IWBI launches global network of advisors to advance human health and equity in cities

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) recently announced the launch of its inaugural WELL City Advisory, which will explore ways to support local governments worldwide in demonstrating leadership on advancing health and well-being across their buildings, organizations and communities. The WELL City Advisory is the newest to join a set of IWBI Advisories, and the first IWBI Advisory to identify and scale strategies that can be used by city leaders to help achieve this vision, recognizing the critical role local government leaders can play in protecting and enhancing human health.

Working in partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC) and informed by this newest Advisory, IWBI will work to design and shape strategies to encourage cities to demonstrate leadership and address health, safety, resilience and equity challenges, while promoting well-being. Volunteering for this inaugural effort, more than 50 experts from nearly 20 countries joined the advisory bringing deep expertise across public health, sustainability, engineering, design, architecture, policy and urban planning.

The advisory will be led by a group of distinguished co-chairs representing diverse backgrounds in the public and private sector, including mayors of several cities around the world. The complete list may be found in the IWBI announcement.

The WELL City Advisory will provide feedback on strategies that can help cities take action and demonstrate leadership in advancing health, well-being and social equity in everything from municipal buildings to public spaces and from programs to policies. During its one-year term, the advisory will also identify tools that will enable city leaders to effectively implement leadership actions on health and recommend key metrics and awards for measuring progress and recognizing sustained leadership over time.

IWBI is working to meet cities where they are. The WELL City Advisory is a diverse group of experts who understand the design, function and operations of municipalities, big and small, local and global. The advisory will help develop a framework, tools and coaching to allow cities to weave human health, equity and well-being into their DNA. We’re grateful to this tremendous group of leaders for joining with us today at such a critical moment to reimagine the future of cities and the significant role they play in enhancing, improving and protecting human health.

Rachel Hodgdon, president and CEO, IWBI

We know how the leadership actions of cities can reverberate across communities and countries. The WELL City Advisory will help guide IWBI’s programmatic direction and support our goal to empower cities and municipalities around the world to lead by example, offer equitable solutions and implement strategies that can scale worldwide. We’re thrilled to have such accomplished co-chairs leading the charge.

Jason Hartke, executive vice president, External Affairs

Along with the 10 WELL Concept Advisories, IWBI Research Advisory, WELL Equity and WELL Homes Advisories, the WELL City Advisory joins a network of nearly 300 experts from over 35 countries across various professions.

In standing up these Advisories, IWBI has gained valuable input on solutions to health and well-being concerns, best practices for localization, case studies to fill research gaps and potential areas for innovation when developing new pathways, ratings and opportunities to make healthier places accessible to everyone, everywhere.

For more information about the new WELL City Advisory, visit the IWBI website.