Governance and financial reporting

FEMS is registered in the United Kingdom as a Charity (No. 1072117) and as a Company (a Company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital; incorporated on 18 May 1998; No. 3565643). We are certified with a US Equivalency Determination (valid through 31 December 2020, No. 1430)

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FEMS is overseen by a Board of Directors, who provide strategic direction and individually contribute their skills and experience. The Board of Directors are responsible for checking that we are working efficiently, delivering objectives and complying with our policies, relevant laws and legislation. Directors also act as Trustees, responsible for FEMS’ governance and ensuring the organization is well run, solvent, and delivering to its charitable objectives and contribute to ensuring the long-term security of FEMS by ensuring the organization is prepared to meet future challenges.

Our Members convene annually to review the organization’s performance and vote on important decisions, including the election of Directors. A representative from each Member is invited to attend the meetings of the FEMS Council. Delegates have access to documents from these meetings via their MyFEMS account.

The governance of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies is described in two documents that constitute the FEMS Statutes. The statutory documents are the ‘Memorandum of Association’ and the ‘Articles of Association’. These two documents may only be amended after approval by the FEMS Council. As the registered office of FEMS is situated in the UK, the statutes adhere to UK format.

A number of additional committees also exist to contribute external perspectives, independent reviews or additional capacity for extra initiatives. These all report to the Board of Directors.

Grants Committee

The Committee oversee the delivery of FEMS Grants, assessing and awarding grants based on their potential to deliver scientific excellence, professional development and/or impact based on their Terms of Reference.

The Committee is currently made up of:

  • Jana Jass, FEMS Grants Director, Örebro University, Sweden
  • David Rodriguez-Lazaro, Universidad de Burgos, Spain
  • Karen Trchounian, Yerevan State University, Armenia
  • Elzbieta Anna Trafny, Military University of Technology, Poland

Previous Grants Committee members here

Election Committee

The Election Committee was established to encourage nominations for succession of the FEMS Board of Directors (the “BoD”) from candidates representing the full diversity of FEMS Member Societies and of the FEMS community. It provides guidance and advice to any individual considering applying. It also oversees the election process to ensure transparency and compliance with FEMS regulations. The Terms of Reference of the Election Committee can be read here.

The Committee consists of one representative from the Board (the Secretary General) and representatives from Member Societies, reflecting the regional diversity of FEMS. For more information on the Committee, you can contact them via electioncommittee@fems-microbiology.org

Awards Committee

The Committee has responsibility for delivery, oversight and development of FEMS awards in line with its strategy. It is the assessment panel for FEMS portfolio of awards.

The Committee currently consists of:

  • Hilary Lappin-Scott, FEMS President
  • Beate Averhoff, FEMS Delegate on behalf of VAAM
  • Paul Cos, FEMS Director Business & Policy
FEMS Journals and Open Access

Embracing an Open Future

All but one of the FEMS journals are now fully open access (OA), with one journal, FEMS Microbiology Letters remaining a subscription journal with free-to-publish and OA options. Open access is key to supporting the FEMS mission of disseminating high quality research as widely as possible: when high quality, peer reviewed sound science is open access, anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection, can read it.

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