Interview with GTNF Founder: We Are Trying to Change the Industry Through Unique Dialogue

Elise said GTNF has always upheld a “First for Firsts” spirit. It was the first industry conference to bring public health speakers together with the industry, and this year GTNF welcomed 34 first-time speakers, reflecting its leadership in industry dialogue.

[2FIRSTS Original] Recently, at the 2023 Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF), GTNF founder Elise Rasmussen accepted an exclusive interview with 2FIRSTS, sharing the original intention behind GTNF’s creation, its development journey, and its impact on the tobacco and nicotine industry. 

Elise said GTNF welcomed 34 first-time speakers this year, which reflects GTNF’s leading position in industry exchange. 

GTNF founder Elise Rasmussen | Image source: 2FIRSTS 

GTNF welcomed 34 first-time speakers this year 

2FIRSTS: Could you share the original intention behind GTNF’s founding, its development process, and its impact on the tobacco and nicotine industry?

Elise: I founded GTNF in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2008, with three core goals: bringing together people from inside and outside the industry to promote communication and dialogue; tackling major challenges that others were hesitant to address; and curating a lineup of fresh speakers who could capture people’s interest. Since then, GTNF has become a global platform for public health experts, government representatives, industry participants, and investors to exchange views and ideas. 

2FIRSTS: Compared with last year, what changes took place at GTNF in 2023?

Elise: GTNF was established to promote dialogue and jointly shape the future. We are still doing that today, but now we are carrying out the same mission around the world. Every year, GTNF brings in more and more influential participants to help map out historic change. We hope to offer more expert panels, more keynote speakers, and more diverse perspectives than ever before.

This year, we were especially pleased to welcome 34 first-time speakers, some of whom were addressing a nicotine-focused audience for the first time. This reflects GTNF’s leadership in advancing discussion in this field and in serving as a global hub for innovative exchange. 

Changing industry outcomes through discussion of different topics 

2FIRSTS: How does GTNF promote cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration?

Elise: I always like to say that we are “first for firsts.” We were the first industry conference to bring public health speakers together with industry participants, and that opened the door to dialogue between the two sides. This has not only delivered tremendous benefits to the industry, but I also believe it has brought major benefits to public health experts and regulators, because they are able to hear new perspectives. 

GTNF founder Elise Rasmussen (center) with 2FIRSTS staff | Image source: 2FIRSTS 

2FIRSTS: This year’s GTNF theme is “Change the Conversation, Change the Outcome.” What changes does the tobacco and nicotine industry need to make in order to achieve better outcomes in the current environment?

Elise: In my opening remarks, I quoted Don Draper from Mad Men: “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.” That is exactly what we are here to do this week: confront issues directly and raise topics that many others would not.

This content-rich event has brought together industry leaders, regulators, politicians, and public health experts from around the world, united by the common goal of “changing the conversation.” It creates a unique opportunity for connection, collaboration, and open exchange, ultimately enabling us to change outcomes across the industry.