Call for Nominations 2025

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO COUNCIL 2025

Members of the Society are cordially invited to stand for nomination for the following role, due to the retirement or being elected to new positions as indicated below:

•  Ordinary Council Member: Due to the retirement Rod Mitchell (1 position).

 If elected full responsibility will start immediately for the duration of four years (until January 2029 SRF AGM).

 What does the role of an SRF Council Member entail?

The successful candidate will be working alongside the Council Members, Journal Editors in Chief and Earl Career Representatives listed below.  At the AGM, all members of Council will be invited to confirm their intention, given their current circumstances, to fulfil the next year of their term on Council.

Period of Office
Council Members hold office for a period of four years (except for the SRF Chair who serves for 3 years).

Under the current constitution Trustees (all voting and Ex Officio members) may not be beneficiaries of the Society and are ineligible to receive, awards, grants, travel support and other such benefits available to members.

Attendance at meetings

Council Members are expected to attend three Council Meetings and are also expected to serve on Sub-Committees* and could be asked to participate in future task groups.

*The Grants and Membership, Finance, Programme and Award, and Education and Public Engagement Sub-Committees

The current Council/Committee meetings to be held in 2025:     

 2025:   Fertility Programmes meeting Monday 17 March (in person meeting Venue TBC)

Spring: Thursday 15 Friday 16 May, Manchester Airport

Autumn Thursday & Friday TBC (usually October or November)

2026:   January Tuesday afternoon & Wednesday morning prior to Fertility 2026, Edinburgh (Followed by Fertility 2026)

Council Meetings are held at Manchester Airport on Thursday/Friday, attendance will be required for both days.  l Meetings will start on Thursday afternoon 15.00-18.00 (allowing for travel prior to the meeting) and Friday from 09.00 – 16.00. Overnight accommodation and food will be provided during the meetings and travel (economy) expenses reimbursed.

 Committee meetings are scheduled throughout the year and held virtually* and organised separately by Committee Charis.

*Please note that some Programme Meetings may be held in person.

You should expect to attend all Council in-person and on-line meetings as advised above (including travel time for the Council meeting). You will also be expected to attend Council meeting at the start of the annual joint Fertility Society conference in January. Council members are also expected to attend the Fertility conferences and to perform duties prior to and during these conferences.

 Council Members are also expected to be available throughout the year to assist in ad-hoc decision making and have a key role in running and leading the Society, supported by the Secretariat.

 Role as Charity Trustee

As a Member of the Council, you are taking on the responsibility as a Charity Trustee, whose responsibilities cover the following:

You and your co-trustees must make sure that the charity is carrying out the purposes for which it is set up, and no other purpose. This means you should:

• ensure you understand the charity’s purposes as set out in its governing document
• plan what your charity will do, and what you want it to achieve
• be able to explain how all of the charity’s activities are intended to further or support its purposes
• understand how the charity benefits the public by carrying out its purposes

 To assist with your understanding of the Society, please refer to the Articles of Association and Byelaws which can be found under the “Who We Are” tab on the SRF Website www.srf-reproduction.org

Further details about the duties of a Charity Trustee can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3/the-essential-trustee-what-you-need-to-know-what-you-need-to-do#trustees-duties-at-a-glance

Eligibility (Articles of Association 47 – 50)

• Under the Society’s rules, eligible SRF Members (fully paid as of Monday 10 February 2025) may stand for election.
• Members who have previously served on Council may stand providing one year has elapsed since the end of their previous years of service.
• Nominations must be supported by two references from two fully paid (as of Monday 10 February 2025) members of the Society. (For reference, a list of current Members can be found in the Members Area of the SRF website under “Notice of Elections”).
• Please note that under the current constitution Trustees (all voting and Ex Officio members) may not be beneficiaries of the Society and are ineligible to receive, awards, grants, travel support and other such benefits available to members.

 How to apply

Members wishing to stand for election must complete the Council Nominations form with their letters of recommendation to the SRF Secretariat via the SRF website.  Nominations must be submitted by application on the SRF member area by 09.00 hrs GMT on Monday 24 February 2025.

Please include:

• What you would bring to the role and goals for your term as a Council member Brief details about yourself including your research and interest in reproductive biology

• Nominees must obtain at least two letters of support from at least two SRF Members (who have paid for 2024 membership). Letters must be uploaded with their applications.
• Recent photo – head and shoulders.

 Timeline

 09.00 GMT Monday 24 February 2025 – Deadline for Nominations

Article 50.5

To be eligible for election candidates must be nominated by at least two Company Members and must be recommended for election by the Council. The Council will review all nominations and may invite candidates for an interview prior to being put forward to an election.

 Wednesday 26 – Thursday 27 February 2025. Candidate interviews as necessary.

Monday 3 March 2025.

Providing the above, should the number of nominations put forward by the Council exceed the number of vacancies, then, as indicated in the Articles of Association Article 50.7 to 50.10, the Secretary shall issue voting instructions to each Full Member of the Society who has paid for their membership by Monday 10 February 2025.

 Wednesday 12 March 2025:

Voting closes at 17.00 GMT. Results of the elections will be announced after the election and confirmed at the SRF AGM 2026 nominees will be advised of the outcome prior to the announcement at the SRF AGM.

 January 2026: The name of the person who is successfully elected as Trustees will be formally announced at the SRF AGM.