international Council of nuRSES (ICN)
Who they are
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a global federation of national nursing associations representing more than 130 countries worldwide. Founded in 1899, ICN is the world’s first and largest international organization for nurses, dedicated to advancing the nursing profession, strengthening health systems, and advocating for the wellbeing of nurses and the people they serve. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ICN works closely with global partners—including the World Health Organization—to champion nursing leadership, influence international health policy, and promote equity, safety, and quality in care across all regions of the world. Through its advocacy, research, and global collaborations, ICN ensures that nurses’ voices are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
Why this matters
For nursing students, early-career nurses, and seasoned practitioners alike, ICN offers a platform for global networking, sharing best practice, influencing policy, and being part of a collective voice in health care.
For national nursing student organisations (like yours at the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association — CNSA), aligning or participating with ICN activities can strengthen connections, highlight national issues within a global context, and increase visibility of student perspectives in global nursing debates.
Given your work (nursing student advocacy, bilingual campaigns, health equity, nursing shortage) ICN provides a relevant global frame: issues like the nursing workforce, migration, migration of internationally-educated nurses, health equity, gender and nursing—all are part of ICN’s remit. For example, in its monthly update ICN highlighted nursing workforce data as a global imperative.
The ICN SECN Alliance & Canadian Representation
What is the SECN Alliance
The ICN Student & Early Career Nurse (SECN) Alliance is a global network created by the International Council of Nurses to amplify the voices of nursing students and early-career nurses in international policy, leadership, and advocacy. The Alliance brings together emerging nurse leaders from every world region to share perspectives, influence ICN priorities, and ensure the next generation of nurses shapes the future of global health.
Each ICN Congress hosts a dedicated SECN Student Assembly, where student delegates from around the world gather to learn, collaborate, and hear presentations from each country’s SECN representative on national priorities, challenges, and innovations. Through this structure, the SECN Alliance strengthens leadership development, global solidarity, and the meaningful inclusion of student voices in the highest levels of nursing governance.
Canada’s Role and the Canadian Rep
Canada is represented within the ICN Student & Early Career Nurse (SECN) Alliance by Ankur Patel, who serves as the Canadian SECN Representative and acts as a bridge between global ICN initiatives and the Canadian nursing student community.
Through the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA), Canada’s official member of ICN and the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA), nursing students and early-career nurses in Canada are connected to international dialogue on education, workforce issues, equity, and professional development.
The SECN Alliance engages in assemblies, working groups, and policy discussions, with representatives reporting on key topics such as transition to practice, burnout, mobility, and global nursing challenges, as seen at the 2025 ICN Student Assembly. For Canadian students, this representation means meaningful access to global leadership opportunities and a platform to share Canada’s perspectives while learning from emerging nurse leaders around the world.
ICN Congress 2027 (Taipei, Taiwan)
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) will hold its next global Congress from July 8–11, 2027, in Taipei, Taiwan, hosted by the Taiwan Nurses Association. This biennial event brings together thousands of nurses, students, researchers, and health leaders from around the world to share knowledge, highlight innovations, and discuss major issues shaping the future of nursing and global health.
Each Congress includes the Student & Early Career Nurse (SECN) Global Assembly, where students from many countries meet, learn, and hear updates from each nation’s SECN representative. For Canadian nursing students, the 2027 Congress is a unique opportunity to connect internationally, present their work, and strengthen Canada’s voice in global nursing leadership.
