2025-2027 Management Board Selection: An Open Letter from the Selection Committee

From the Experts of the Selection Committee for the 2025–2027 Management Board

Dear EMA Members,

We, the undersigned members of the Selection Committee (SC) for the 2025–2027 EMA Management Board, write to you in the spirit of transparency, unity, and institutional integrity. In light of recent discourse within the EMA community and beyond, we find it important to clarify the steps taken during the Management Board selection process and reaffirm our shared values of fairness, democratic governance, and mutual respect.

We acknowledge that disagreement is a natural part of any democratic process. However, we are deeply concerned by recent public statements and communications that have circulated misinformation, questioned the legitimacy of the SC, and attempted to destabilise EMA’s internal structures. As an independent body mandated by the EMA Statute, we feel compelled to respond with facts, clarity, and a reaffirmation of due process.

The selection of EMA’s current Management Board, which will guide the organisation through 2027, was conducted by a diverse and experienced team comprising current and former members of the Presidential Team, Management Board, Steering Committee, and long-standing contributors to EMA since its inception in 2006. Between 10 June and 28 June 2025, we carried out a thorough and transparent evaluation in full compliance with EMA’s Statute and Internal Regulations.

Although we had hoped the integrity of our work would stand on its own, recent developments - including undue pressure, public speculation, and breaches of confidentiality, have necessitated a more detailed account of our work. These regrettable actions risk undermining the trust that EMA volunteers and members have worked hard to build over the years. 

In response, and to further reinforce transparency, we will share the details of the evaluation and selection process that took place. We do so not only to provide clarity, but also to bring closure to these regrettable incidents and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to fairness, accountability, and the mission of EMA.

This letter is intended to:

• Share the SC’s perspective on the selection process;

• Provide context  on the activities observed during this period; and

• Reaffirm our position and duty to the EMA community during this time of transition. 

1. Constitution and Conduct of the 2025 Selection Committee

By virtue of Article 10, read with section 9 of the Internal Regulations, the SC was constituted by the incumbent Presidency (President and Vice-President). We, the Selection Committee Experts, received an invitation from the then-incumbent President Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman to join the Selection Committee, on 10th June 2025. 

In contrast to previous years, where the Selection Committee was notably smaller and more regionally concentrated, this year’s committee was intentionally expanded to bring together a broader, more diverse group of experienced EMA members and relevant experts. This approach aimed to reflect EMA’s global identity and ensure greater balance across regions, backgrounds, and expertise areas.

Per Articles 17.1 and 21.1 of the EMA Statute 2024, read with Sections 3 of the Internal Regulations, the SC is an independent body entrusted with ensuring a fair, transparent, and impartial review of candidates for appointment to the Management Board. 

In total, 43 interviews were conducted between 14 June to 23 June 2025. Notably, the outgoing President Dr Md Ashiqur Rahman, the incoming President Adv. Marvi Qazi, and the incoming Vice-President Shahin S. Eity attended all 43 interviews in real time, ensuring continuity, institutional insight, and transparency. Their full and active participation throughout these sessions reflects the collaborative spirit in which the Selection Committee operated and the transparency we strived to uphold. Every eligible applicant was granted an individual interview, underscoring the emphasis placed on equal opportunity, and all interviews were conducted in a professional and impartial manner to ensure each candidate had a fair chance to present their qualifications and competencies.

The list of SC members was published on the EMA website on 26 June 2025. All SC members acted in accordance with EMA’s governance documents. Every individual interview was duly documented and recorded, and each SC member submitted their individual evaluation of the candidates through a Google Form by 26 June 2025. 

On 28th June 2025, between 12:00 to 15:00 HRs CET, the final meeting was convened, where each candidate’s application was carefully reviewed. The final decision was made after careful deliberations, covering individual positions and the Management Board (MB) as a whole. The Directors of the Units were appointed by a simple majority, in line with Section 3.1 of the Internal Regulations. The SC’s decision is documented in a protocol, according to EMA’s governance guidelines.

Upholding Independence and Neutrality

The SC operated autonomously. Once constituted, we did not accept any direction or influence from anyone. The decision was made intentionally to minimise conflicts of interest and maintain the neutrality of the process. 

The SC, formed on an ad hoc basis by the incumbent Presidency, operates as an independent body under the EMA Governance documents. Article 21.1 of the EMA Statute 2024 designates the SC as the main authority in determining the composition of the Management Board:

Article 21.1 of the EMA Statute 2024: Save for the President and the Vice-President, who shall be elected by the General Assembly in the manner provided in these EMA Statutes, the composition of the Management Board shall be determined by the Selection Committee.

Article 21.4 further grants the SC the authority to remove any member of the Management Board:

Article 21.4 of the EMA Statute 2024: Save for the President and the Vice President, every Management Board member can be removed from the office, in accordance with the Internal Regulations, with a two-third majority decision of the Management Board and/or the Selection Committee;

Despite our autonomy, we regret that the process was met with undue pressures and interference during the selection cycle. Some of these efforts stemmed from individuals with potential or actual conflicts of interest. These actions, whether deliberate or misguided, have caused a serious threat to the integrity of the process but also went against the democratic values on which EMA stands.

Addressing Miscommunication and Breach of Confidentiality

We acknowledge and welcome constructive feedback. Open dialogue is essential for the growth and betterment of our EMA. However, it is unfortunate that confidentiality was breached, and selective or misleading information was shared without the full context. This has led to unnecessary rumours and confusion, ultimately undermining the trust we are working to build together.

Any attempt to misinform and misguide the EMA community about the establishment and authority of the SC goes against our collective interests as EMA members. We reiterate our unwavering commitment to upholding neutrality and due process, and we strongly condemn any interference that threatens these values.

2. The Selection Committee’s Stand: Upholding EMA’s Values

As part of the due diligence process, conflicts of interests were identified and managed. 

1. Six members of the former MB reapplied for roles in the 2025-2027 term, either in the same or different director positions.

2. Five SC members had provided letters of recommendation for applicants. Of these, three experts appropriately declared a conflict of interest for the relevant units and recused themselves from related decisions.

However, two SC members – both from the former MB – submitted multiple letters of recommendation and failed to declare any conflict. They participated in all interviews, but their final votes were not counted in relation to those specific candidates, where conflict of interest was detected. It was a majority decision of the SC members. This action was consistent with past EMA precedents - including as recently as September 2024, during the 2023-2025 MB Selection cycle, where conflicts of interest led to members being recused from decision-making, as is standard in professional, nonprofit, and global governance environments. 

According to the EMA Volunteer Agreement and Code of Conduct, all volunteers are required to: 

“Act in the general interest of EMA, not using my position to unfairly benefit myself. In case of conflict of interest: no EMA volunteers, member and partners shall have a financial or other private interest, direct or indirect, personally or through a member of his or her immediate family, in any matter upon which the member is required to act in the discharge of his or her professional/EMA duties. Where such conflict exists, the EMA member and/or partner must disqualify himself or herself from acting, participating or voting.”

SC Decisions, Reopened Units, and Feedback Process

The Selection Committee made all decisions with majority to the best of their abilities, based on application documents, and interview performance. Each appointee brings unique skills, valuable experience, and a clear commitment to serving the EMA community within the unit they applied.  

In three units where no strong candidate emerged, the SC decided to reopen the call for applications. Further details can be found here.

The SC is committed to offering individual feedback sessions to all Management Board applicants who request it. This opportunity will remain open, and we encourage any interested applicants to reach out, on or before 25 July 2025,  via mbselection@em-a.eu who will coordinate. 

3. Institutional Strengthening and the Way Forward

Through its participation in the recent Management Board selection process for the 2025–2027 term, the Selection Committee has identified several structural irregularities inherited from previous cycles. We recognise that EMA’s processes can and should continue to improve. The Selection Committee remains open to sharing reflections and recommendations on how future selection processes may be further strengthened, should such input be deemed helpful.

4. A New Chapter: Supporting EMA’s Elected Leadership

During the 19th General Assembly held on 17 May 2025, elections for the EMA President and Vice-President were conducted per EMA’s statutes. This democratic process resulted in the clear election of Marvi Qazi as President and Shahin S. Eity as Vice-President for the 2025–2027 term, effective 1 July 2025.

We call on all members to support Marvi and Shahin in their respective roles and to move forward in a spirit of collaboration and shared purpose.

This moment calls for serious reforms in EMA. We urge all members to stand up for fair governance, and respect for process, disregard any false information, and to engage thoughtfully. EMA is our community, and its future depends on all of us - students and alumni.

You can do this by:

• Reaching out directly to the new President and Vice-President

• Attending upcoming webinars

• Sharing your views respectfully and solution-orientedly

This is not a time to turn against one another, but to turn toward what EMA has always stood for: community, inclusion, and positive global impact. Let us rebuild EMA with integrity and shared purpose, and restore it to its full strength and spirit.

With respect and commitment,

Experts from the Selection Committee for the 2025–2027 Management Board

15 July 2025

• Dr. Teeroumanee Nadan, EMJM (2005-2007), Steering Committee (2017-2019)

• Dr. Kateryna Shalayeva, EMJM (2008-2010), EMA Women Board Member 2012, President of Regional Chapter in Eurasia 2013-2015

• Amir Kamran, EMJM (2009-2011), Steering Committee (2017-2019)

• Lucia Loposova, EMJM (2010-2012), Steering Committee (2015-2017), Vice-President (2017-2019) 

• Geline Alfred Fuko EMJM (2010-2012), EMA Country Representative for Tanzania (2014–2015), and twice served as Program Representative for CoDe, Active member of EMA Women and Community Network

• Manasseh Anand, EMJM (2011-2013), Management Board (2019-2021)

• Dr. Katharina F Heil, EMJD (2013-2017), President (2019-2021)

• Marsela Husen, EMJM (2014-2016), Vice-President (2019-2021)

• Dr. Sheenam Jain, EMJD (2016-2020), Management Board (2021-2024)

• Estefanía Zárate Angarita, EMJM (2016-2018), Management Board (2019 - 2021)