In this conversation with Jerome Fontana we explore some of the fundamental aspects of humanitarian leadership and commonalities that has helped him navigate a 22 year career throughout some of the worlds most war torn areas for the international Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
Mr Jerome Fontana is the new Head of the ICRC delegation in Cairo. Since joining the ICRC in 1998, Mr Fontana has worked in thirteen different countries (Rwanda, India, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, China, Palestine, Bangladesh, Nepal, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Switzerland). Initially he worked as a protection delegate and then as a program coordinator before receiving higher responsibilities in the management of all ICRC operations and security in various countries. Mr Fontana is experienced in supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and national authorities diverse humanitarian fields, including on migration topics and the promotion of international humanitarian law in their respective countries. Mr Fontana holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and a business degree from the Oxford Said Business School. He is married and has three children.
In this conversation we examine:
· What ICRC does to mitigate and foster positive mental health in these worn torn countries both amongst affected people and staff
· Jerome's personal battles with mental health and how he navigates and fosters positive mental health in his own life.
· How Jerome found working as a detention delegate in some of the most hostile countries in the world.
· The importance of situational awareness both on a day-to-day local basis and a regional basis.
· The fundamental principles of ICRC; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality and what the interplay is between neutrality and influence with authorities or actors that may be in regions that ICRC want to work in.
· How ‘sweating the small stuff’/attention to detail helped his day-to-day work.
· What Jerome has learnt about leadership through your different appointments through multiple missions in war torn countries.
· How mental fortitude and focus been imparted to Jerome and how he instils that within others.
· The change in mindset and approach to his own mental health over the past 10 years.
I hope you enjoy the conversation with a truly engaging and insightful guest.
