As Chair of the IFTDO Executive Board, I wish to extend my compliments and special thanks to you all. IFTDO is a federation of organisations affiliated as a Non-Governmental Organisation with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and other international bodies. With your active support and involvement we have had numerous successes for the success of its activities to advance our profession, our countries and the world in addressing our challenging social and economic problems. Our conferences have made important contributions. The IFTDO Global Human Resources Development Awards have been instituted to recognise high performing and innovative organisations. Our strategic planning has been effective. The IFTDO Board has just initiated two new committees. Tayo Rotimi, Nigeria, will head a new Committee on Developing Countries to replace the earlier Research and Projects Committee. Former IFTDO Chair and Treasurer, Ebrahim Al'Dossary, Bahrain, will lead the Resources Committee. Both committees will work to increase our support of vital efforts to promote Human Resource Development (HRD) solutions worldwide to address pressing economic, social and environmental problems.

IFTDO has been steered by my worthy predecessors and partners. The members of the Executive Board devote considerable time on a voluntary basis to make IFTDO what it is. I must place on record my appreciation for all of them. My special appreciation goes to Ray Bonar, Ireland, who served as the outgoing IFTDO Chair during very challenging times and to our former President, Dr. Irernusz Tomczak who led a memorable conference in Warsaw, Poland in 2011. I follow a long line of very able leaders who have made important contributions to the organisation new initiatives to make us a viable and energetic body that is actively representing our member organisations in many forums concerned with organisation and people development.

                                                                                                                           " Bob Morton, 2011-2013 IFTDO Chair"