Co-chairs Ban Ki-moon and Heinz Fischer, CEO Monika Froehler, and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation Team were pleased to travel to Paris, France, for its Board Meeting and a series of high-level engagements, with a particular emphasis on SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being. Over a course of several days, the BKMF engaged with key partners and institutions to advance dialogue with a special emphasis on brain health and its growing societal relevance.

Kicking off the engagements on 15 January 2026, BKMF Co-chair Ban Ki-moon delivered welcoming remarks at the World Brain Health Forum at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The inaugural forum convened leading experts and senior decision-makers for a strategic exchange on the scientific and societal dimensions of brain health. In his address, BKMF Co-chair Ban Ki-moon highlighted the far-reaching relevance of the issue: “Brain health is not just a medical issue. It is a societal, economic, and strategic imperative. The combination of brain health and brain skills is central to sustainable development, economic security, and thriving democracies.”

On the margins of the forum, BKMF Co-chairs Ban Ki-moon and Dr. Heinz Fischer, together with BKMF CEO Monika Froehler, met with Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO. They congratulated Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO, on his confirmed nomination, and spoke about the importance of UNESCO’s global initiatives, especially for global citizenship education and their relevance for peace. They also complimented him on the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, one of his key initiatives as Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.

Later that afternoon, together with members of the BKMF Board, they visited the Paris Brain Institute to experience its groundbreaking work first-hand. Organized by United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety and BKMF Board Member Jean Todt, the visit provided deep insight into the Institute’s pioneering research. Founders and leading scientists presented their work on normal brain function and epilepsy linked to differences in brain development, before guiding the delegation through the historic Charcot Library.

On the same day, BKMF Co-chairs Ban Ki-moon and Heinz Fischer, together with CEO Monika Froehler, met with Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council and former Prime Minister of France. Their discussions focused on Europe’s need to strengthen its collective voice and engage more effectively on the global stage as a major economic and political actor.

On 16 January 2026, at the Institut de France, BKMF Co-chair Ban Ki-moon delivered opening remarks at the roundtable “A Call for Action on Brain Health,” alongside Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, and H.E. Philippe Baptiste, French Minister of Higher Education and Research. The roundtable summarized the outcomes of the World Brain Health Forum, with a particular focus on how to implement the results in practice.  Reflecting on the critical interface between science and policy BKMF Co-chair Ban Ki-moon underscored the need for collective action: “Science alone cannot deliver this change. Policy alone cannot succeed without evidence. What we need right now are partnerships for the goals between scientists, decision-makers, and investors guided by ethics, inclusion, and long-term vision.”

At the Institut de France, BKMF Co-Chairs Ban Ki-moon and Heinz Fischer and CEO Monika Froehler came together with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). The meeting addressed the current geopolitical situation, forcing difficult staff and program reductions at the WHO.

After the engagement at the Institut de France, United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety and BKMF Board Member Jean Todt hosted a BKMF Board Members’ lunch at the restaurant Guy Savoy. The lunch was a great opportunity for the Board Members to reconnect and exchange views.

In the afternoon, the BKMF Board Meeting 2026 took place on the 24th floor of the Zamansky Tower at Sorbonne University, offering an extraordinary view of the city of Paris. The Board reviewed and celebrated the impactful work of 2025 across the BKMF’s key portfolios, including climate action, education, and the empowerment of women and youth. The 2026 work program, budget, and development strategy were also formally adopted. A special highlight of the meeting was the signing of an MoU with our esteemed partner, Dubai Cares.

After the BKMF Board Meeting, Sorbonne University awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa to BKMF Co-chair Ban Ki-moon. He was deeply honored to receive such an outstanding recognition from one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. He also highlighted the importance of Sorbonne University in preparing global citizens with knowledge and a sense of responsibility and declared: “Our education systems need to be transformed to empower socially responsible global citizens who act with passion and compassion. I know that I can count on Sorbonne University to bring this vision to life every day.”

All engagements in Paris reinforced the BKMF’s mission to advocate for the SDGs and furthermore underscored the vital link between policy and science.  The BKMF looks forward to advancing our work on brain health, as reflected in the recent signing of the MoU with the Paris Brain Institute and the Vascular Brain Health Institute in Paris.

Look at all pictures from the BKMF’s engagements in Paris here.