The International Federation for Family Development (IFFD) announces an important leadership transition that will take place this January: Javier Vidal-Quadras, who has served with dedication and vision as Secretary General, will pass the baton to Jorge Correa, who will assume the role and continue guiding IFFD’s mission of strengthening families around the world.
Honoring the Service and Legacy of Javier Vidal-Quadras
Javier’s first contact with IFFD came through FERT in 1990. Invited by some friends, he took part in a family enrichment course. He openly admits that he joined “without much enthusiasm”. However, the experience turned out to be far more engaging and meaningful than he had expected.
The interest sparked by that course, together with the encouragement of those same friends, led him to become increasingly involved in early childhood education, an especially significant area at that stage of his life, as he and his wife had two young children.
His path within the organization gradually took shape over the years. In 1993, he became director of FERT’s First Steps program. In 1999, he assumed the directorship of FERT, and in 2006 he was appointed Secretary General of IFFD, a position he has held ever since.
During his two decades serving as Secretary General, Javier Vidal-Quadras has been a pillar of IFFD’s values. His commitment to Family Enrichment has left a profound mark across continents. Through his tireless efforts, IFFD has expanded its reach, strengthened international collaborations, and supported thousands of families in developing healthier, more resilient relationships.
Among the achievements he is most proud of is the expansion of IFFD to nearly 68 countries, while preserving its core identity and its person-centered, family-focused approach. During these years, IFFD’s mission was clearly defined and new initiatives were launched, some of them with wide-reaching impact, such as Pause, Family Enrichment Holidays, and digital courses.
Another milestone was obtaining General Consultative Status with the United Nations, enabling IFFD to become one of the most influential NGOs worldwide in the field of family. This progress was accompanied by a deep process of internal work: innovation in working methods, increased commitment across the organization, an updated visual identity, and a significant strengthening of its presence on social media.
Challenges were also part of the journey. Each Family Enrichment Congress represented a major undertaking, requiring extraordinary commitment and limitless generosity from the entire IFFD structure. Yet two moments stand out for him in particular: the 2019–2024 period marked by digital transformation, and the global challenge of the pandemic.
One especially meaningful anecdote for Javier took place during the London Congress in late 2019. It was there that the organization began to publicly explain the digital transformation process that had already been underway for a year. In the early stages, some confusion arose due to shortcomings in how the message was communicated.
On the eve of the congress’s closing session, the group known as Team 0 convened what could truly be described as a crisis meeting. After analyzing the situation and gathering input from everyone involved, the final speech was reviewed and rewritten. Much of the night was spent adapting it, but the effort was worth it. The experience once again demonstrated that IFFD is a family in which every person matters and every contribution counts.
When reflecting on these years from a personal perspective, what stands out most to him are not the titles or institutional achievements, but the people. “Above all, I take with me many names and faces,” he says, referring to individuals capable of finding time where there seems to be none in order to dedicate part of their lives to other families. That human network is a source of deep reassurance: wherever he and his wife, Loles, may go, there will always be someone they can trust and who will welcome them with open arms.
A few words from IFFD’s team
Leticia Rodriguez, Director of IFFD Family Enrichment, who has been working with Javier from the very beginning, explains, when asked about it, that she met him in the first IFFD international Congress that she organized. It was held at the UN headquarters in New York in 2004 and she was impressed by how easy it was to work with him. Out of all the speakers of that particular Congress he was the one who made everything easy for the organizers. By that time Rafael Pich had already secretly set eyes on him to propose him to be his successor because he had everything he needed to be the person who could lead this organization successfully in the next few years. Leticia stresses Javier’s magnanimity, his trust in everyone who over the years became a part of the team, his generosity and the huge amount of time he spent in running IFFD and still being able to do so many other meaningful things for other initiatives. He has always been a very easy going person who would listen to anything anyone had to say. He is a man who possesses a great many talents, he is a poet of daily life, he has a great clarity of mind, he speaks well, he writes well and seems to be a great professional (lawyer) and husband, father and grandfather. It has been a great honor and a pleasure to have worked with him these past 20 years. The bar has been set very high and yet Jorge, his successor, will surely do a great job in the years to come.
Lorena Fernández, IFFD’s headquarters manager, who has also worked with him from the start, adds that she has always been awed by Javier’s extraordinary good temper (never in these 20 years has she seen him upset or uneasy with anyone), and also his absolute trust when delegating.
Looking Ahead
As he looks toward a new chapter, his message to Jorge Correa, who is taking on this responsibility, is clear and confident: Jorge is a solid and reliable choice who will help consolidate and further strengthen the great IFFD project. The only advice he offers is the same one he has given himself many times over the years: “trust fully in the team you have.”
His final message to the entire IFFD community sums up the spirit he has sought to convey in countless ways throughout his years of service: the ultimate goal is to transform the world person by person, reaching each individual and accompanying every family as if it were the only one that exists, just as the first Christians did.
The organization expresses its deep gratitude for Javier’s years of devoted leadership. His contributions will continue to resonate throughout the IFFD community, and he leaves a legacy marked by generosity, clarity of purpose, and unwavering commitment to families.
Welcoming Jorge Correa as the New Secretary General
Stepping into the role, Jorge Correa brings a renewed sense of energy and continuity to IFFD’s mission. His longstanding involvement with the organization, combined with his international outlook and strong commitment to family enrichment, positions him to guide IFFD into its next chapter.
A Moment of Gratitude and Hope
This transition marks both a moment of heartfelt appreciation and an exciting new beginning. IFFD extends its warmest thanks to Javier Vidal-Quadras for his extraordinary service and welcomes Jorge Correa as he takes on the responsibility of leading the organization forward.
With unity, continuity, and a shared commitment to family well-being, IFFD looks ahead to 2026 and beyond with optimism. Dedicated, as always, to serving families worldwide.
