Structure and governance
As a charity, we are governed by our Council who may co-opt members and appoint committees.
Our committees are formed through the election of representative members, who contribute to guiding and driving our strategies and activities.
Our People
HIS Council are members of the Society (with the exception of the lay trustee), who are either appointed by Council or elected by the membership for a defined term.
Officers
All Officers are Trustees
President - Dr Elisabeth Ridgway (2026) Chair - Dr Chris Settle (2024)
Secretary - Dr Manjula Meda (2024) Treasurer - Dr David Harvey (2024)
Editor-in-Chief
The EiC is a Trustee
- Journal of Hospital Infection - Dr Nikunji Mahida (2025)
Committee Chairs
Committee Chairs are not Trustees of the Society unless stated
- Professional Development Committee - Dr James Price (2024)
- Guidelines Committee - Professor Peter Wilson (2024)
- Trainee Committee - Dr Oliver Bannister (2025)
- Research Committee - Dr Emma Boldock (2024)
Ordinary Council Members
All Ordinary Members are Trustees
- Dr Sarah Walpole (2025)
- Ron Finlay - Lay member (2024)
- Dr Shanom Ali (2024)
- Leila Hail (2025)
- Professor Colum Dunne (2026)
- Dr Jasmin Islam (2026)
Co-opted members
Co-opted members are not Trustees
- Dr Fenella Halstead (2026)
-
Dr Gemma Winzor
Equality, diversity and inclusion
(Brackets denote role end year. Individuals demit at the AGM unless otherwise stated above)
Our committees are formed of volunteers who are healthcare professionals. They are formed largely of consultant microbiologists and virologists, trainees enrolled on a specialty training programme, infection control nurses, staff from UKHSA and healthcare scientists. Full details of the terms of reference and membership of all HIS Committees can be found here.
- Professional Development Committee
- Research Committee
- Guidelines Committee
- Trainee Committee
- Executive Editorial Board
- ED&I Focus Group
- New consultants' working group
- Finance Committee
- Higher Awards Committee
The Society is involved in a number of working parties that produce evidence-based and expert guidance in all areas of infection prevention and control. Many of these are led by the Society. HIS members also provide expert representation on Working Parties of other organisations.
Current working parties:
- Prevention and control of infection in burns units (joint with British Burn Association)
- The use of faecal microbiota transplant as treatment for recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infection and other potential indications (joint with British Society of Gastroenterology)
- Microbiological commissioning and monitoring of operating theatre suites
- Infection prevention and control of Group A Streptococcal infection in acute healthcare and maternity settings in the UK
- Water management for healthcare microbiologists
- Use of respiratory and facial protection equipment [paused]
- Prevention and control of Aspergillus [paused]
We are currently recruiting for new members to join the Guidelines Committee, please apply with your expression of interest following this link - Work or volunteer for us
Journal of Hospital Infection (JHI) - Editorial Board
Infection Prevention in Practice (IPIP) - Editorial Board
Executive Editorial Board
The Executive Editorial Board oversees all aspects of journal publishing within HIS, in collaboration with our Publisher, Elsevier.
Members
- Dr Nikunj Mahida (Editor in Chief, Journal of Hospital Infection)
- Dr Gemma Winzor (Editor in Chief, Infection Prevention in Practice)
- Dr Jim Gray (Editor, Journal of Hospital Infection)
- Dr Martyn Wilkinson (Editor, Journal of Hospital Infection)
- Dr Pauline Jumaa (Editor, Infection Prevention in Practice)
- Dr Christopher Settle (Society Chair)
- Dr David Harvey (Society Treasurer)
Our constitution
Our constitution is the rule book we are governed by. Changes to the constitution can only be made with the approval of HIS members, and the Charity Commission must be informed of any changes made. When HIS was formed in 1980, its purposes and the rules for how it should operate are were set down in a governing document. Over time, as HIS has evolved, a number of changes have been made. Most recently (2021) changes were approved in order to ensure the recruitment of new Trustees involves an open call to members, and final selection by HIS Council based on skills gaps identified.