The Power to Influence – Actors, Actions, and Approaches
Presenter(s): Julie Byles
Co-presenter(s): Margaret Gillis, Susana Concordo Harding, Silvia Perel-Levin, Jaco Hoffman, David Sinclair

The mission of the ILC Global Alliance (ILC GA) is to help societies address longevity and population ageing in positive and productive ways. Our approach is to consider ageing from individual and population perspectives, taking a whole of life approach. We highlight older people’s productivity and important contributions to family and society. We also strive to protect human rights of older persons, and to promote health and social care and protections for older people. The global alliance members carry out their mission through developing ideas, undertaking research, creating fora for debate and action, and advocating for the interests of older people at local, national and global levels.

In this Masterclass, ILC Presidents will share their insights into how they influence policy, perspectives and practices at these different levels. Silvia Perel-Levin and Margaret Gillis will relate the long and winding journey towards a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older persons and ILC GA’s important role as a Civil Society Organisation in influencing policy at a global level. They will provide insights and skills for operating with the various structures on the UN, including the Human Rights Council and associated mechanisms and committees. At a regional level, Jaco Hoffman will discuss the development and influence of the African Union Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing.

At a National level, David Sinclair will discuss how ILC UK aids the UK parliament in considering policies on ageing, as well as ILC UK’s broader influences on ageing across the globe. At a local level, Julie Byles and Susana Harding will discuss respective actions in Singapore and in the Hunter Region of Australia to bring the needs of older persons to the centre of decision making by local governments. The workshop will reflect on the importance of operating on global, regional, national and local levels to advocate for ageing policies that benefit older people and to ensure local actions deliver those benefits.

For each level of influence, there will be a brief presentation showcasing ILC GA experience and influence, with deconstruction and discussion of the actors, actions, avenues and approaches that were taken to respond and negotiate emerging issues. Participants will then be encouraged to work through real life examples of current local, national and global issues where Civil Society Organisations could provide positive influence to improve policy and practice for older persons. They will then be guided through possible actions, how to gain support, avenues for communication and advocacy, and mechanisms to monitor the outcomes and impacts of their actions.

Learning objectives:

• To IDENTIFY different decision-making, governance structures and actors, and their roles in improving the experiences of people as they age.
• To PRACTICE skills in communicating across different structures and networks.
• To ENGAGE with tools and methods for assessing older people’s needs and to feed into priority setting activities.

Expected outcomes:

Knowledge of governance structures, methods for responding to emerging issues, and confidence in advocating in the interest of older people.

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Brain Health and Cultural Enrichment: A Dialogue on the African Experience
Presenter(s): Rayne Stroebel
Co-presenter(s): Kirti Ranchod

In this masterclass, Dr. Kirti Ranchod and Dr. Rayne Stroebel engage in a profound conversation exploring the intricate relationship between brain health and cultural enrichment within the African context. Drawing on their research and experience, they explore cognitive well-being, healthy ageing and the role of cultural heritage in supporting brain health. Neurologist Dr Ranchod shares insights on the neurological impacts of cultural activities, while gerontologist Dr Stroebel discusses the implications for ageing populations. Together, they examine how traditional African art forms and contemporary cultural expressions contribute to cognitive vitality and emotional well-being. This masterclass offers a comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between culture and brain health, providing valuable resources for healthy ageing strategies in Africa and globally.

Themes to be discussed:

• Impact of Art on cognitive, emotional and behavioural skills
• Framework for understanding cultural resources to support brain health and healthy ageing
• Challenges and opportunities of working across cultural knowledge systems
• Research and policy initiatives

Outcomes

• Measure impact
  • Pre- and post-session feedback from participants to determine change in perception, knowledge, and actions taken
  • A potential follow-up online masterclass with participants to determine any specific changes made or actions taken after the masterclass
• Develop a working group focusing on cultural resources to support brain health and healthy ageing.
• Design a framework on cultural resources for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers working in healthy ageing.

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