Global Heart Hub Team Spotlight: Olive Fenton
Olive Fenton started working with Global Heart Hub in March 2021 as our Senior Executive on Development Initiatives. Based in Switzerland, near Geneva where she has resided for the past eleven years, Olive is originally from Ireland and speaks English, French and Irish.
Following an extensive career of leadership positions in the Biopharmaceutical industry, mostly related to cardiovascular disease, Olive recognised that her passion closely aligned to patient advocacy work and the supporting role her experience and knowledge could play in this industry. “I was drawn to GHH because it is such a dynamic organisation, committed to a mission of improving outcomes for people with lived experience of heart disease. It has been very fulfilling to apply my skills and experience to supporting GHH to drive meaningful change in global heart health,” says Olive.
A highlight of working with Global Heart Hub for Olive has been the development and execution of the Unite Annual Summit, “Particularly the 2023 edition, which was held in-person for the first time. Seeing initiatives that I developed successfully come to fruition is incredibly rewarding and the Summit was a prime example of this. The energy and collaboration before and during the event were truly inspiring, culminating in the creation of a powerful and comprehensive Manifesto on the early detection and diagnosis of heart disease. This Manifesto has the potential to drive significant change in global healthcare, and being a part of that achievement is something I am immensely proud of,” says Olive.
Olive’s advice to people looking to work with patient organisations and advocates is by getting involved, you help ensure that healthcare systems are more empathetic, inclusive and effective, ultimately leading to better outcomes for all. “Patient organisations offer a unique opportunity to drive transformation in healthcare elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Working with patient organisations allows you to be part of a movement that ensures patients are not just recipients of care, but active partners in shaping healthcare policies, practices and research. It’s a chance to contribute to a cause where real-life experiences influence decisions that directly impact people’s lives,” says Olive.
Outside of work Olive loves to spend time with her two children, the eldest has started his career in London, and the youngest is studying in Sydney, so time together is precious. Together with her husband they enjoy exploring Switzerland, which is a beautiful place to live and a great base location for visiting the rest of Europe. Olive also likes to support community projects whenever she can – she is currently involved in a zero-waste campaign and a food bank project. Well done, Olive.
Thank you, Olive, for your work with Global Heart Hub. Learn more about our team here.
