Call for Board Members for UAEM Europe e.V.

UAEM is seeking board members to join our dedicated team in advancing global health equity and access to essential medicines.

Background

UAEM is a grassroots coalition of students and young researchers. Our origin story began 20 years ago at Yale University, where students mobilised as part of a demand to lower the prices of HIV/AIDS medication, resulting in a 95% price drop for key medicines and impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Today, pharmaceutical companies continue to secure record-breaking profits, while many people around the world cannot pay their arbitrarily high prices. We believe that medicines are a right, not a privilege, and should be created for people not profit. UAEM members are committed to:

1. promote access to medicines and medical innovations where barriers exist primarily by changing norms and practices around academic patenting and licensing, supported by our own independent research,
2. ensure that university medical research meets the needs of people worldwide and actively supports the creation of new needs-based approaches to R&D and
3. empower students to respond to the biomedical access and innovation crisis by advocating for the most promising global biomedical R&D system that works for all.

Role of the European Board:

Responsibilities & Term Length:

To provide applicants with a comprehensive understanding of Board membership, we have attached the Terms of Reference for Board members, which we advise all applicants to review thoroughly. The current term length for European Board members is two years.

Qualifications and Desired Skills:

We seek individuals with a passion for global health equity and a commitment to furthering UAEM's mission. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, along with knowledge or experience in areas such as advocacy, fundraising, finance, or project management.

Board Functions:

During elections, candidates may run for a general position only. Specific roles will be determined internally. However, applicants interested in particular areas, such as fundraising or finances, are encouraged to highlight their preferences in their motivation video.

Benefits of Board Membership:

Serving on the UAEM Europe Board offers unique opportunities for personal and professional development. Board members have the chance to network with like-minded individuals, contribute to meaningful causes, and make a tangible impact on global health equity.

Election Procedure:

The elections will fill four positions on the Board to maintain a staggered process. Candidates are required to prepare a video presentation lasting no more than three minutes, introducing themselves and their motivation, along with submitting their Curriculum Vitae to eu_board@essentialmedicine.org. These materials will be circulated to the membership via email before the GA.

Candidates may declare their candidacy at any time until the election; however, we recommend notifying the current Board at least one week before the GA. Questions from members for candidates should be directed to the Board one week prior to the GA. Candidates will respond to these questions, with an additional 5-minute session allotted for further inquiries. Voting will be conducted via secret ballot.

An Election Committee, approved by the current Board, will tabulate the votes and announce the results promptly.

Applications to join the UAEM Europe Board are currently open!

Applications are welcomed from everyone - UAEM members and interested individuals from outside the organization.

Join our leadership and contribute to enhancing access to medicines and global health equity!

Diversity and Inclusion Statement:

UAEM Europe is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, including those traditionally underrepresented in leadership roles. We believe that diverse perspectives enrich our organization and strengthen our ability to achieve our mission.

Application Instructions:

To apply for a position on the UAEM Europe Board, please submit your video presentation and Curriculum Vitae to eu_board@essentialmedicine.org by Saturday, April 27th. For further details regarding the application and election process, refer to the document provided.

Contact Information:

For inquiries or additional information, please contact us at eu_board@uaem.org.