I welcome the opportunity to introduce myself to the readership of the IFCC eNewsletter. I am honoured to have been elected to serve as your next President and I looking forward to the opportunity and challenge with enthusiasm.

Who am I?

I am 60 years of age. I am married to Judith and I have two grown up sons Richard (Management Accountant) and James (Orthopaedic Surgeon). I live in a 160 year-old farm cottage in the countryside, just to the north of Glasgow in Scotland. Apart from my family my hobbies are Scouting (I have been a member for >50y), gardening and support for Liverpool football club.

I was trained (BSc and PhD) in biochemistry at the University of Liverpool before becoming an academic in steroid biochemistry at the University of Glasgow. I switched to healthcare service provision in the UK National Health Service (NHS) and became consultant clinical scientist to create and take charge of the Scottish Endocrine Laboratory based at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. I gained Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) and became clinical lead for a large multi-site network department of clinical biochemistry that currently performs >15million tests each year. This laboratory is fully accredited to ISO 15189 standards with Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd.

I am a member of the Diagnostics Steering Group for the Scottish Government Health Department and I am also a professional advisor on laboratory medicine to the Government Department of Health in England.

I am a registered clinical scientist with the Health Professions Council in the UK and I am a registered European Specialist in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine

I have published >170 peer reviewed research articles in biochemical endocrinology and evidence-based medicine.

I have served as Chairman and President of the Association for Clinical Biochemistry (ACB) in the UK.  I have also served as Vice President of the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and as Chair of the UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UK NEQAS) for clinical chemistry.  At international level I have been secretary of the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EC4) and chair of the IFCC Congress and Conference Dvision. I was secretary of the committee that organised the IFCC Congress in London in 1996 and chair of the organising committee for EuroMedLab 2005, which was held in Glasgow.

I have been fortunate to receive a number of honours. These include: the ACB Foundation Award; the FESCC European Distinguished Clinical Chemist Award; the EC4 Distinguished Officer Award; Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; and Commander of the Order of the British Empire from the Queen for services to medicine.

What do I Hope to Achieve as President?

The elections in Fortaleza resulted in a strong Executive Board with excellent geographical distribution. There is also the benefit of continuity of involvement of the current President (Jocelyn Hicks), Secretary (Paivi Laitinen), Treasurer (Ghassan Shannan) and Member at Large (Joseph Lopez).  Taken in conjunction with the talented and effective leadership of the IFCC Divisions, Committees and Working Groups my first task should be readily achievable. That is to create and develop a harmonious team that can address the current and future roles and responsibilities of IFCC and to do so with ability, enthusiasm and commitment. I will use the analogy of a symphony orchestra. I don�t pretend to be able to play all of the instruments in the orchestra but I do believe that I can stimulate skilled specialists to work together to make beautiful music!

My manifesto was developed after consultation and listening over a six month period. In summary it comprises building on the many good things that IFCC already does whilst also making the organisation more professional, transparent and respected in the wider international healthcare community. I would like to encourage many more clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine professionals to get involved with IFCC activities. To do this, my manifesto was built around five themes:

Theme 1: IFCC will work with its National and Corporate Members to lead innovative projects of international significance:
�  Expand the programme of scientific projects in areas related to quality standards,  harmonization, standardization, evidence-based practice and knowledge management
�  Collaborate with relevant international clinical organizations to develop and promote best practice guidelines for the investigation of metabolic and molecular disease
�  Introduce a campaign to promote the contribution of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine to healthcare. This will include use of the �Labs Are Vital� programme and a focus on an increasingly informed public and patient-centred care

Theme 2: IFCC will increase targeted support to its National and Corporate Members:
�  Expand the use of educational programmes to support developing communities to  improve quality, management and accreditation in laboratory medicine practice
�  Organize and promote international and regional congresses and specialist scientific meetings to support professionals in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine
�  Share good practice procedures (e.g. through the use of LEAN and environmental audit)

Theme 3: IFCC will improve communication with National and Corporate Members:
�  Invest in and maintain a modern, professional website as the centrepiece of IFCC communication. Link this website to all relevant stakeholders
�  Introduce a dynamic electronic �forum� as a facility for immediate communication
�  Provide regular news items and reviews in a format that facilitates inclusion in the newsletters and journals of Regional Organizations and National Societies
�  Value the contribution of Corporate Members on scientific and practice issues

Theme 4: IFCC will encourage increased local decision making and programme delivery:
� Develop the role and responsibility of Regional Organizations as a means to involve more practitioners in the work of IFCC. Provide the resources to facilitate this action
� Increase opportunities for National and Corporate Members and Regional Organizations to input to IFCC strategy, programme content and delivery
� Create a culture and forum to enable the sharing of best practice across all IFCC operations. This will enable the Executive Board to complement the work of, and share responsibility with, National and Corporate Members and Regional Organizations

Theme 5: IFCC will be more transparent in its operation and more accountable to its membership:
� Publish an annual report and audited annual accounts
� Improve the corporate governance of IFCC and provide evidence of value for money
� Consult with National and Corporate Members and Regional Organisations to agree performance targets and audit outcomes
� Provide an opportunity for National and Corporate Members to meet with Executive Officers at least one each year

Although this programme appears ambitious, we are starting from a high baseline, and the current Executive Board has already addressed several of these matters.  I anticipate that the next annual report will show good progress against this programme together with the development of more specific objectives and action points.

How Much Time Can I Commit to IFCC?

I took a long time reaching the decision that I would run for President. That was because I was not willing to take on an important role unless I could commit the time that it deserves. Having been elected I have decided to retire from my consultant director role in Glasgow but to continue on a part-time basis as professional advisor to the UK government. I should have at least two days a week to dedicate to IFCC and I am confident that this will be sufficient.

How Can You Contact Me?

I am keen to engage with as many clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine individuals as possible. My mind and my email inbox are always open to new suggestions and constructive criticism. Contact me at g.beastall@googlemail.com
Tributes:

I should like to pay tribute to those members of the Executive Board who have completed their terms of office for they have left the organization in good health and so made my job relatively easy. Thanks go to Vladimir Palicka, Daniel Mazziota, Michael Thomas and Norbert Madry. Jocelyn Hicks has been an inspirational President and I look forward to working with her as Past President, benefiting from her wisdom and experience. My final tribute must go to Mathias Műller who has been �Mr IFCC� for more than ten years. Like everyone else connected with IFCC I owe �MMM� respect and sincere appreciation for all that he has done to make IFCC what it is today.