Dear colleagues,

I am honored to be appointed Chair, IBE Western Pacific Regional Executive Committee and thank the IBE members for voting for me.

We must develop closer relationships in the region and I will work hard to coordinate IBE activities, identify regional issues and to raise epilepsy awareness. Regional Executive Committee colleagues and I will build on the excellent work of previous executives.

We acknowledge and thank the outgoing committee, Dr Hidemoto Kubota, Dr Andrew Pan and Dr Yuan-Fu Tseng for their work which increased epilepsy awareness and provided education over the last four years.

Congratulations to Dr Tseng on his election to Vice Chair which will ensure continuity and add value to our new team because of his experience. Congratulations also to Denise Chapman, Joint Epilepsy Council of Australia (IBE Australian Member) and Epilepsy Australia’s Executive Officer. She will bring considerable expertise to the Secretary’s role.

Australia will host the 8th Asian & Oceanian Epilepsy Congress in Melbourne 21-24 October 2010 and this event will provide another great opportunity to increase community awareness of epilepsy to change attitudes and reduce stigma.

Australia must develop closer relationships in the region to link east Asia with the pacific.

Increasing community awareness of epilepsy is critical to changing attitudes and demystifying the condition. Stigma will only be overcome by a solid public education program.

The Regional Executive Committee will work hard to coordinate IBE activities, organisese forums, increase membership, identify significant regional issues and build on the work of previous executives to continue to raise epilepsy awareness in the region.

Kind regards,

Robert Cole
Chair, IBE Western Pacific Regional Committee
Chair, IBE Editors Network
rcole@epilepsycentre.org.au
rcole@jeca.org.au