Global Top 30 Improvers Awards

Join us in celebrating 30 years of the International Forum with the Global Top 30 Improvers Awards.

Enter one of five categories recognising outstanding individuals and teams driving change and shaping the future of healthcare.

Nominations are open until 5 January.

In 2026, Europe’s largest healthcare improvement conference, the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, celebrates its 30th anniversary – three decades of bringing people together to learn, share, and improve care across the world.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re launching the Global Top 30 Improvers Awards – recognising 30 individuals and teams who are leading change and shaping the future of healthcare improvement.

Join us in honouring those improving safety, equity, and patient experience – and shaping the future of care.

The top 30 will benefit from:

  • Global recognition and promotion at our awards ceremony at our 2026 International Forum in Oslo.
  • Increased visibility for projects, work, and teams.
  • Networking opportunities with peers and leaders at the International Forum in Oslo.
  • Join a worldwide network of people driving real change in health and care - and share your story with an international audience.
  • The final winner for each category will receive a complimentary place to attend the 2027 International Forum.

Individual Award Categories

Rising Star

 For early-career leaders making their mark in quality and safety.

Inspirational Story Award

For an individual whose quality and safety journey has moved others and sparked change.

Compassionate Leadership Award

For leaders who demonstrate kindness, humility, and resilience.

Team award Categories

Best Cross-Organisation Collaboration

For quality and safety projects that work across boundaries, sectors and/or countries.

Patient and Community Engagement Award

For quality and safety initiatives co-produced with patients, carers, or communities.

  • What’s the process for submission and judging?

    Step 1: Complete your submission here.

    • Submissions can be made in the form of a written narrative (max. 750 words) or another creative format that clearly tells the story via a form submission.
    • Each submission must specify its category.
    • Each project may only be entered once, and individuals/teams can only enter one project per category. If you have an additional project that you would like to enter for another category, it is fine to do so.
    • Submissions may include supporting materials such as data, stories, testimonials, or tools developed as part of the work.

     

    Step 2: Once the submission of entries closes, our expert judges will shortlist all submitted entries. Each category will have six shortlisted teams or individuals.

    Step 3: All submitters will be notified of their result.

    Step 4: All shortlisted submitters are invited to attend the International Forum in Oslo on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 March 2026, at a discounted rate. Please note that for team entries, two representatives will be invited.

    Step 5: The top 30 Shortlist will be announced across our website, socials and to all attendees.

    Step 6: International Forum Oslo attendees will have the opportunity to vote on the Top 30 Improver shortlist onsite. Our expert judges will review all votes to help them determine the winner for each category.

    The winner for each category will be announced at the Global Top 30 Improvers awards ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, 10 March, during the evening reception at NOVA Spektrum.

    The final winners will be promoted across the International Forum community and receive a complimentary place to attend the 2027 International Forum.

  • What's the timeline?

    *Now*: Submissions open!

    5 January 2026: Closing Date for Submissions

    End January 2026: Shortlisting and Results: All submitters will be notified of their result.

    Early February 2026: The deadline for shortlisted submitters to confirm their attendance at the International Forum in Oslo is early February.

    Early February 2026: The top 30 Shortlist will be announced across our website, socials and to all attendees.

    10 March 2026: Onsite voting takes place and the winner for each category will be announced at the Global Top 30 Improvers awards ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, 10 March, during the evening reception at NOVA Spektrum.

  • Who can submit?

    Individuals or teams working to improve the quality and safety of care in any health or care setting, anywhere in the world.

    Nominations may come from colleagues, leaders, patients, partners, or from the improvers themselves. We welcome submissions from all roles and disciplines, whether you are leading a major programme or driving change at the point of care.

    Submissions should show:

    ✓  Tangible impact: evidence of improvement in care, outcomes, or experience.
    ✓  Collaboration: working with others across boundaries, disciplines, or communities.
    ✓  Inspiration and leadership: leading change from wherever you stand.
    ✓  Sustainability and learning: ensuring improvement lasts and spreads.
    ✓  Equity and inclusion: giving voice to people and communities often unheard.
    ✓  Reflection: sharing lessons, not just successes.

  • Will I be able to attend the International Forum in Oslo?

    The top 30 shortlisted submitters will receive a discounted rate to attend the International Forum in Oslo on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 March 2026. Please note that for team entries, two representatives will be invited.

Our Expert Judges

Impact Analytics

Pierre Barker

Chief Scientific Officer, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI); USA

Pierre leads IHI’s commitment to use effective improvement science methods to achieve its mission of improving health and health care worldwide. Dr. Barker oversees IHI’s cutting-edge innovation, design, and learning activities, ensuring that we maximize the opportunities for impact and that practical improvement methods and tools are accessible to all who seek to improve health and health care. He has extensive experience in designing effective health improvement interventions across a variety of health systems and economies, and has worked closely with the World Health Organization to help develop a global implementation strategy to improve quality of care for mothers and newborns. He attended medical school in South Africa and has practiced pediatrics for more than 30 years in South Africa, UK, and US. Before joining IHI, Dr. Barker was Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of University of North Carolina (UNC) Children’s Hospital clinics. He has extensive experience in basic, clinical, and implementation science research and is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the Maternal and Child Health Department at Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill.

 

Impact Analytics

Christina Krause

Chief Executive Officer, BC Patient Safety & Quality Council; Canada

Christina Krause is the Chief Executive Officer of the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council and an Adjunct Professor, School of Population & Public Health, Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Her interests include the use of social change models and network theory in efforts to engage and mobilize stakeholders, as well as the role of culture, teamwork and communication to advance quality of care. Christina is an EXTRA Fellow with the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, a member of the Board for the OSNS Child & Youth Development Centre, and a member of the Board Quality Committee at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice

 

Impact Analytics

Ian Leistikow

Inspector and Professor, Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate / Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management; Netherlands

Ian Leistikow is inspector at the Dutch Health & Youth Care Inspectorate and professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam where he conducts and supervises research into ‘governmental regulation of health and care quality’. He is a non-practicing physician. In 2011 Ian became member of the Program Advisory Committee of the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare. Ian is board member of SINC, an international collaboration of European health and care regulators. Ian teaches and publishes about patient safety and the role of regulation. In 2017 CRC Press published his book “Prevention is better than cure”, on learning from adverse events in healthcare.

Impact Analytics

Gabrielle Matthews

Co-chair of the Lived Experience and Communities Panel; UK

Gabrielle is a multi-award-winning children and young people’s health advocate. A long-term patient, she role models the inclusion of patients in strategic decision-making as a member of the NHS Assembly. She sits as an Oversight Board member to the Research and Economic Analysis for the Long term (REAL) centre at the Health Foundation. She is a member of the General Advisory Council at the King’s Fund. Her advocacy work extends beyond healthcare; She is a board member of the #iwill movement and a trustee of UK Youth, an organisation that supports over 7000 youth organisations and collectively reaches 4.1 million young people. Gabrielle is an academic foundation doctor in North Central London with an interest in co-production and power in both research and policy development. Her current thinking is focused on individual and systems leadership and how we can equip and mobilise all health care professionals to lead with and for kindness.

Impact Analytics

Jamie Smyth

Co-Chair, Next Generation Advisory Panel, Public Health Registrar, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; England

Dr. Jamie Smyth is an emerging leader in public health, blending clinical insight with a passion for system-wide improvement and leadership development. Currently a trainee in specialist public health and alumni of the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellowship (2022/23), Jamie has already influenced medical leadership across multiple platforms. He served as Deputy Chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership & Management (FMLM) Trainee Steering Group, co-founded the Aspiring Leaders in Healthcare network, and hosts the FMLM podcast focused on healthcare leadership and equity. Jamie is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of health professionals and believes in the power of multi-generational collaboration to tackle complex health challenges and reduce inequalities.

Please read our Terms & Conditions before submitting.