Governance of the Anatomical Society
1. 2009/10
In 2009/10 the Committee of Management, Governance Working Party and Council of the Anatomical Society undertook a comprehensive review of the Society’s governance structure. The principal objectives of this review were:
- To produce an unambiguous, consistent, and modern set of governance documents that incorporate recent changes in charity and company law.
- To make the most effective use of the Society’s Officers’ time and energy.
The major outcomes of the review were:
- New governance documentation: revised Memorandum and Articles of Association and Regulations (previously known as Byelaws).
- New name: a proposal to change the name from ‘Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland’ to ‘Anatomical Society’
- Significant restructuring: in future, the business of the Anatomical Society will be undertaken by a single unitary Council that incorporates the functions and responsibilities of the current Committee of Management and Council. Membership of the new Council includes the President, Secretary and Treasurer and the Chairs of several Standing Committees (Education, Research Advisory, Meetings, Website Management, Membership). Significant operational responsibility was placed in the hands of the Chairs and members of the Standing Committees.
The Committee of Management (27th May 2010) and Council (19th July 2010) approved the proposed governance changes which were subsequently formally adopted at an EGM on 20th July 2010. The new name was registered by the Registrar of Companies. The Society’s new name, revised Memorandum and Articles came into force on the date that the Special Resolution was passed (EGM 20th July 2010) . The Society’s details have been updated on the Charity Commission Register. The new Council meets up to 6 times a year to ensure the effective strategic and operational management of the Society.
2. 2011
Council (15th September 2011) approved the revision of Article 4 and Article 8 formally adopted at the AGM on 20th December 2011 which enables the Society to confer Honorary Fellowship and Fellowship of the Society. Council 18.12.11 approved amendments to Regulation 9 Fellowship and approved a new Regulation 17 Quorum.
3. 2012
On 29th March 2012 Council approved the amendment to Regulation 15a on the Terms of Reference of the Standing Committees.
On the 9th July 2012 Council approved amendments to Schedule 2: Clause 2 Symington Bequest; Clause 7 Journal of Anatomy and Aging Cell Best Paper Prize; Clause 12 Society Graduate Research Studentships and Clause 13 Society Seminars and Symposia.
On the 6th September 2012 Council approved amendments to Schedule 2: Clause 6 The Symington Memorial Prize in Anatomy, Clause 8 Anatomical Society Young Investigator Oral Presentation Prize, Clause 9 Cave Young Investigator Poster Prize and Clause 10 Anatomical Society New Fellow of the Year.
On the 18th December 2012 the AGM approved amendments to Articles 26, 28b and 29f.
4. 2013
On 7th February 2013 Council approved the amendments to Regulation 9i Fellowship.
On 3rd July 2013 Council approved the amendments to Regulation 2 re Early Career Membership, Regulation 6 Early Career Membership and Schedule 2, Clause 11 Anatomical Society Prize.
On 19th September 2013 Council approved the amendments to Schedule 2, Clause 6 The Symington Memorial Prize in Anatomy.
5. 2014
On 6th February 2014 Council approved the amendments to Schedule 4: Duties of the Editors-in-Chief of theJournal of AnatomyandAging Cell.
On 1st May 2014 Council approved an amendment to Regulation 9.1(d) Fellow and Schedule 3 Clause 10(a) iii Newsletter Editor.
6. 2015
On 19th November 2015 Council approved the amendment of Regulations 2, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5d, 6a, 6d, 7a, 7b, 8a, 9.2a, 9.2b and 12 on the Membership of the Society.
7. 2016
On 18th July 2016 Council approved the amendment to Clause 13 Schedule 2 to the Regulations on the Society Seminars and Symposia.
8. 2017
On 30th March 2017 Council approved amendments to Regulations 14c and 15c and Schedule 1 Clause 3 a to g and Schedule 3 Clause 9a. These changes related to a change in title of a committee to Website, Media and Communications Committee.
On 21st September 2017 Council approved in principle the amendment to Regulation 2 regarding Membership of the Society. The final wording was agreed by Councillors by e-mail.
Council (30th March 2017) approved the revision of Article 28b formally adopted at the AGM on 19th December 2017 thus changing 'Website Officer' to 'Website, Media and Communications Officer'.
9. 2018
At an EGM held on 22nd July 2018 members unanimously adopted revised Article 2 (approved 10.05.18 Council) and Article 9 (approved 10.05.18 Council) concerning membership of the Society and revised Article 28b (approved 28.03.18 Council) concerning the election of Officers and Council.
At the AGM held on 18th December 2018 members unanimously adopted revised Article 2bi (approved 20.09.18 and 15.11.18 Councils) regarding admission to membership; Article 31f (approved 20.09.18 and 15.11.18 Councils) regarding membership.
At the AGM held on 18th December 2018 members unanimously adopted the gender-neutral wording throughout the Memorandum and Articles of Association (approved 15.11.18 Council).
At the AGM held on 18th December 2018 changes to the Regulations and Schedules were noted as approved by the 15th November 2018 Council. These changes included changes relating to membership matters and gender-neutral wording of the two documents.
10. 2019
At an EGM held on 19th September 2019 members adopted revised Articles 29e, 31c, 31d, 30, 28a (approved 09.08.19 at an Extra-ordinary meeting of Council and again at 19.09.19 Council) concerning the election of Officers and Council.
11. 2020
On 19th March 2020 Council approved amendments to Regulation 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e which will give Early Career Members he option to have their Early Career Membership extended if they have an extended break (e.g. parental leave, carer duties, illness and so forth.
On 14th July 2020 Council approved the amendment of Regulation 5.1 Clause h and the deletion of Clause I as the Society no longer has a category of Senior membership.
12. 2021
At the AGM held on 7th January 2021 Special Resolutions were adopted regarding the Objects so that inaccurate wording on the Charity Commission website may be removed; new Article 1.1 so the the Memorandum forms part of the Articles of Association; revised Articles 12 and 13 so that General Meetings (AGM, EGMs) may be held electronically; new Article 28c regarding Councillor conflicts of interest; new Article 28d so that Council meetings may be held electronically.
The AGM held on 7th January 2021 noted the changes to Regulation 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e and Regulation 5.1 as described under the heading 2020 above.
On the 15th July 2021 Council approved the addition of new Regulation 14 Trustees' Leave of Absence.
On the 15th July 2021 Council approved the amendment of Article 30 which was adopted at the EGM held on 19th August 2021.This will mean that all casual vacancies will continue to the end of the term of office and not cease at the immediate next AGM thus ensuring the effective continuity of Officers and Councillors.
On 11th November 2021 Council approved the amendments to Regulation 10, new Item 7 in Schedule 1 and the deletion of Schedule 5. This means that the Journals'Committee is now a Standing Committee.
13. 2022
The AGM held on 6th January 2022 noted the changes to Regulation 10 with additional clause (g), new Item 7 in Schedule 1 and the deletion of Schedule 5 as described under the heading 2021 above.
On 5th May 2022 Council approved the addition of Clause h to Regulation 10 and the addition of Clause 8 to Schedule 1 to the Regulations. This means that an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee has been added to the Standing Committees.
On 15th September 2022 Council approved the change to Articles 28a and 28b. This change will increase the the number of Trustees from 16 to 17 with the addition of an EDI Officer. Before the change comes into effect the amended Articles will be considered for adoption by Special Resolution at the forthcoming AGM to be held on 5th January 2023.
On 15th September 2022 Council approved the change to Schedule 1 Clause 8 to the Regulations (also approved by 05.05.22 Council) ; New Clause 10 in Schedule 3 and the renaming of existing Schedule 3 Clause 10 to Schedule 3 Clause 11. These changes ensure that an EDI Officer will chair the EDI Committee and sets out the terms of reference for the EDI Committee. NB: The addition of an EDI Officer and increase in the number of Trustees was approved by 15th September 2022 Council but the change will not come into effect until the changes to Articles 28a and 28b have been formally adopted by Special Resolution at the forthcoming AGM to be held on 5th January 2023.
14. 2023
At the 2022 AGM held on 5th January 2023 Special Resolutions were adopted regarding revised Articles 28a and 28b increasing the number on Council to 17 with the addition of a new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer position.
The 2022 AGM held on 5th January 2023 noted the changes approved by 5th May 2022 Council namely the addition of clause h to Regulation 10 and the addition of Clause 8 to Schedule 1 to the Regulations. This means that an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee has been added to the Standing Committees.
The 2022 AGM held 5th January 2023 noted the changes approved by 15th September 2022 Council namely New Clause 10 in Schedule 3 and the renaming of existing Schedule 3 Clause 10 to Schedule 3 Clause 11. These changes ensure that an EDI Officer will chair the EDI Committee and sets out the terms of reference for the EDI Committee.
On 30th November 2023 Council approved the amendment of Clause 12b in Schedule 2 to the Regulations. These amendments clarify terms and conditions relating to the Society's Graduate Research Studentships.
15. 2024
The 2023 AGM held on 4th January 2024 noted the amendment of Clause 12b in Schedule 2 to the Regulations. These amendments clarify terms and conditions relating to the Society's Graduate Research Studentships.
Professor Tracey Wilkinson - President
Dr Joanna Matthan - Honorary Secretary
AS Memorandum and Articles Amended Approved AGM 05.01.23
Regulations and Schedules - Amended by Council 30.11.23
