Steve Ellison Elected As New Eurachem Vice Chair

After a ballot of Eurachem member nations undertaken earlier this year, the Eurachem General Assembly ratified the election of LGC's Dr Steve Ellison as its new Vice Chair.

After a ballot of Eurachem member nations undertaken earlier this year, the Eurachem General Assembly ratified the election of LGC's Dr Steve Ellison as its new Vice Chair, at its annual meeting in Prague on 27 May 2004.

From this position, he will automatically become Eurachem Chair in two years' time.

Dr Ellison has been involved with Eurachem for over 10 years; first as Secretary to the Eurachem Measurement Uncertainty and Traceability Working Group, then as a UK representative to the Eurachem General Assembly, and now as Eurachem Vice Chair.

Dr Ellison also chairs the Eurachem Qualitative Analysis Working Group.

In response to his election, Dr Ellison said: "I am very honoured that Eurachem members feel able to place their confidence in me as their Vice Chair." Established in 1989, Eurachem is a network of laboratories in 31 European nations, working in co-operation to establish an internationally recognised system of traceability for chemical measurement and promoting good quality practice.

During the past 15 years, it has made a significant impact on the European analytical scene, by providing internationally accepted guidance on subjects including measurement uncertainty, method validation and accreditation for chemical, microbiological and R and D laboratories.

It also works in collaboration with other bodies, including AOAC International [1], CITAC [2], Eurolab and EA [3], on common issues and in lobbying and influencing major regulatory and political bodies; including the EU.

"Eurachem is a mature organisation with a solid reputation for authoritative technical guidance and for effective promotion of good measurement practice", said Dr Ellison.

"It has a well-considered future strategy and I hope that Eurachem will continue to grow and work closely with current and new members, as well as international metrology organisations, accreditation bodies, regulators and others, to achieve wider harmonisation of measurement practices and regulations." LGC, Europe's leading independent analytical laboratory providing advanced chemical, biochemical and forensic analysis, was one of the original laboratories involved in the establishment of Eurachem.

With funding from the Department of Trade and Industry's Valid Analytical Measurement (VAM) Programme, LGC provided the Secretariat function for Eurachem until 1997.

In its role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical measurement and bioanalysis, LGC continues to provide one of two UK representatives to the General Assembly, while others from LGC participate fully in Eurachem Working Groups and associated projects.

Upon hearing the decision of the Eurachem General Assembly, LGC's Chief Executive, Dr Richard Worswick said: "I am delighted that Steve has been elected as Eurachem's Vice Chair.

The appointment indicates the high regard members have for Steve, who has been active within Eurachem for many years.

LGC supported the establishment of Eurachem in 1989 and continues to be a strong supporter of its activities." Incoming Eurachem Chair, Prof Dr Wolfhard Wegscheider (University of Leoben, Austria) said: "I am very pleased to find myself working closely with Steve Ellison as Eurachem Vice Chair.

Steve, like me, is a passionate supporter of Eurachem and I believe that we will work well together in implementing Eurachem's strategy for its future development, and that the organisation will be even stronger when Steve's term as Eurachem Chair is finished." Steve's term of office as Eurachem Vice Chair will last until spring 2006 when he will automatically succeed Prof Dr Wegscheider as Eurachem Chair.

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