Vice President 2021–2022 announced at ERS General Assembly

Vice President 2021–2022 announced at ERS General Assembly - article image

The results of the latest round of ERS Leadership Elections and several amendments to ERS’s Constitution and By-Laws were approved during this year’s ERS General Assembly meeting. The meeting was held virtually on 10 September, 2021, and was attended by ERS members and senior leaders.

The General Assembly is the body responsible for adapting the statutes of the society, deciding the annual membership fees, reviewing proposed amendments to the ERS Constitution and By-Laws and checking and approving the accounts.

Election results announcements and changes to ERS officers

Following the meeting, it is with great pleasure that we announce the incoming ERS Vice President for 2021–2022 is Prof. Monika Gappa. Prof. Gappa will successively become ERS President Elect and then ERS President for 2023–2024, making her a key and influential figure within the ERS.

A new cohort of ERS officers will officially begin their mandates as Assembly Heads and Secretaries and Group Chairs and Secretaries following the meeting, and several key positions on the ERS Executive Committee were also announced and approved by ERS members, including the following notable appointments:

  • Secretary General Elect: Judith Garcia Aymerich
  • Treasurer Elect: Peter J. Wijkstra
  • Science Council Chair Elect: Nicolas Roche
  • Internal Auditors (from 2022): Lieuwe D.J. Bos & Michal Shteinberg

ERS congratulates the successful candidates on their election, and we wish all well in their new roles. We also offer our thanks to all ERS members who voted in elections this year, as well as all competing candidates for your participation in the elections.

Welcoming a new ERS President for 2021–2022

Prof. Marc Humbert, the incoming ERS President for 2021–2022, was formally appointed in the meeting. During the hand-over speech, Prof. Humbert extended his thanks to Prof. Anita Simonds, now Past President, for her work in leading the society during challenging times and noted her commitment in the fight against COVID as part of the vaccine committee and successful Presidential Summit on digital respiratory medicine. ERS looks forward to continuing to work with Prof. Simonds in her capacity as ERS Past President.

In looking forwards to his 12 months of presidency ahead, Prof. Humbert highlighted that the presidential themes for the year will focus on:

  • Chronic rare lung diseases.
  • Furthering collaboration with ERN-LUNG, in close partnership with ELF and patient associations, and involving the society in the 2022 ERN-LUNG novel application.
  • Developing the Memorandum of Understanding on tobacco control, which was signed by ERS and the European Network for Smoking Prevention.
  • Partnering with other organisations to deliver joint sessions at the ERS International Congress, as well as joint educational activities and fellowships.

Amendments to the ERS Constitution and By-Laws 2021–2022

ERS members in attendance voted on amendments to the ERS Constitution and By-Laws presented by the Secretary General, Prof. Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko. Notable amendments, which are now ratified in the constitution following approval by the ERS membership, include:

  • An update to the conditions related to the conduct of ERS members.
  • Changes to the definitions of ERS officers, including conditions on holding more than one position within ERS at a time.
  • New Tobacco Control and Environment and Health Committee members are to be presented to the General Assembly for approval.
  • The mandate of incoming ERS publications editors will begin at the same time as all other ERS officers, i.e. after the ERS International Congress.
  • It is now specified that observers of the ERS management group may not be involved in industry-organised symposia at the ERS International Congress.

Learn more about ERS Governance and the ERS Constitution and By-Laws

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