On Jan. 1, 2016, HealthBridge became the secretariat for the Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control (FCA).

FCA played an instrumental role as civil society’s representative at the creation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and today has nearly 500 member organizations in more than 100 countries. HealthBridge and FCA have collaborated on numerous projects over the years.

The Secretariat moved after former FCA Director Laurent Huber stepped down from his role. Francis Thompson is FCA’s new Executive Director, following five years as the organization’s head of policy.

Francis and two other FCA staff have worked out of the HealthBridge office in Ottawa since 2010.

“I’m very happy to be hosting such an accomplished global civil society alliance,” said HealthBridge Executive Director Sian FitzGerald. “We’re really looking forward to working together on various issues, including the health targets established in the Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted in 2015,” she added.