SRF Ordinary Member call for Nominations
There are currently 2 Ordinary Member vacancies on the SRF Council due to the retirement of Dr Amanda de Mestre and Dr Nick Wheelhouse who have completed their terms of office.
Members of the Society are cordially invited to stand for nomination and if elected to take full responsibility from the date of the next SRF AGM, currently scheduled to take place on Friday 7 January 2022 during the Fertility 2022 meeting.
What does the role of an SRF Council Member entail?
Successful candidates will be working alongside the Council Members 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.
| Position | Name | Completes Term: January |
| Chair | Dr Richard Lea | 2024 |
| Programme chair | Dr Suman Rice | 2025 |
| Public Engagement chair | Professor Suzannah Williams | 2025 |
| Grants & Award chair | Dr Ali Fouladi-Nashta | 2025 |
| Treasurer | Professor Bruce Murphy | 2025 |
| Ordinary member | Dr Mark Fenwick | 2023 |
| Ordinary member | Dr Niamh Forde | 2025 |
| Ordinary member | Dr Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri | 2025 |
| Ordinary member | Dr Kim Jonas | 2025 |
| Ordinary member | Professor Rod Mitchell | 2025 |
| Ordinary member | Dr Emma Lucas | 2025 |
| Early Career Rep | Dr Federica Lopes | 2023 |
| Ex Officio | ||
| Co Editor-in-Chief of Reproduction | Professor Greg Fitzharris | 2023 |
| Co Editor-in-Chief of Reproduction | Professor Chris Price | 2023 |
| Co Editor-in-Chief of Reproduction & Fertility | Professor Norah Spears | 2022 |
| Co Editor-in-Chief of Reproduction & Fertility | Professor Andrew Horne | 2022 |
Period of Office
Council Members hold office for a period of four years.
Under the current constitution they may not be beneficiaries of the Society and are ineligible to receive grants, travel support and other such benefits available to members.
Attendance at meetings
Council Members are expected to attend Council Meetings. The foreseeable meetings are due to be held:
2022: Early January (to coincide with Fertility 2022), May & November – dates TBC
Spring and Autumn Council Meetings are held at a hotel in an accessible UK location, currently this is at Manchester Airport and the format is Thursday afternoon and Friday up to 5pm. A working dinner is held on Thursday evening, overnight accommodation is provided, and travel expenses reimbursed. The SRF AGM is scheduled to take place at the annual Fertility conference.
Council Members are also expected to serve on Sub-Committees* and could be asked to participate in future task groups.
*The Grants and Awards, Finance, Programme and Public Engagement/Membership Sub-Committees convene the afternoon prior to the Council meetings (outside of those coinciding with conferences) but in the same location. Therefore, you can expect to be away on SRF Council business for up to 2 working days (including travel time) at least twice a year, plus attendance at the Fertility meeting.
Council Members are 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 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:
Eligibility (Articles of Association 47 – 50)
- Under the Society’s rules, eligible SRF Members (fully paid as of Monday 4 October 2021) may stand for election.
- Members who have previously served on Council as an Ordinary member may stand if 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 4 October 2021) 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”).
Procedure
Members wishing to stand for election must complete the Nomination to Council form on the SRF website and submit this with their letters of recommendation it to the SRF Secretariat (via the SRF website) to arrive no later than 09.00 hrs UK time on Monday 8 November 2021.
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 two letters of support from two SRF Members (who have paid for 2021 membership).
- Recent photo – head and shoulders.
Timeline
8 November 2021 Deadline for Nominations:
NB – should the number of nominations received by Monday 8 November 2021 exceed the number of vacancies, then, as stated in the Articles of Association Article 50.7 to 50.10, the Secretary shall issue voting instructions to each Full Member of the Society. In the case that only one application is received, the successful candidate will be notified
11 November 2021: if more than one application is received, voting Members will be sent a unique link to vote online to elect the next Committee Member.
13 December 2021: voting closes.
January 2022: those successfully elected to Council are formally announced at the SRF AGM.
To apply please submit your application below.
