Early Career Forum Executive Committee
Reporting to Advisory Council, the Early Career Forum Executive Committee is responsible for coordinating the work of the Early Career Forum to support the Society’s three main strategic objectives. The Committee ensures that early career members and their views are included in the design and development of Society activities to advance careers in microbiology. The Committee works with staff to ensure that the activities delivered are in line with the agreed strategy and budget.
The Forum’s activities include personal and professional development schemes and events such as the EC Summer Conference and the EC Chairing Scheme at Annual Conference.
The EC Forum Executive Committee collaborates with all other branches of the governance structure to ensure due consideration for EC members and their needs by holding representative positions across all Committees, Divisions and Standing Panels.
Early Career Forum Executive Committee 2025
Rebecca McHugh |
University of Glasgow, UK (co-Chair) |
Jack Ferguson |
University of Birmingham, UK (co-Chair) |
Aoife Mulry |
TUS (Technological University of the Shannon), Ireland (EC Representative for Irish Division) |
Daniel Larcombe |
University of Strathclyde, UK (EC Representative for Building Communities Committee) |
David Mark |
University of Glasgow, UK (EC Forum Representative for Scientific Conferences Panel) |
Durgesh Jaiswal |
Department of Biotechnology Graphic Era, India (EC Representative for Sustainability Committee) |
Ed Deshmukh-Reeves |
University of Kent, UK (EC Forum Representative for Eukaryotic Division) |
Hemant Patadia |
Parul University, India (EC Representative for Audit, Risk and Evaluation) |
Isobel Garratt |
University of Bath, UK (EC Representative for Impact and Influence Committee) |
Kasia Parfitt |
University of Oxford, UK (EC Representative for Prokaryotic Division) |
Lilly Cummins |
University of Birmingham, UK (EC Representative for Publishing Panel) |
Matthew Whelan |
University College London, UK (EC Representative for Sustainability Committee) |
Miki Uchima |
Francis Crick Institute, King's College London, UK (EC Representative for Impact and Influence Committee) |
Natalie Lamont |
University of Sunderland (EC Representative for Finance Committee) |
Rowan Casey |
Cardiff University, UK (EC Forum Representative for Virus Division and Members Panel) |
Terms of Reference

Terms of reference: iStock/Gajus.