| A governance structure has been established to ensure that the Forum at all times adheres to the highest standards expected of a non-profit-distributing Community Interest Company limited by guarantee. The key elements are: |
Community Interest Company
As a non-profit-distributing Community Interest Company (CIC), registered in the UK, the CIC has to pass the UK’s statutory community interest test, and its ongoing compliance with this requirement is ensured by the CIC Regulator. Under the terms of the Forum’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Objects of the company are: |
| “The Company’s object is to carry out activities that benefit the community and in particular (without limitation) to manage knowledge and share expertise in relation to the prevention and reduction of the impact and consequences of new, emerging and changing health threats… The Company has the power to do anything that is incidental or conducive to the furtherance of its object.” |
| CIC status creates a lock on the company’s assets to ensure that they are used solely to fulfil its community purpose and are not available for distribution to members. The Articles further provide that in the event of a winding up any surplus assets can be transferred only to a company with a similar or more stringent asset lock. The relevant provision reads: |
| “Any residual assets shall be given or transferred in accordance with regulation 23 of the [Community Interest Company Regulations 2005].” |
The Members
As a non-profit-distributing Community Interest Company limited by guarantee, the Forum is ultimately controlled by its Members. Membership is open to any person or organisation who is interested in promoting the Objects of the Forum and who is approved by the Board. The Articles provide that: |
| “The subscribers to the Memorandum are the first Members of the Company… Such other persons (whether individuals or organisations) as agreed in writing to become Members of the Company, who are interested in promoting the objects of the Company, whose names are entered in the register of Members, and who are admitted to membership in accordance with the Articles, shall be Members of the Company… No person shall be admitted as a Member of the Company unless he, she, or it is approved by the Directors.” |
| A list of Members is maintained by the Company Secretary and can be obtained from the Chief Executive’s office, who may be contacted here. |
Committees
The affairs of the Forum are managed and overseen through a committee structure consisting of the Board of Directors: |
Sir Rod Eddington (Chairman) Rt Hon Baroness Bottomley
JKC de Courcy (Chief Executive) Geoffrey Riddell
Marian Bell CBE Robert Webb QC |
| With the sole exception of the Chief Executive, the directors provide their services pro bono. The Chief Executive of the Forum (Joe de Courcy) is also Managing Director of Intelligence Research Ltd. The day-to-day affairs of the Forum are managed and run by Intelligence Research Ltd in accordance with the terms of a service contract. Joe de Courcy receives his remuneration from Intelligence Research Ltd. |
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The Scientific Advisory Council
The Scientific Advisory Council oversees the strategic direction of the Forum. The full list of Scientific Advisory Council members and their biographies can be found here. |
Editorial Committee
The Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board members constitute the Editorial Board of the Emerging Health Threats Journal. The Editorial Board determines policy on the Journal published by the Forum in accordance with the mission of the Forum: to publish intellectually stimulating, interdisciplinary journals and online content of the highest international standard aimed at improving and promoting better understanding of and responses to emerging threats to human health.
The term of office of the Editor-in-Chief is three years, renewable by mutual agreement with the Forum’s Board of Directors. The Editor-in-Chief receives an honorarium of £6000 per annum. The six other Associate Editors receive an annual honorarium of £2000 each. |
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