The present report summarizes the contents of the first edition of the “European Academy for Healthcare Leaders”, held in Rome from the 15th to 17th of November 2018 and organised by the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) on Health Policy, Governance and Leadership in Europe of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Roma. The aim of the event was to offer a high level training on leadership and governance of health systems to the representatives of the Ministries of Health of the Member States of WHO European Region. It was organized in a mixed format, including both traditional lecture sessions from experts in the field and interactive workshops. The contents regarded the role of leadership in facing health systems global challenges; the vision, the leadership and the governance of the WHO; the leadership needed to reorganize health systems according to the value based healthcare perspective; health systems sustainability; change management and the developing of leadership skills.