and help expand the Council’s global reach — while not being directly involved in establishing these hubs.
“I’m excited to contribute insights from seven years of work in this field. I also look forward to leveraging networks, especially in Africa, to strengthen ISPCAN’s initiatives and to sharing lessons and approaches from the Global Parenting Initiative to enhance global efforts in child protection”- Genevieve Haupt Ronnie.
Both Saara and Gen expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with global experts, shaping ISPCAN’s strategic direction, and strengthening partnerships that advance safe, nurturing environments for children worldwide.
