ISBT Foundation
In addition to facilitating the educational activities of the Society, the ISBT Academy asses requests from external organisations in low and middle income countries for support for specific educational activities. These Academy approved activities are supported financially by the Foundation of the International Society of Blood Transfusion.
The primary goals of the Foundation are:
- To support educational activities relating to the practice of transfusion medicine and allied fields globally, with a special focus on areas of low and medium human development.
- To manage and administer the funds granted to it annually by the ISBT, in support of the Foundation’s primary objectives.
- To ensure that the funds are responsibly used for education to sustain and improve the safety and health of blood donors and transfused patients.
- To ensure that, in collaboration with ISBT, funded programs meet or exceed accepted standards and are compatible with the maintenance or improvement of acceptable practice in the field.
- To monitor the effectiveness of the utilisation of funds, with particular reference to the completion of educational programs in a timely manner, and the satisfaction levels of program attendees.
The Foundation is advised by an Advisory committee who review applications for financial support. Applications in excess of €5,000 are signed off by the Foundation following advice from the Advisory committee.
The Foundation operates on a not for profit basis.
Management of the Foundation
The Foundation is managed by the Foundation Board consisting of a minimum of five and a maximum of seven persons. There are two classes of Foundation Board member: ex officio and general. The ex officio members are the Secretary General of ISBT, the Treasurer of ISBT and the Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the ISBT Academy. General Foundation Board members are elected by the Board of ISBT and serve a three year term. They may be re-elected for one further term.
Current members of the Foundation Board are:
Gwen Clarke
Secretary General (2018-2026)
Chair of the Vox SC; member of the Immunohematology and Rare Blood Working parties; Hematopathologist and Transfusion Medicine physician from Canada
Gwen Clarke is a physician with training at the University of Alberta and at Emory University. She has clinical and research interests in perinatal immunohematology and experience as a hospital transfusion medicine physician and with the Canadian blood supplier. Her current role with Canadian Blood services includes medical leadership for perinatal and immunohematology reference laboratories, consultation in donor testing and for the Rare Blood Program. Gwen is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine at the University of Alberta. She is a former program director for residency training in Hematopathology and an examiner for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Gwen has recently completed a term as president of the Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine.
Eric Jansen
Treasurer (2016-2024)
Eric Jansen is currently working as an independent consultant in Blood Supply Chain Management. He is partner together with prof. dr. ir. Jan van der Wal in the company Blood Supply Chain Solutions. Eric retired in 2013 from his role as managing director of the Sanquin Blood Service Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Together with Steve Morgan he started and chaired the EBA Benchmarking project, aiming at performance improvement. Best practice are identified and via the EBA Flying Squad members in Europe (and US) were helped in the implementation of these best practices. Eric Jansen also worked in University and general hospitals in the Netherlands.
Lin Fung
Vice President (2020-2024)
Lin Fung is the Associate Professor in Medical Laboratory Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She has worked in tertiary hospital pathology laboratories, led research teams at the Australian Blood Service and University of Queensland, and was the Chair of the ISBT Granulocyte Immunobiology Working Party. She serves on two hospital blood management committees and has an active interest in translational transfusion research. This led her to set up the OptiBlood research team, which runs studies directed at optimising the patient’s blood and use of blood products. Lin enjoys public speaking, facilitating collaborations, mentoring young scientists and is an advocate for evidence based transfusion practice.
Compensation
None of the Foundation officers will receive any remuneration as all are volunteers interested in the provision of a safe blood supply for patients who may require a blood or blood component transfusion.
Information
Stichting van The International Society of Blood Transfusion
Marnixstraat 317, 1016 TB Amsterdam
RSIN/ANBI 815743531
