MSF INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL PRESIDENT (ICP)

7 and 8 June 1990

International meeting of MSF sections:

• Decision to have a rotating presidency between sections for MSF Europe Council.

• MSF Belgium designated to chair MSF Europe until end of the year.

2 July 1990

MSF European Council meeting:

Endorsement of MSF Belgium’s declaration of intent to set up MSF Europe.

15 November 1990

MSF International Council Meeting:

Agreement on terms of reference of international presidency:

• Appointed for a six-month period

• Right and duty to take initiative, and may delegate responsibilities

• MSF International spokesperson

• Must maintain inter-section cohesion (visit sections)

• Must take on the necessary management resources to allow a certain amount of free rein; also

• Coordinating and motivational role, which requires a high degree of availability.

February 1991 – January 1992

Rony Brauman, President of MSF France, to be President of MSF International.

January 1992 – August 1992

Reginald Moreels, President of MSF Belgium, to be President of MSF International.

26 June 1992:

MSF International Council Meeting:

Decision is taken to strengthen role of President of the International council and of International Secretary regarding implementation of decisions taken in Melun.

August 1992 – February 1994

Rony Brauman, President of MSF France, to be President of MSF International.

February 1994 – February 1995

Jacques De Milliano, General Director of MSF Holland, to be President of MSF International.

February 1995 – June 1996

Doris Schopper, President of MSF Switzerland, to be President of MSF International.

June 1996

MSF International Council Meeting:

International President and International Secretary tasked with organising working groups and making proposals on:

• MSF structure

• MSF movement rules

• International council role

June 1996 – September 1997

Philippe Biberson, President of MSF France, to be President of MSF International.

September 1996

Letter from International President and International Secretary to international council proposing the underpinning of the international nature of MSF by restructuring the international council.

31 January 1997

MSF International Council Meeting:

International reform:

• International council enlarged to 19 entities with equal voting rights and creation of a Restricted Committee composed of presidents of six to eight sections plus the International council President.

• Setting up position of International council President:

o to be elected for a two-year term by a 2/3 majority of IC

o to be a paid full-time position

o to represent the movement and foster international development of MSF

o to have the right and duty to initiate policy within the leadership framework of the International council and the restricted Council

September 1997 – June 1998

As no candidate ready to commit to presidency for two years, Doris Schopper, President of MSF Switzerland temporarily elected as President of MSF International and tasked with identifying candidates for the presidency.

Required qualifications:

• Be a doctor of medicine

• Four years’ field experience with MSF

• English and French speaker

• Available for at least three days a week

January 1998

MSF International Council Meeting:

Agreement on the definition of ICP’s role and nomination procedure.

June 1998

MSF International Council Meeting:

James Orbinski elected as International Council President.

Odysséas Boudouris from MSF Greece and Morten Rostrup from MSF Norway elected as IC Vice-Presidents.

10 December 1999

James Orbinski, MSF President, gives acceptance speech at Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.

10 June 2000

MSF International Council Meeting

Motion deciding that IC president should be chosen from among IC members.

Morton Rostrup elected international president, takes up duties in December 2000.

26 September 2002

ICP Morton Rostrup discussion paper on ‘MSF and its unhealthy growth’.

November 2002

Morton Rostrup resigns from his MSF Norway presidency to dedicate more time to his international council president activities.

21-23 November 2003

MSF International Council Meeting:

Rowan Gillies elected international president, takes up duties in and his position in early 2004.

25-27 June 2004

MSF International Council Meeting:

Rowan Gillies proposed resigning over feeling powerless to reduce tensions in the movement. Resignation refused and IC commitment to strengthen support.

June 2005

‘What is La Mancha process’: memo from ICP Rowan Gillies.

24-26 June 2005

MSF International Council Meeting:

The international council votes a resolution stating that ‘the international council president should be a medical or paramedical and be an elected board member of an MSF section’.

22 October 2005

MSF International Council Board Meeting:

ICP mandate should be for at least three years.

September 2005

Rowan Gillies’ memo on ICP role.

11 March 2006

MSF International Council Meeting:

Rowan Gillies insists on vice-president being elected and sharing workload with the president.

July 2006

Christophe Fournier elected international council president, takes up duties in December 2006.

2-3 December 2006

MSF International Council Meeting:

Endorsement of international council vice-president (ICVP) position’s terms of reference.

23-24 June 2007

MSF International Council Meeting

Anneli Eriksson elected and to dedicate 50% of her time and to be in charge of specific topics.

9 December 2009

MSF International Council Meeting:

Unni Karunakara elected international president, takes up duties in June 2010.

28 June 2013

MSF International General Assembly

Joanne Liu elected international president.