Isabel Mestres, CEO of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), shared on LinkedIn:
“Too much travel, cost and pollution? Too many talks and too little action? The same people saying the same things?
That is a fair perspective, but it is not mine. Let me explain why I go. Perhaps I can convince you and I will see you there next year.
Because cancer cannot be addressed in isolation!
Cancer outcomes are shaped by gender, poverty, climate, urbanisation, financing, technology, access to medicines and the strength of health systems. In New York, I can meet government leaders from the countries and cities where we work, listen directly to their priorities, learn from people working across these wider agendas, and understand how we can connect better.
I can also connect with current and prospective partners, sometimes even visiting their headquarters, meet with several C/Can Board members and, yes, perhaps recruit someone talented to join the team. All in one trip. Quite cost-effective, I would say.
As CEO of C/Can, my role is to ensure that our city-led cancer work is connected to the broader systems shaping people’s health. Meanwhile, the C/Can team is working on the ground, alongside cities and health systems, where commitments are turned into action and change becomes real.
The one thing I regret about being in New York is missing the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong. Attending both would have meant even more travel, carbon emissions and exhaustion.
But my team will be there, bringing C/Can’s deep technical and implementation expertise to the global cancer community across many sessions – Check C/Can Session at WCC. If you are planning to attend UNGA in New York or the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong next week, please reach out to me or my team.
See you there!”
You can also read ‘ACS Global Is Heading to the World Cancer Congress 2026‘
