On 27 December 2010 IPPF European Network lost one of its former Presidents

IPPF European Network is very sad at the passing away of its former Regional President (1993-1996) David Nowlan. His commitment to the area of family planning started in Ireland where he was a longstanding volunteer of the Irish Family Planning Association. From there he started his long and fruitful volunteer work with IPPF as a member of the then Central Council (1980-1995) and took positions in Europe as an Ordinary Member of the REC (1995-1996); then Regional Vice President (1987-1992) and finally Regional President.

He will be remembered as a good person who was committed to humanitarian issues. His skills as a wordsmith were invaluable on many occasions when IPPF governing bodies needed to write resolutions, always finding just the right words and nuances to get everyone on board.  He was an excellent chairman; certainly his ability to speak plainly and his sense of humour got us through some tough times during Regional Council meetings.  He didn't take himself too seriously, but took our issues very seriously.  He was a very supportive Regional President and someone who knew very well how to handle the relationship between staff and volunteers.  In fact, on one occasion, using his experience from his 'day job' (a theatre critic and medical correspondent for the Irish Times), he made the remark that IPPF should see the difference between staff and volunteers in the same light as amateur and professional actors - the volunteers were the amateurs, people who gave their time when they could because they loved it and the professionals (or staff) were the people who were so committed they worked at it all day, every day. 

We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.