Governance & Leadership

UKABCS is governed by a Board of Trustees/Directors who oversee strategic direction, compliance, and accountability.

Governance Framework

Strategic oversight, legal compliance, and documented accountability.

The UK Association for Biotechnology & Computational Science (UKABCS) is governed by a Board of Trustees/Directors who provide strategic oversight, ensure legal compliance, and uphold accountability. This governance framework ensures that all UKABCS activities — including grants, training, publishing, and partnerships — operate transparently and ethically, in full alignment with UKRI standards and UK company law.

Organisational Structure

This structure ensures UKABCS meets full UKRI governance standards through collective leadership, transparent evaluation, and documented accountability.

01 · Board of Trustees

Sets the overall strategy, approves policies, and ensures legal and ethical compliance. Reviews quarterly performance and endorses final decisions.

02 · Managing Director

Implements the Board’s resolutions and oversees legal, financial, and administrative compliance within the UK.

03 · Specialised Committees

Provide expert recommendations on specific areas: Audit & Finance → Budget control and audits. Grants Review → Peer review of funding proposals. Ethics & EDI → Ethical integrity and inclusion. Advisory → Strategic scientific input. Partnership → Collaboration and MoUs.

04 · Decision Flow

Committees review → issue recommendations → Managing Director verifies compliance → Board of Trustees gives final approval → Operational Teams implement.

05 · Accountability

All decisions are documented in official minutes, audited annually, and published in the UKABCS Annual Governance Report to ensure transparency.

Board of Trustees / Directors

Board Responsibilities & Transparency

Strategic direction, compliance, accountability, and renewal.

The Board of Trustees is UKABCS’s highest governing body. It sets strategic direction, protects legal and ethical compliance, and ensures grants, training, publishing, and partnerships operate transparently. Trustees independently oversee financial, ethical, and operational performance, meet regularly to approve policy and review impact, and renew annually under the Association’s constitution. Under Chair Dr. Israa Shamkh and Managing Director Mr. Khizar Hayat, the Board maintains accountable, globally engaged governance.

Governance & Leadership

Board of Trustees / Directors

The Board ensures that all UKABCS activities — including grants, training, publishing, and partnerships — operate ethically and in full alignment with UK company and charity governance frameworks. Each Trustee contributes independently to the oversight of the Association’s financial, ethical, and operational performance.

Ms. Israa Mohamed Shamkh

UK / Egypt

Trustee / Partnerships & Strategic Development Lead

EBO Bio Solution Ltd / UKABCS

Israa M. Shamkh is the Head of Computational Chemistry and a Full-Stack Developer at EBO Bio Solution Ltd, specialising in AI-driven drug discovery and the development of advanced computational platforms.

Mr. Khizar Hayat

Managing Director

UKABCS Executive Operations

Administrative Director responsible for legal compliance, operations, and corporate governance in the UK. Oversees registration, reporting, and alignment with UK Companies House and Charity Commission regulations.

Prof. Dr. Ihosvany Camps

Brazil

Trustee / Scientific Advisor

Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil

Full Professor of Physics at the Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil. CRO Manager, Scientific Supervisor, and Editor-in-Chief. Expert in academic collaboration, computational modelling, and scientific innovation.

Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Rahman

USA

Trustee / Ethics & EDI Lead

Northeastern University, USA

Lecturer at Northeastern University (USA). CRO Manager, Scientific Supervisor, and Instructor. Responsible for ethical oversight, research integrity, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives within UKABCS.

Dr. Amina Ibrahim Dirar

Partnerships & Strategic Development Lead

Dr. Mohamed Soliman

Azerbaijan

Trustee / Research Monitoring & Grants Reporting Lead

Western Caspian University, Baku

Department of Life Sciences, Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan. Oversees research progress and ensures high-quality reporting of scientific outcomes.

Mr. Mahmoud Ayman El Morsy

Egypt

Trustee / Accreditation & Grants Coordinator

Research Associate & Accreditation Coordinator

Oversees the academic quality of training programmes and assists in coordinating grants and research evaluations.

Governance Committees

Standing Governance Committees

Collective Leadership for a Fair and Inclusive Research Future.

Audit & Finance Committee

The Audit & Finance Committee supervises all financial governance, budgeting, and auditing activities within UKABCS. It ensures that all resources, donations, and grants are managed transparently and efficiently, in compliance with UKRI and Charity Commission standards. The committee develops financial policies, monitors expenditure, and reviews annual reports before submission to the Board of Trustees. The committee is chaired by appointed members approved by the Board of Trustees. The current composition is available upon request.

Grants Review Committee

The Grants Review Committee manages the peer-review process for all research and capacity-building grant applications. It ensures that funding decisions are made based on scientific merit, innovation, and impact. The committee operates independently, maintaining fairness and transparency at every stage of evaluation. It also advises the Board on improving the grant framework and aligning it with global research integrity principles. The committee is chaired by appointed members approved by the Board of Trustees. The current composition is available upon request.

Ethics & EDI Committee

The Ethics & EDI Committee ensures that UKABCS upholds the highest standards of ethical research practice and inclusivity. It reviews policies, training activities, and funded projects to guarantee compliance with UKRI’s research integrity and EDI standards. The committee develops frameworks that promote fairness, gender balance, and accessibility for underrepresented researchers. It also provides recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding ethical conduct and complaint resolution procedures. The committee is chaired by appointed members approved by the Board of Trustees. The current composition is available upon request.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee supports the Board of Trustees by offering independent, expert advice on scientific priorities, capacity-building programmes, and research collaborations. It comprises senior academics and industry experts who contribute to shaping UKABCS’s strategic direction and innovation roadmap. The committee also assists in identifying new areas of impact, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and aligning activities with UK and international research priorities. The committee is chaired by appointed members approved by the Board of Trustees. The current composition is available upon request.

Partnership Committee

The Partnership Committee is responsible for establishing and maintaining collaborations between UKABCS and academic, governmental, and corporate institutions worldwide. It reviews new partnership proposals, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and strategic alliances to ensure alignment with UKABCS values and long-term objectives. The committee also evaluates partnership performance and explores new opportunities for capacity-building and knowledge exchange. The committee is chaired by appointed members approved by the Board of Trustees. The current composition is available upon request.

Decision-Making & Meetings

Structured, Evidence-Based Governance

Collective decisions aligned with the Association’s constitution and governance framework.

The UKABCS Board of Trustees and its specialised Committees follow a structured and transparent decision-making process to ensure accountability, fairness, and efficiency in all operations. Decisions are made collectively, based on evidence, peer review, and ethical considerations. Through structured meetings, collective decision-making, and strict adherence to transparency, UKABCS maintains the highest standards of governance — ensuring that every policy, partnership, and project reflects ethical excellence and scientific integrity.

Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest Policy

Ensuring all UKABCS decisions are made with integrity, independence, and transparency.

UKABCS requires full disclosure and appropriate recusal whenever a personal, financial, or professional interest could affect a decision. Read the official policy for the complete requirements, oversight process, and enforcement approach.

Read the Conflict of Interest Policy

Annual Reports & Accountability

Inaugural Annual Report 2025

The first public report will be published in early 2026.

As a newly established academic association, UKABCS is currently in its inaugural operational year (2025). The organization is committed to producing an Annual Governance & Impact Report each year, starting from 2025, to ensure full transparency, accountability, and compliance with UKRI and Charity Commission governance standards. The first annual report — Inaugural Annual Report 2025 — will summarise the establishment of UKABCS and its governance structure; the first round of institutional capacity-building grants; key partnerships and academic collaborations initiated in 2025; the financial summary of in-kind donations and operational expenses; and progress of Committees and strategic milestones. This page will be updated with downloadable reports and public summaries as the Association grows. Full financial statements and due diligence documentation are maintained internally and can be shared upon request. The first public report will be published in early 2026, covering all 2025 activities.

Governance Framework

Organisational Structure

01 · Board of Trustees

02 · Managing Director

03 · Specialised Committees

04 · Decision Flow

05 · Accountability

Board Responsibilities & Transparency

Board of Trustees / Directors

Ms. Israa Mohamed Shamkh

Mr. Khizar Hayat

Prof. Dr. Ihosvany Camps

Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Rahman

Dr. Amina Ibrahim Dirar

Dr. Mohamed Soliman

Mr. Mahmoud Ayman El Morsy

Standing Governance Committees

Audit & Finance Committee

Grants Review Committee

Ethics & EDI Committee

Advisory Committee

Partnership Committee

Structured, Evidence-Based Governance

Conflict of Interest Policy

Inaugural Annual Report 2025

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