The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition appoints Alex Filicevas as first-ever Executive Director

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition has appointed Alex Filicevas as the organisation’s first-ever Executive Director. He comes with great experience working in a cancer patient organisation and in policy; and takes up his position from October 2019.

Alex Filicevas comes from his previous role in the largest cancer patient umbrella organisation in Europe, the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), where he led advocacy and policy initiatives, capacity building and stakeholder partnerships. He speaks four languages and has lived in five countries, which brings international experience to a truly global patient organisation. Together with the Board and the President Ken Bagshaw, he will be leading the organisation to become a powerful global voice for people affected by bladder cancer.

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition’s mission is to:

• Foster an international community of people affected by bladder cancer;
• Advocate for access to the best possible bladder cancer information, support, and care;
• Build alliances with health professionals, policy makers, academics, researchers, and industry.

“We are delighted that Alex has accepted our offer of the position as Executive Director. He brings passion for serving the interest of bladder cancer patients, drawing on the considerable experience he gained at ECPC in building strategic alliances in the health industry, in supporting member organisations to build their capacity and in establishing positive working relationships with stakeholders. His earlier work as a consultant to public and private clients in the areas of policy and advocacy development adds another key element to his professional experiences. His recruitment is a key milestone in the growth of our young and dynamic organisation, and I am confident that Alex will lead this organisation to ensure that bladder cancer is on the global health agenda.” said Ken Bagshaw, bladder cancer patient and President of WBCPC.

The need to raise the global voice of people affected by bladder cancer is critical – and for the first time ever, people affected by bladder cancer now have a global voice. Approximately 430,000 people are newly diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer around the world each year;ⁱ and globally, there are 2.7 million people who are currently living with bladder cancer.ⁱⁱ