Governance

Interim Executive Committee

As a network of peer organizations, GGBN is governed by an Interim Executive Committee comprised of volunteers who are selected by and represent GGBN members. The Interim Executive Committee oversees the pursuit of goals, priorities and activities proposed by GGBN members. The Interim Executive Committee will focus this effort by identifying key agendas, directing work, sharing information, raising funds, and monitoring outcomes, along with guiding the network as it makes its transition from a concept in 2011 to a formalized member-driven organization in 2016. The Interim Executive Committee reviews prospective members using GGBN membership and member responsibilities. More information can be found in the GGBN working Terms of Reference

List of current members on the Interim Executive Committee

• Ole Seberg, Chair
• Katharine Barker, Program Manager
• Gabriele Droege, Technical Manager
• David Cantrill
• Jonathan Coddington
• Oris Sanjur
• David Schindel
• Yong Zhang
• Xin Zhou

Secretariat Office

GGBN's Secretariat, hosted and supported by the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, performs day to day operational management for GGBN, coordinates member activities, and provides administrative support and communication services for the Interim Executive Committee, Task Force chairs, Technical Management Office, and GGBN Members. Please feel free to get in touch with the Secretariat directly.

• Katharine Barker, Program Manager

Technical Management Office

GGBN's Technical Management Office, hosted by the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, performs day to day operational management of the GGBN Data Portal, GGBN Registry, and GGBN Library, coordinates further improvements, and provides technical support for GGBN Members. Please feel free to get in touch with the Technical Management Office Directly.

• Gabriele Droege, Technical Manager

Task Forces

Three Task Forces were established to address: 1) Data Standards and Data Access for Genomic Samples, 2) Policies and Practices Related to Management and Stewardship of Genomic Samples and 3) Communications and Outreach. Goals will be achieved through the work of Task Forces made up of volunteers who are selected by and represent GGBN members.

Task Force on Data Standards and Data Access for Genomic Samples

Established to develop a standard for sharing DNA and tissue information and develop a global platform for aggregating relevant data sources of genomic samples, vouchers, molecular analysis, publications and images.

Main Outcomes

• Identify collection gaps across the Tree of Life (TOL)
• Members adapt standards for sharing DNA/tissues information
• Member website (data portal)
• Access to aggregated information on genomic samples, vouchers, metadata, DNA, images, publications, etc.

Task Force members

• Gabriele Droege, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (2014-present), Chair
• Margaret Cawsey, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (2014-present)
• Jonathan Coddington, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-present)
• Paul Flemons, Australian Museum (2011-present)
• Mailyn Adriana Gonzalez, Alexander von Humboldt Institute (2012-present)
• Adrian Hine, Natural History Museum London (2012-present)
• Kim Labuschagne, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (2014-present)
• Chris Meyer, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-present)
• Thomas Orrell, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-present)

Former Members

• Donald Hobern, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2011-2015)
• Éamonn Ó Tuama, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2011-2015)
• Cynthia Parr, Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) (2011-2015)
• Jamie Whitacre, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-2015)

Policies and Practices Task Force

Established to define best practices and assisting members towards achievement and develop a values statement in support of member organizations' work on access and benefit sharing (ABS).

Main Outcome

• Members adapt policies and best practices guidelines

Task Force members

• Carol Butler, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2014-present), Chair
• Katharine Barker, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-present)
• Jonas Astrin, Zoological Research Museum A. Koenig (2012-present)
• Paul Bartels, Tshwane University of Technology (2011-present)
• Glyn Figueira, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) (2014-present)
• Leo Joseph, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) (2011-present)
• Chris Lyal, Natural History Museum London (2012-present)
• Jackie Mackenzie-Dodds, Natural History Museum London (2011-present)
• Gitte Petersen, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen (2012-present)
• Oris Sanjur, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (2011-present)
• David Schindel, Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) (2011-present)
• Ole Seberg, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen (2011-present)

Former Members

• Oscar Estrada, Alexander von Humboldt Institute (2011-2012)
• Maria Fernanda Torres, Alexander von Humboldt Institute(2012-2014)

Communications and Outreach Task Force members

Established to develop and implement tools and strategies that efficiently communicate GGBN’s goals, strategies, and upcoming events.

Main Outcomes

• Information on member DNA and tissue holdings made publicly available
• Increased interest and participation in the Global Genome Biodiversity Network

Task Force Members

• Enrique Arbeláez Cortes, Alexander von Humboldt Institute (2015-present)
• Katharine Barker, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-present)
• Gabriele Droege, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (2011-present)
• Kakha Nadiradze, Association for Farmers Rights Defense (2015-present)
• Eva-Maria Sehr, Austrian Institute of Technology (2015-present)
• Charlotte Seid, Ocean Genome Legacy (2015-present)
• Tina Tennessen, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2015-present)
• Rui Zhang, Beijing Genomics Institute, China National Genebank (2015-present)

Former Task Force Members

• Paul Bartels, Tshwane University of Technology (2011-2014)
• Robert Corrigan, Encyclopedia of Life (2011-2014)
• Robert Costello, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2011-2014)
• Timery DeBoer, Ocean Genome Legacy (2014)
• Roderigo Moreno, Alexander von Humboldt Institute (2012-2014)
• Dustin Stonecipher, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2015)
• Andrew Lowe, South Australian Museum (2012-2014)

Data Standards and Data Access for Genomic Samples

The Data Standards and Data Access Task Force is responsible for: 1) developing a standard for sharing DNA and tissue information; and 2) developing a global platform for aggregating relevant data sources of genomic samples, vouchers, molecular analysis, publications and images.

Policies and Practices Related to Management and Stewardship of Genomic Samples

The Policies and Practices Task Force is responsible for: 1) defining best practices and assisting members towards achievement; and 2) developing a values statement in support of member organizations' work on access and benefits sharing (ABS).

Communications and Outreach

The Communications and Outreach Task Force is responsible for developing and implementing tools and strategies that efficiently communicate GGBN’s goals, strategies, and upcoming events.