The president and CEO of TruMerit, Peter Preziosi, has been elected as the new president of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations, commonly referred to as CoNGO. The announcement was made on October 31, 2025, during the 28th General Assembly of CoNGO held in New York, which featured virtual participation from organizations worldwide.
Preziosi succeeds Dr. Liberato C. Bautista, who has held the presidency since 2017 and previously from 2007 to 2011. CoNGO, an international NGO established in 1948, maintains consultative status with the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and includes 525 member organizations globally, alongside 106 associated members.
Since joining CoNGO in 2018, TruMerit has actively engaged with the organization, with Preziosi previously serving as the board secretary and chair of the membership committee. Notably, he is the first registered nurse to take on the role of president at CoNGO. He has been at the helm of TruMerit, previously known as CGFNS International, since early 2023. This organization is committed to the ethical mobility and professional growth of healthcare workers worldwide.
Preziosi”s career includes significant contributions to the World Health Organization, where he assisted in establishing its technology-driven global learning center, the WHO Academy. Dr. Bautista expressed his congratulations to Preziosi, highlighting that his extensive experience at TruMerit and the WHO, along with his dedication to multilateralism and civil society, provides a hopeful outlook for CoNGO”s future.
“In times when the voice and influence of civil society are crucial for shaping a shared future that upholds human dignity and rights, as well as planetary sustainability, Dr. Preziosi”s leadership is expected to strengthen CoNGO”s role as a vital supporter and advocate for democratic and equitable participation within the United Nations and beyond,” Bautista stated.
Preziosi emphasized the significance of CoNGO as a longstanding conference for NGOs serving as a bridge between civil society and the United Nations. He asserted that the participation of civil society in the UN should not be seen as a request but as a fundamental principle necessary for effective and ethical multilateralism, which is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and upholding the rule of law.
CoNGO is an independent international association founded in 1948, the same year the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. As an NGO with general consultative status with ECOSOC, CoNGO works across the entire UN system, supporting its mission and values while advocating for multilateral solutions to global challenges related to politics, environmental issues, health, and more. CoNGO comprises nearly 30 substantive committees, known as NGO committees, located in New York, Geneva, Vienna, and other regions worldwide.
TruMerit is a global leader in healthcare workforce development, having evolved from CGFNS International, which has nearly five decades of experience facilitating the professional mobility of nurses and other healthcare workers. The organization validates the education, skills, and experience of healthcare professionals seeking licensure in the United States and other countries. Under the TruMerit name, this mission has expanded to create a workforce that meets the needs of individuals in a rapidly changing global healthcare landscape. Through its Institute for Global Healthcare Workforce Development, the organization promotes evidence-based research, intellectual leadership, and advocacy for healthcare workforce solutions, including globally recognized practice standards and certifications that enhance the careers of healthcare workers.
For more information, visit www.trumerit.org.
Contact: David St. John, 1 215-222-8454
