Professional Standards Panel

In circumstances where the Board of Trustees has reason to believe that the professional standards of one of its members or of a prize winner have been called into question, it considers that it has a duty to investigate the matter. Such matters are referred to a Professional Standards Panel to review the detail and decide whether there are any implications for the Society and to recommend appropriate action to the Board of Trustees.

The Panel is Chaired by the General Secretary and comprises three other members of the Board of Trustees, avoiding any conflicts of interest with the topic under investigation. The panel is appointed to reflect the diversity of the Board of Trustees’ membership, particularly in relation to:

      a. Gender balance, and insofar as possible, other legal protected characteristics

      b. Spread of disciplinary expertise

      c. Inclusion of both appointed and elected members of Advisory Council

      d. Inclusion of both members who have served on a panel before and those who have not.

      e. Insofar as possible, balance of geographic spread of panel members, particularly in relation to the balance between members from the UK and Ireland. Where appropriate, it may add additional members to ensure geographic representation.

Under Article 25.2.5 in the Microbiology Society Articles of Association, the Board of Trustees has the power to remove a member from the membership of the Society, provided that the circumstances satisfy certain conditions. It also has the power to remove prizes or any other award it has made at its discretion.