Since April 2009 Joanna Milek has been the General Secretary of the CIOMAL Foundation, succeeding Suzanne Hofstetter, whose Deputy she had been since 2006.

Born in Poland, Joanna went to Switzerland in 1995 to pursue studies in economics. In 2005 she gained a masters degree from the University of Fribourg. She went on to complete her PhD thesis there too in 2006, which attracted the 2005 Bourse prize.

Photo © CIOMAL Foundation


Throughout her studies, Joanna had been volunteering for the Swiss Hospital Service of the Order of Malta. Joanna is proud to be part of a Foundation that is dedicated to treating, protecting and supporting marginalised members of society. CIOMAL’s programmes seek to reduce the stigma of leprosy by restoring dignity to those who are affected by this disease and helping them to regain their independence through occupational training or the development of small businesses. When she first visited Cambodia to see CIOMAL’s work, she was impressed by how much difference could be made to someone’s life through these measures, which can be implemented at such little expense.

With her experience of multitasking, voluntary work, co-ordinating humanitarian assistance to Poland, liaising with donors and beneficiaries, her wide ranging interests and her ability to solve problems logically and analytically, Joanna is well placed to provide administrative and strategic support to CIOMAL’s work in the coming years.

Recently Joanna told the ILEP Secretariat: “Leprosy has been known since biblical times and is still prevalent in many parts of the world. However, although we do not know much about it, leprosy is curable and the genetic decoding of the Mycobacterium leprae bacillus in 2000 has raised hopes for the future.”

Contact: joanna.milek@ciomal.ch 

Categories: Members