Fouzieh Eliassy, RDH, BSc

President

Fouzieh Eliassy is a graduate of Jönköping University and President of the Swedish Dental Hygienist Association. She is an accomplished healthcare executive and dental hygienist with more than 20 years of experience in the public sector. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership positions at local, regional, and national levels, including serving as Head of Clinic. She also serves as an Executive Board Member of a union organization, contributing to strategic governance, organizational development, and professional advocacy. She has extensive experience in leading organizational change, developing high-performing teams, and driving initiatives that enhance quality of care, patient safety, and operational excellence. Recognized for her collaborative and strategic leadership, she fosters innovation, interdisciplinary partnerships, and evidence-based practice while supporting research and continuous improvement. A committed advocate for the dental hygiene profession, she is passionate about developing future leaders, mentoring colleagues, and advancing opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and sustainable healthcare development.

Sharon Friedman Yaniv, RDH, MHA

IFDH President-Elect

Sharon Friedman Yaniv is a dental hygienist and senior professional leader with 30 years of experience across clinical practice, professional governance, advocacy, and public health. She holds a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and a Master’s degree in Health and Business Administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

At the national level, Sharon has served as President and CEO of the Israeli Dental Hygiene Association and as Editor-in-Chief of its professional journal for more than a decade. She also serves on the Advisory Committee on Dental Hygiene at the Israeli Ministry of Health, contributing to policy discussions and the continued development of the profession.

Sharon was elected IFDH President-Elect in 2026, following terms as Vice President and Secretary. For over a decade, she served as a delegate to both the IFDH and the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF). Her work focuses on strengthening professional leadership, promoting innovation and collaboration, and advancing the role of dental hygienists as health promoters within healthcare systems and communities globally.

Cole Gilbert RDH MSc(c)

IFDH Vice-President

Cole Gilbert is a leading clinical dental professional, educator, and advocate for professional governance in oral healthcare. He currently serves as the President of OHASA and represents dental hygiene, therapy, and assisting as a Board Member of the HPCSA. Based in Cape Town, Cole is the Head Oral Hygienist at SVL Dentistry and a sessional clinical lecturer at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He is currently pursuing a Master's degree focusing on technology acceptance in clinical practice. A champion for dental innovation, Cole is dedicated to elevating the oral hygiene profession globally by advocating for advanced clinical workflows, education, and the integration of modern digital and therapeutic technologies.

President, Oral Hygienists Association of South Africa (OHASA) Board Member, Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

Miranda Steeples MSc, Grad Dip DH & DTh, AssocFCGDent

Miranda has worked in dentistry for many years, both as a dental nurse, and now as a dental hygienist and dental therapist. She qualified from the University of Leeds, UK, in 2009 and works in general practice in the South-East of England. In her spare time, Miranda completed an MSc at the University of Kent, and enjoys volunteering for Mini Molars Cambodia providing dental care to children.

She is the Council Representative for dental hygiene and therapy for the College of General Dentistry; a member of the coordinating committee, Alliance for a Cavity Free Future UK Chapter; Honorary Ambassador for the Mouth Cancer Foundation and is the President of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, 2022-2024.

Loes Velthoven-Verlinden, MSc

Secretary

Loes Velthoven-Verlinden is dental hygienist and an experienced healthcare leader, educator, and board executive with a strong track record in strategic leadership, health policy, and professional advocacy. She currently serves as President of the Dutch Association of Dental Hygienists (NVM-mondhygiënisten), where she is responsible for the organisation's strategic direction, policy development, and financial governance. Before she started as the dutch president, she was a lecturer in the Oral Health Care programme at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, where she supervised graduation research and contributed to the development of postgraduate education. With a Master's degree in Innovation in Health and Wellbeing and further education in strategy and policy within a political environment, Loes combines academic expertise with extensive practical experience. She is recognised as a decisive and innovative leader, a strong communicator, and a trusted collaborator with an extensive national and international network in healthcare. Passionate about improving healthcare through innovation, education, and collaboration, she is committed to creating sustainable impact for both professionals and patients.