Ilona Kickbusch


"It is evident that ageing in today’s society has changed radically during the last century. As people live increasingly longer, healthier lives, our understanding, expectations, and institutions will need to be revised. Longevity and heightened productivity and quality of living later in life are natural desires on the level of the individual and indeed are characteristic of a better and sustainable society."

Demography and Ageing

World Ageing & Generations Forum St. Gallen

Ilona Kickbusch was the chairperson of the World Ageing & Generations Congress from 2002 to 2012. The aim of the World Ageing & Generations Forum was to address important topics related to demographic change and its effect on the labour market and social security, on health issues, on the development of new products and markets and on changing lifestyles in society. This global, multi-stakeholder and interdisciplinary platform reinforced a sense of common purpose of the many stakeholders affected by and concerned with different dimensions of demographic change.

The Forum now continues under new leadership: www.wdaforum.org

From 2008 to 2012 she was a visiting professor at the University of St. Gallen HSG and taught courses on issues related to the interface of the health society and the ageing society.

Ilona Kickbusch was a member of the Philips Think Tank on Aging well which engaged in challenging society to re-image aging.The Think Tank developed an Ageing Well Framework.

Ilona Kickbusch also served on the Global Agenda Council on Demographic Shifts which was established by the World Economic Forum and convened some of the most innovative and relevant minds to capture the very best knowledge and integrate it into global collaboration and decision making processes. For more information see: www.weforum.org.

In Switzerland she served on on the jury of the EULEN AWARD – a prize for community based active ageing projects in Switzerland organized by the Foundation Generationplus.