President's Message

Professor Carolina Olano, President of the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO)

It is with great honor, sincere gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility that I assume the Presidency of the World Gastroenterology Organisation. I begin this journey with profound respect for the distinguished leaders who have guided WGO over the years, and with appreciation for the unwavering dedication of our Governing Council, our member societies, our global partners, and the countless colleagues and volunteers who have built and sustained this remarkable organization. Their leadership, vision, and commitment have laid the foundation for our continued growth.

We stand today at a pivotal and inspiring moment for global gastroenterology and for our organization. Rapid scientific advancement, new educational paradigms, evolving healthcare challenges, and the imperative for equitable access to care call upon us to respond with creativity, collaboration, and purpose. At the same time, we are mindful that we operate in a world of finite financial resources, which requires us to prioritize wisely, innovate responsibly, and ensure that every initiative delivers real value and lasting impact. The strength of WGO has always resided in its truly global spirit — uniting regions, sharing knowledge across cultures, fostering professional development, and supporting clinicians and patients in every corner of the world.

Over the next two years, our work will be shaped around four central pillars — Belonging, Excellence, Sustainability, and Transparency (BEST).

Belonging – strengthening inclusion, community, and engagement across our member societies and the global gastroenterology community.

Excellence – advancing high-quality education, training, innovation, and clinical care through modern, accessible, and impactful programs.

Sustainability – ensuring the long-term financial strength, institutional stability, and operational resilience of WGO, developing responsible funding models, strengthening partnerships, and investing wisely in programs that guarantee continuity, impact, and growth.

Transparency – reinforcing trust, accountability, and open, transparent governance throughout all aspects of our work.

As a first and essential step, we will focus on developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan to guide WGO over the coming years. This plan will be forward-looking, inclusive, pragmatic, and firmly anchored in our mission and values, ensuring that our programs, partnerships, governance, and financial structure are aligned with a strong and sustainable future.

This will be a time of shared effort, constructive dialogue, and collective ambition. I warmly invite our members, partners, and colleagues to join us, contribute ideas, and work together as we continue to build a stronger, more innovative, more inclusive, and truly global WGO.

Thank you for your trust. Together, we will shape what comes next.

– Carolina Olano