Learn more about our committees
Education Committee: Chair: Dr Ben Hockenhull – Responsible for developing and delivering the Association’s educational strategy, supporting high-quality learning and professional development across the specialty. Through seminars, webinars, and Core Topics events, it ensures all educational activities meet the highest standards of excellence.
Finance, Audit, Risk and Investment Committee: Chair: Dr Emma Wain - Chaired by the Treasurer, this committee supports the Board by overseeing financial strategy, risk management, audit processes, and investments. It ensures strong governance, accurate reporting, and alignment with regulatory and strategic objectives.
Guidelines and Working Parties Committee: Chair: Dr Victoria McCormack – Oversees active working parties that develop and update clinical guidelines and considers proposals for new guidance and resources. It ensures the publication of trusted, high-quality clinical guidance that supports safe and effective practice.
International Relations Committee (IRC): Chair: Dr Andrzej Wlaszczyk – Provides international expertise and facilitates collaboration with partner organisations. It supports safe anaesthesia and critical care in low-resource and international settings through funding opportunities that enable UK and Irish anaesthetists to volunteer abroad and deliver educational and clinical projects.
Irish Standing Committee: Convenor: Dr John Loughrey – The voice of Association members working in Ireland, ensuring their views are communicated to the Board and highlighting issues, opportunities, and developments relevant to Irish practice.
Morgan Committee: Chair: Dr Tony Thomas – Leads the scientific content and broader educational programme for conferences, including Annual Congress, the Winter Scientific Meeting, and the new Festival of Anaesthesia. The committee plays a key role in ensuring the Association continues to deliver relevant, challenging, and high-quality education, maintaining its position as a leading provider nationally and internationally.
Nominations and Appointments Committee: Chair: Dr Victoria McCormack – Reviews and approves nominations for committee memberships and chairs, as well as honours and awards, ensuring a fair, transparent, and merit-based selection process.
Publications Committee: Chair: Dr Matt Wiles – Oversees the publication of Anaesthesia, Anaesthesia Reports and Anaesthesia News ensuring the publications and other relevant activities maintain the highest standards of editorial integrity, scientific rigour and alignment with the Association’s strategic goals.
Research & Innovation Committee: Chair: Dr Matt Wiles - Provides expertise on research and innovation, oversees the Association’s research strategy, and assesses applications for research funding (via the National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia (NIAA)). By supporting research grants, undergraduate elective funding, and a range of awards, the Committee plays a vital role in promoting high-quality research and creating opportunities to advance and develop the specialty.
Resident Doctors Committee: Chair: Dr James Brooks – Represents and advocates for resident members, supporting their training, wellbeing, and professional development while providing a forum to address issues affecting resident doctors. It also acts as a link between residents and the board to promote high standards of education and clinical practice across the specialty.
Safety, Standards, Environment and Sustainability Committee: Chair: Dr Philip Barclay and Dr Cliff Shelton – Provides expert guidance on patient safety, anaesthetic equipment standards, and environmental sustainability in anaesthetic practice, while advising on safety concerns raised by members, industry, and manufacturers. It also supports the development and implementation of national and international standards to improve the quality and performance of anaesthetic equipment.
SAS Committee: Chair: Dr Emma Wain – Represents SAS members and other relevant sectors of the membership across the UK and Ireland, promoting their interests, supporting their professional development, and advancing their wellbeing in line with the aims of the Association.
Scottish Standing Committee: Convenor: Dr Andrea Harvey – Represents and supports the interests of the Association’s members in Scotland, providing advice to the board on Scottish matters and acting as the voice of the Association in Scotland.
Committee chairs can be contacted for advice through the Governance team on 020 7631 1650 (option 3) or email [email protected].
There are also number of steering and task groups which address different areas of the Association strategy:
Heritage Steering Group: Chair: Dr Philip Barclay and Francesca Cockshull – Provides a source of expertise on heritage matters and advise the board on matters relating to the heritage of anaesthesia, its practice and equipment and also the history of the Association of Anaesthetists.
SAFE Steering Group: Chair: Dr Jolene Moore – Oversees the operational delivery of the programme, fundraising, promotion and communication for the Safer Anaesthesia From Education (SAFE) initiative jointly created by the Association and WFSA. It also supports global delivery of SAFE courses through the awarding of funding to improve anaesthesia education and patient safety worldwide.
Wellbeing Steering Group: Chair: Dr Robert Self – Develops and oversees wellbeing initiatives, focusing on how the Association can support members’ mental, physical, and occupational wellbeing throughout their careers. It provides guidance and resources, raises awareness of wellbeing issues, and advocates for improved working conditions.
Independent Practice Task Group: Chair: Dr Craig Carroll – Advises the board on independent practice strategy and policy relevant to our members who are working within the private sector.