Global Heart Hub founder, Neil Johnson, recognised by World Heart Federation for a three-decade career spanning community cardiovascular care in Ireland to a global patient network reaching more than 28 million people worldwide.
Following a 32-year career as Chief Executive of Croí, the heart and stroke charity (croi.ie), during which time he also led the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (nipc.ie), Neil went on to found and lead an international heart patient organisation, Global Heart Hub (globalhearthub.org).
9 October 2026 – Neil Johnson has received the 2026 World Heart Federation Advocacy Award in Cardiovascular Health, recognising more than three decades of work to improve cardiovascular health in Ireland and internationally.
The award was announced at the World Heart Federation’s World Congress of Cardiology in Brazil on 8 October. It recognises an individual who has made a notable contribution to strengthening advocacy for cardiovascular health at local, regional and global level. It also recognises a career defined by sustained leadership, collaboration and a commitment to strengthening the role of people with lived experience in shaping cardiovascular health.
Johnson’s career has taken cardiovascular advocacy from community-based action in the West of Ireland to a global patient movement reaching more than 28 million people worldwide. He has made a lasting contribution to prevention, rehabilitation, health promotion, patient advocacy and healthcare innovation. Johnson’s work has consistently focused on improving cardiovascular health and ensuring that the voices of people living with or affected by cardiovascular disease are heard.
For over 32 years, he served as Chief Executive of Croí, the Heart and Stroke Charity, where his work helped advance cardiovascular prevention, rehabilitation, health promotion and patient advocacy. In 2014, he established the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health (NIPC), a not-for-profit research and education institute, established in collaboration with the University of Galway.
In 2019, Johnson founded Global Heart Hub, which has grown into a global alliance of almost 170 cardiovascular patient organisations across 44 countries, with a combined community reach of more than 28.7 million people. The network brings cardiovascular patient organisations together to strengthen the collective voice and leadership of people living with and affected by cardiovascular disease.
Professor David A Wood, Honorary Professor of Preventive Cardiology, University of Galway; Director of Science, Strategy and Implementation at the National Institute for Prevention and Cardiovascular Health, said:
“Neil leads with conviction because he is passionate about prevention of cardiovascular disease and, through his creation of the Global Heart Hub, he has become a leading international advocate.”
Accepting the award, Johnson said:
“I am deeply honoured to receive this award from the World Heart Federation and to have this work in cardiovascular advocacy recognised in such a way. I am incredibly proud of what the Croí, NIPC and Global Heart Hub teams have achieved. Our vision is to continue building a stronger, more united voice for people with lived experience of cardiovascular disease, ensuring that they are recognised as equal stakeholders in healthcare and that their insights and knowledge play a meaningful role in research, shaping healthcare policies, and the development of healthcare systems. This award is both an honour and a motivation to keep pushing for change.”
The award comes at an important time for cardiovascular health in Ireland and across Europe, with the EU’s first-ever cardiovascular health plan, the Safe Hearts Plan, providing a new framework for action on prevention, early detection, treatment and care. With Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union until the end of 2026, there is a unique opportunity to build momentum for cardiovascular health and ensure that the voices and experiences of people living with and affected by cardiovascular disease remain central to this work. Global Heart Hub is working with its network of patient organisations across Europe, seeking to ensure that all countries have a national cardiovascular health strategy.