Governance

In 2021, after several years of operations of the GEO-GSNL initiative and following the increase in the number of Supersites (14 as of 2021), a critical evaluation of the existing governance structure was carried out.

The Scientific Advisory Committee proposed a new governance model for the GSNL initiative in April 2021. The SAC proposal was approved by the Supersite Coordinators in July 2021.

The new governance structure became operational starting February 2022, and is composed of a Steering Committee, a Management Board, and the initiative Chair.

 

The GSNL Steering Committee

It focuses on strategic decisions (e.g., possible changes to the initiative scope/governance, engagement with possible funders, donors, international organizations, etc.), high-level issues and mission-focused activities.

It is composed of 7 members experienced in the fields of interest of the initiative, including the initiative Chair.

As of January 2022, the SC has the following composition:

1. Stefano Salvi, INGV, Italy. Chair of the initiative;
2. Pierric Ferrier, CNES, France. Chair of the CEOS Working Group on Disasters;
3. Haris Kontoes, NOA-IAASARS, Greece (liaison to the GEO DRR WG);
4. Li Li, IGP-CEA, China (representing IASPEI)
5. Roberto Sulpizio, UniBa, Italy (representing IAVCEI)
6. two members of the GSNL Management Board (tbd).

 

Members 3, 4, 6 are appointed for a three-year term; the term of member 2 is two years, following the CEOS rules.

The meetings of the SC are organized and supported by the Chair of the initiative.

 

Duties of the SC

1. Take high level decisions regarding the initiative scope, vision, governance, and their changes.
2. Process the proposals for new Supersites. Establish or discontinue Supersites according to the procedures agreed with CEOS (to be revised in 2022).
3. Evaluate periodic Supersite biennial reports (with support from the Management Board) and overall performance of the initiative. Oversee the Management Board activities.
4. Support the Management Board in seeking funding and other opportunities for development.
5. Closely coordinate with the Management Board to assist in the definition of the periodic Implementation Plans for GEO.
6. Select and appoint the Chair of the initiative to serve on a 4-year term.
7. Select and appoint the members of the Management Board who are not Supersite Coordinators, to serve on a 3-year term.

 

The Management Board

The MB focuses on the routine management decisions and operational activities.

It is composed of all the Supersite coordinators, the Chair of the CEOS Data Coordination Team, two experienced scientists and technologists in the fields of interest. The latter are proposed and selected by the Steering Committee. The MB is chaired by the Chair of the initiative.

Thus, the composition of the MB as of January 2022 is:

• Michael Poland, USA, USGS, Coordinator of the Hawaiian volcanoes Supersite
• Michelle Parks, Iceland, IMO, Coordinator of the Icelandic volcanoes Supersite
• Giuseppe Puglisi, Italy, INGV, Coordinator of the Etna volcano Supersite
• Sven Borgstrom, Italy INGV, Coordinator of the Campi Flegrei/Vesuvius Supersite
• Semih Ergintav, Turkey, KOERI, Coordinator of the Western North Anatolian Fault Supersite
• Ian Hamling, New Zealand, GNS Science, Coordinator of the Taupo Volcano Supersite
• Patricia Mothes, Ecuador, IGEPN, Coordinator of the Ecuador volcanoes Supersite
• Spyros Lalechos, Greece, EPPO-OASP, Coordinator of the Corinth Gulf/Ionian Islands Supersite
• William Barnhart, USA, USGS, Coordinator of the San Andreas Fault Natural Laboratory
• Luis Lara, Chile, SERNAGEOMIN, Coordinator of the Southern Andes  volcanoes Supersite
• Charles Balagizi, D.R. Congo, GVO, Coordinator of the Virunga volcanoes Supersite
• Alina Shevchenko, Russia, IVS, Coordinator of the Kamchatka volcanoes Supersite
• Yun Shao, China, AIR - CAS, Coordinator of the China faults Supersite
• Iris Cruz Martínez, Nicaragua, INETER, Coordinator of the Nicaragua volcanoes Supersite
• Laura Frulla, Argentina, CONAE, Chair of the CEOS Data Coordination Team
• Florian Haslinger, Swiss Seismological Service - ETH Zürich, was nominated by the SC as external member in the MB.

 

Duties of the MB

1. Closely interact and coordinate with the SC to ensure an effective management.
2. Elaborate the periodic Implementation Plans for GEO, in coordination with the SC.
3. Take operational decisions and carry out the Implementation Plan activities.
4. Report to the SC and to GEO/CEOS on the general GSNL activities and performance.
5. Carry out the dissemination and outreach activities and represent the initiative at conferences and other events.
6. Coordinate with the relevant CEOS Working Groups and initiatives, as the WG on Disasters, the Data Coordination Team, the WG on Capacity Building, the Volcano Demonstrator, the Seismic Demonstrator, etc.
7. Raise relevant issues to the SC, e.g., propose changes in the initiative mission/vision, Supersite approval procedures, etc.

 

The Chair of the initiative

It is an experienced researcher, data scientist or technologist with a background in one or more of these disciplines:  volcanology, seismology, remote sensing. It is selected by the SC following a call open to the scientific community. It is appointed for a 4-year term, renewable once.

The Chair of the initiative is Stefano Salvi, INGV, Italy.

Duties of the Chair

1. Convenes and chairs the MB meetings, participates to the SC meetings with voting rights.
2. Represents the initiative in GEO and in the CEOS, coordinates with the GEO Secretariat.
3. Represents the initiative at official events, supported by the MB members.