Global social work Federation's Secretary General departs

The International Federation of Social Workers, based in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, has announced the departure of its secretary general, Dr Rory Truell, after fifteen years leading the global body.

President Joachim Mumba said the executive brought the contract to a close following a prolonged period of ill health, with Truell’s last day on 31 May. Dr Pascal Rudin has stepped in as interim secretary general to keep operations steady across the federation.

The body represents 141 national social work associations and more than three million practitioners across six regions, which makes its secretariat one of the largest leadership roles in the membership world. Recruitment for a permanent successor is expected to follow.

For association leaders, the relevance is continuity. The federation named an interim chief officer at once and signalled stability to members while it plans the next steps, a practical reminder of the value of a tested succession plan.