A charter member and one of the driving forces behind the establishment of our International Association for Adolescent Dr Bennett has served as the IAAH President, Past President, and Regional Vice President. With his colleagues in Australia he was instrumental in organizing the Australian Association for Adolescent Health which sponsored the highly successful 1987 conference in Sydney. That conference saw the launch of IAAH, set the benchmark for youth participation at our conferences and gave rise to the first IAAH newsletter. He is responsible for the design of the IAAH logo, successfully negotiated with the World Health Organization to have IAAH receive official NGO status and, during his tenure on Council, he has overseen the organization of IAAH’s conferences in Montreux and Vancouver. Dr Bennett is an engaging speaker, a committed chronicler of IAAH’s history, and author of several popular texts on contemporary approaches to adolescents. His many efforts on behalf of adolescent health in Australia was recognized by his receiving the Australia Order.

DR ROBERT BLUM

Dr Blum’s contributions to the international field of adolescent health antedate the establishment of IAAH. In his own country he has provided academic leadership including serving on the Board of the Society for Adolescent Medicine and a term as its President. His program at the University of Minnesota has received WHO Collaboration status and has provided training and support to many members of IAAH. He has pioneered the epidemiology of adolescent health and population-based adolescent health research in countries such as Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain, and Portugal have benefited from the support of Dr Blum and his colleagues in Minneapolis. Always a presence at international conferences on adolescent health he regularly contributes to the discussions and is a highly sought after presenter. In 2001, in Salvador Brazil, he gave the inaugural Herbert Friedman Memorial Lecture. Dr Blum’s breadth of experience, intellect, wisdom, and high energy levels have been a constant source of support and inspiration for all those members of IAAH who have sustained the struggle to promote Adolescent Health. Their own efforts, be they at the national, regional or international level, have benefited from Bob Blum’s mentorship.