Sciana: The Health Leaders Network An initiative bringing together outstanding health leaders in Europe to problem-solve future challenges for health and wellbeing.  

About the programme

Sciana: The Health Leaders Network is an initiative bringing together outstanding leaders in Europe, which is dedicated to the joint exploration and collective problem-solving of future challenges for health and wellbeing.  

The Sciana Network offers its Fellows a systems leadership programme for health and wellbeing, including health care.  

The network supports cross-country and interdisciplinary connections, innovation and collaboration. It inspires Fellows to grow through experimenting with new approaches, exploring ways of pushing boundaries and building strong alliances.  

The Sciana Network offers time for reflection and collective support to think ahead on the big issues facing our health systems and their leaders today, as well as in the future. 

The programme brings Fellows together to question their understanding of leadership to foster systems change. It advocates asking uncomfortable questions and gives courage to deliver change where needed.     

The Sciana Network is supported by a partnership between the Health Foundation (UK), Careum Stiftung (Switzerland) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Germany) in collaboration with Salzburg Global Seminar. 

The Sciana Network consists of a two-year residential and online programme focused on systems leadership for health, cross-health systems exchange and future health challenges. Further network activities are offered to all Fellows to allow for continued active engagement beyond the initial programme.  

The programme seeks to prepare fellows in three domains of systems change leadership through the following ways:  

• System insights on future challenges for health systems: Encouraging reflection, analysis and experiences of complex systems change; supporting opportunities for cross-boundary collaboration strategies; and developing a collective vision. 
   
• Collaborative leadership competencies: Exploring value-based forms of leadership that support quality improvement in health services and promote health, wellbeing, equity and inclusion; developing mindsets and skills for horizontal leadership in uncertain times. 
   
• Cross-boundary community building: Fostering a trusting and collaborative community within Sciana; supporting networking and collaboration across its fellowship and influential health system organisations; and a culture of peer support across all fellows of the network. 

The network is for mid-to-senior level leaders who are primarily living and working in one of the three countries of the founding partners. It has up to 18 members in each cohort, with six members selected by each foundation from the UK, Switzerland and Germany. 

Invitation to apply

We are now inviting applications from mid-to-senior level leaders from the UK to join the seventh cohort of the Sciana Network beginning in May 2025.  

The theme for cohort 7 is ‘Systems leadership for population health in times of scarcity’.  

We are looking for leaders who can catalyse and empower collective action among actors, organisations, and coalitions for systems-level change in health.  

Over the two-year programme, Fellows chosen to join Cohort 7 will exchange strategies, pioneering work, innovations, and bold ideas in their work across Germany, Switzerland and the UK towards advancing population health.  

Fellows will incubate and experiment with new cross-boundary collaborations during the programme through an applied leadership project called the Sciana Challenge.  

They will be supported by programme co-leads, Sir David Behan and Mary Helen Pombo, who will work closely with Sciana Advisors and the network’s three partner foundations: The Health Foundation, Careum, and the Bosch Health Campus.  

Time commitment  

Due to start in May 2025, the two-year systems leadership programme will include four residential meetings in Salzburg, Austria, at Schloss Leopoldskron, home of Salzburg Global Seminar.  

Tentative dates for cohort 7 meetings in Salzburg are: 

• Residential Meeting 1: 13 - 17 May 2025 
• Residential Meeting 2: 25 - 29 November 2025 
• Residential Meeting 3: 17 - 21 May 2026 
• Residential Meeting 4: 8 - 12 November 2026 

Note: These dates include travel time to and from Salzburg. On the first day, participants arrive in the evening and on the last day participants travel back home in the morning. The programme takes place over three days. 

Fellows will be required to attend all four of the three-day gatherings.

How to apply  

If you are interested in applying, please find further information about the Sciana Network, cohort 7 theme, the selection criteria, frequently asked questions and how to apply by visiting the Sciana website.

We encourage people of all genders, races/ethnicities, and people with disabilities to apply. The Sciana Network values diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create an inclusive community of health care leaders from different backgrounds who bring unique perspectives to the table. 

The deadline for applications is 30 June 2024.   

We will be responding to applications between September and October 2024. If you are selected for the next application round, you'll be invited to an online interview with representatives from the foundations and Salzburg Global Seminar.  

If you have any questions about the Sciana Network, please see the FAQs or contact Sciana Programme Manager, Charlotte Müer, cmueer@salzburgglobal.org 

If you have any questions about the UK application process, after reading the selection criteria and the FAQs, contact ruth.thorlby@health.org.uk