Call for nominations for the position of EASAC Vice-President#

EASAC seeks nominations for the position of EASAC Vice-President (VP) (and as EASAC Board member), as the first terms of Michael Palmgren and Mirko Orlic come to an end by the end of 2025.

As per the EASAC Statutes, the Board consists of the President and of at least three and not more than five Vice-Presidents. As was discussed at the Council meeting in Amsterdam in past June, the Board proposes to strive for a continued number of 5 VPs to promote maximum diversity within the Board. Since VP Lise Ovreas will assume the presidency as of January 1 2026, the Board therefore aims for an election of 3 Vice-Presidents.

The Board is EASAC’s main governing board and supreme executive body. Its main task is to set the overall direction for EASAC and to ensure that resources are aligned with strategic objectives. Regarding composition of the Board, EASAC strives for a diversity in geographical and disciplinary background, and in age and gender.

The Board’s responsibilities are (amongst others):

• to develop and implement EASAC’s strategy,
• to be accountable to the Council and to implement its decisions,
• to be active in EASAC’s outreach and science advice activities towards Europe.

EASAC Vice-Presidents (VPs) play an important role in supporting the President, strengthening EASAC’s governance, and ensuring that members are at the heart of EASAC’s business. The Vice-Presidents’ responsibilities are to support the President in representing EASAC externally, and to be primarily responsible for a particular portfolio of tasks, as decided by the Board, after consulting the Council.

The Statutes presently require Vice-Presidents to be drawn from Council members and from Steering Panel Chairs (be it past or present). They should be academy members.

In the interest of continuity, current VPs whose first term ends are stimulated to be available for re-election, with the (unwritten) agreement that if they are re-elected for a second term, they may be asked to step down before the end of their second term, in the interest of continuity within the board. There is a wish to ensure regional balance, particularly by including representation from Southern Europe or newer member states.

In terms of commitment, Vice-Presidents are required to participate in Council (presently 3 per year, two online and one in-person) and Board (presently around three to four times a year, usually online) meetings, as a minimum. In addition, it is appreciated if Vice-Presidents who have one of the three EASAC Programmes in their portfolio, keep in touch with that programme, e.g. by attending (part of) the meetings of the respective Steering Panel.

Council members should not allow their names to be put forward by their academy unless they are confident they can personally commit to these minimum requirements; similarly, academies should not nominate their Council member unless they can support their participation financially (e.g. travel and hotel costs).
(In case VP travel costs present a barrier for smaller academies, the Board is open to explore how EASAC might support VP-related expenses (while many meetings will continue to be held online), based on the idea that financial hardship of a member academy should not prevent their representative to be active as Vice-President.)

The timetable for voting and elections is as follows:

16 September: Call for nominations
28 October: Deadline for nominations (six weeks to nominate)
31 October: Ballot paper sent out (secret ballot voting)
7 November: Deadline for ballot papers (one week to vote)
18 November: Outcome of election presented at Council

Nominations should comprise:

1. A supporting letter from the nominating academy, signed by their president and senior executive.
2. A short CV (max two pages) highlighting information on the candidate that is relevant for the nomination.
3. A short supporting statement (up to 100 words) from the candidate on the value they can bring to the role of Vice-President, and their aspirations in serving EASAC, should they be elected.

If you have any questions or concerns, then please feel free to get in touch with us. All discussions will be confidential.

The deadline for submitting nominations to secretariat@easac.eu is 28 October 2025.

Download the call.

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EASAC brings together the National Science Academies of the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and UK. It is the voice of independent science advice, mobilising Europe’s leading scientists to guide EU policy for the benefit of society.