The Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA), established and headquartered in 2011 in Brussels, is an independent, not-for-profit, internationally oriented, and membership-based organisation dedicated to safeguarding and advancing quality standards in public health education. APHEA is governed by and accountable to its members from across the global academic and professional public health community, including the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI) and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER). Its mandate and legitimacy are grounded in collective governance and service to the public interest.

Since 2025, APHEA has entered a new phase of organisational development focused on strengthening transparency, expanding its international engagement, and deepening collaboration with academic institutions, professional networks, and public health actors across all WHO regions. Through continuous improvement of its accreditation processes and active engagement with its members and partners, APHEA seeks to respond proactively to the evolving needs of the global public health education community. The Management Board of APHEA considers it necessary, hereby, to address the public health education community to clarify APHEA’s institutional position, reaffirm its mandate, and protect the credibility and integrity of public health accreditation.

At this time of extraordinary global pressures on public health leadership, the Board has become aware of confusion among schools of public health and stakeholders worldwide concerning representations and approaches made in relation to public health accreditation activities. In particular, the Board notes concerns regarding actions undertaken by Mr. Julien Goodman, the former Executive Director of APHEA, including direct approaches to leaders of APHEA-accredited institutions and public representations, as well as to persons active in APHEA management and operations that created misunderstanding among stakeholders and undermines confidence in established accreditation processes.

While individuals and institutions are free to pursue new professional activities, such activities must be conducted in full compliance with applicable legal requirements, contractual obligations, and principles of fair competition. The APHEA Management Board is concerned that actions described above may constitute breaches of these obligations and may fall within the scope of unfair commercial practices under EU Directive 2005/29/EC and Article VI.104 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law. These include, but are not limited to, misleading or deceptive representations, the creation of market confusion, and the unauthorised use or derivation of protected or confidential information.

The Board reiterates unequivocally that all confidential information, internal documentation, accreditation methodologies, and intellectual property developed within APHEA so far remain the exclusive property of APHEA. Any unauthorised use, replication, or adaptation of these materials is incompatible with Belgian and European Union law and with accepted standards of professional and ethical conduct, including by individuals previously employed by APHEA.

Credibility in public health accreditation is built over time through transparent governance, clearly defined mandates, accountable membership structures, and consistent, independent practices. It cannot be established through self-declared authority, ambiguous public claims, or the imitation or replication of established accreditation systems. 

The Management Board calls on all actors involved in public health education accreditation to act with integrity, respect for the law, and responsibility toward institutions, learners, and the public interest that accreditation ultimately serves.