Newsletter

Welcome to our July Newsletter, where we celebrate the people, partnerships and achievements that continue to shape healthy ageing across the Commonwealth. This edition honours the outstanding leadership of our Chair, Femada Shamam, recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, and welcomes Professor Denise Eldemire-Shearer and Dato’ Bindi Rajasegaran to the CommonAge Board of Directors. We congratulate Dr. Renu Varughese’s on the successful Graduation Ceremony for students of the Skill Training Programme and Certification Course in Gerontology, at TERCA. Commonwealth partnerships through our involvement with IFCO, including the appointment of our Director, Ann Keeling, to the IFCO Steering Committee, and stand united in raising awareness on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026. We are also delighted to welcome new members to the CommonAge family, whose expertise and commitment will strengthen our collective mission. Together, these stories reflect the collaboration, innovation and compassion that continue to drive meaningful change for older persons across the Commonwealth

Welcome to Our April Newsletter! 

As we reflect on the first quarter of 2026, it is clear that momentum continues to build across the Commonwealth in advancing the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of older people. This quarter has been marked by significant collaboration, strategic leadership appointments, international advocacy, and recognition of the outstanding individuals driving change across our network.

2025 was a dynamic and milestone year for CommonAge.
From launching a new website to spark digital engagement, to forging powerful partnerships with HelpAge
International and India’s Home Management & Care Givers Sector Skill Council, our work gained fresh momentum across
continents.
We brought bold ideas together at the Living Well – Ageing Well Innovation Roundtable in London, supported global
knowledge exchange at the IFA Global Conference, and expanded our footprint with new chapters in Zambia, Mozambique,
and Namibia.
With the launch of Commonwealth Ageing with Creativity & Technology (CW ACT) and a strong presence at the
Ageing Australia National Conference 2025, CommonAge continued to connect people, ideas, and innovation for ageing
well worldwide.

As 2025 unfolds, we are proud to share a vibrant quarter of achievements, collaborations, and global impact from across the Commonwealth. This edition of our newsletter highlights the many ways CommonAge is amplifying the voices of older people, fostering innovation, and strengthening partnerships to advance healthy, dignified ageing worldwide.
From the inspiring participation of our 2025 bursary recipients at the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) Conference in Cape Town, to the launch of three new Chapters in Namibia, Mozambique, and Zambia, this quarter has demonstrated the power of leadership, advocacy, and collaboration across borders. We also celebrate the formal partnership between CommonAge and HelpAge International, designed to enhance our collective impact on older persons throughout the Commonwealth

CommonAge – July 2025 Edition
This quarter, the Commonwealth witnessed strong progress in advancing ageing equality—from innovation roundtables in London to grassroots action in Nairobi. A standout moment was the Marlborough House roundtable, where a bold £50 million fund was proposed to scale healthy ageing solutions, especially in lower-income regions and Small Island States.

We welcomed new Board members—Ann Keeling (UK), Darren Birbeck (Australia), and Anthony Kupferschmidt (Canada)—whose expertise strengthens our mission.

June also saw impactful World Elder Abuse Awareness Day campaigns across Country Chapters. As we head toward the IFA Global Conference in Cape Town, with new leaders stepping up, our collective momentum and unity have never been stronger.

In this month’s newsletter, we celebrate historic leadership transitions, global advocacy wins, and inspiring local initiatives across the Commonwealth. From the appointment of the Commonwealth’s first African woman Secretary-General to momentum on a UN treaty for older people’s rights, progress is in motion.

Welcome to Our Annual Newsletter!
As we bid 2024 goodbye, we are excited to share the highlights, achievements, and milestones we’ve reached together.

Our Team went to CHOGM 2024 to promote our objectives at the various events that took place. Additionally, the “Ageing Well in the Commonwealth – A Roadmap for Healthy Ageing Across the Life Course: 2024–2030” was launched by Dame Carol Black.

September marks the long-awaited launch of the ‘Report on Dementia in the Commonwealth.’ By 2030, Dementia will affect 75 million people globally, with a new case every three seconds. Nearly 40% of cases can be prevented, yet it remains the 7th leading cause of death.

Find out how we’ve created great outcomes in Cameroon, our thoughts on the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing and we introduce our exclusive member badge.