Day 4: Showcasing Young Voices and Celebrating a Week of Collaboration | 16 July 2026
The fourth and final programme day of the 12th International Children’s Advisory Network (iCAN) Summit 2026 at Barretstown, County Kildare, Ireland. Throughout the morning, participants also had a final opportunity to visit the Summit’s sponsor and partner exhibition tables while completing their iCAN passports and strengthening connections with organisations supporting paediatric research and patient engagement.
A key highlight of the morning was the Chapter Poster Presentations, during which Young Persons’ Advisory Groups (YPAGs) showcased their work, initiatives, and achievements. The presentations celebrated the diversity of the international iCAN community and demonstrated the important contribution that young advisors make to research, healthcare, and patient advocacy across their respective countries.
Participants also explored how ideas can be translated into meaningful action during an interactive session led by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The programme continued with the World Children’s Day nominations, recognising the importance of children’s voices and contributions to improving research and healthcare worldwide.
Building on the collaborative work undertaken throughout the week, participants proudly presented the outcomes of their Activity of the Week projects. Introduced by Derick Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of the Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD), the presentations highlighted the creativity, teamwork, and innovative ideas developed by both the KIDS and Young Professionals’ Network (YPN) teams, demonstrating the value of international collaboration among young advisors.
One of the afternoon highlights was the “Ask the Experts” Career Panel, moderated by Federico Këser (TEDDY KIDS Network), a member of the KIDS Summit Planning Committee. The panel brought together Suja Somanadhan (KIDS RAiN, YPAGs in TEDDY KIDS NETWORK), Amy Jayne McKnight (Queen’s University Belfast), Ikechukwu Okafor (Children’s Health Ireland), and Lorraine Dillon (Community Healthcare Network Manager), who shared their professional journeys and encouraged participants to pursue future careers dedicated to improving children’s health, research, and healthcare.
The closing session also celebrated outstanding contributions from the iCAN community. The Irish chapter, KIDS-RAiN, received the Excellence in Advocacy Award, recognising the group’s commitment to patient advocacy and meaningful engagement. In addition, KIDS-RAiN member Brian O’Connell received the Voice of Inspiration Award, honouring his leadership, dedication, and advocacy for children and young people living with rare diseases. The Summit concluded with inspiring reflections hosted by Aaisha Seddika Muminah (TEDDY KIDS Network) and Brian O’Connell (KIDS-RAiN).
The host chapter expressed pride in witnessing young advisors confidently share their experiences, lead sessions, and build meaningful relationships with peers from around the world. The Summit also reinforced the importance of continued investment in initiatives that enable children and young people to actively shape the future of paediatric research and healthcare.
The final presentation of the iCAN Roadmap, developed by children and young people throughout the Summit, represented a powerful conclusion to the week providing a shared vision for the future and reaffirming that meaningful youth engagement is essential to achieving progress in children’s health research.