Leaders in ageing services from more than 20 countries gathered in Boston for the 2025 Global Ageing Network Biennial Conference and LeadingAge Annual Meeting, a convergence of mission, learning, and innovation. Centered on the theme “Ripples of Impact,” the week-long event underscored how collaboration across borders fuels lasting change for older adults and those who care for them.

A Global Start

The experience began on 31 October with site visits, where international attendees toured three pioneering Boston-area organizations: Lasell Village, the first university-based retirement community in the U.S.; Orchard Cove, a resident-led, wellness-focused community affiliated with Harvard Medical School; and the Leonard Florence Center for Living, home to advanced ALS and MS care using the Green House® model. Each stop demonstrated how design, technology, and person-centered culture can transform care.

The next day, the Global Ageing Network Summit gathered experts from around the world, including Joseph Coughlin (MIT AgeLab), Emi Kiyota (National University of Singapore), and others, to explore longevity, technology, and global policy. Discussions highlighted AI’s potential to humanize care, strategies to strengthen the longevity economy, and the urgency of sustainable, person-centered systems worldwide.

As the joint conference opened on 2 November, Vic Rayner, chief executive of the U.K.’s National Care Forum and board chair of the Global Ageing Network, co-hosted the event alongside Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge and executive director of Global Ageing Network. Together, they welcomed participants with a message that reflected both optimism and urgency.

Rayner built on that message, highlighting the strength of the global network and the importance of seeing ageing services as an interconnected movement rather than a collection of isolated systems.

Throughout the week, International Perspectives education sessions showcased comparative insights from Australia, China, India, Kenya, Belgium, and beyond. Topics ranged from community-integrated care and age-friendly urban design to global workforce pipelines, data sharing for quality improvement, and AI ethics in social care—demonstrating how diverse systems can inspire common progress.

Research and Ideas in Motion

The Ageing Commons, which debuted in Glasgow in 2023, was back and brought research to life through interactive poster zones and daily flash panels. Themes spanned dementia care & cognitive function, technology in long-term care, workforce strategies, and wellness & quality of life, featuring innovations like brain-healthy diets, telehealth decision tools, and sustainable care models from around the world. “The Ageing Commons showed what’s possible when research becomes a shared dialogue,” noted Rayner.

On the main stage, keynote speaker Chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, presented live from Jamaica, where he and his team remain, feeding Jamaican residents in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Andrés reflected on leadership through service: “A plate of food can be the fastest way to bring comfort, dignity, and hope”.

As attendees departed Boston, the message was clear: collaboration drives transformation. “Hope precedes action, which leads to impact,” said Sloan. “The challenges ahead are enormous—but so are the possibilities, especially when we move forward together.”

If you are interested in sharing your ideas and innovations with the LeadingAge community, the 2026 LeadingAge Annual Meeting Call for Sessions is open until 8 December. Click here to learn more and submit a proposal to speak in Philadelphia, PA.

Interested in becoming a Global Ageing Network member? Members receive access to and discounts on education opportunities year-round. You also have access to a growing coalition of peers in elder care. Visit the website to learn more about membership.