When appointing a General Chair, the coordinating committee should carefully consider several key criteria to ensure the success of the conference:
- The ideal candidate should have experience from at least one conference chair role
- The general chair should be some of the most senior and experienced people in a conference’s field
- A proven capacity for leadership, including good organizational, collaborative and communicative abilities.
- An established, widely known, and respected individual with longtime stature in the discipline.
- He or she must be familiar with the conference format and objectives
- Should be an active member of EAI
To finalize the appointment of the General Chair, they must receive approval from the President of EAI and Head of Conferences, indicating their suitability for the role. Conference organizers should refer to the EAI Conference Organizers Manual for further technical information on both General Chair and Program Chair roles.
Diversity
It is imperative that all coordinating General Chairs and Program Chairs commit to following effective diversity and ethical guidelines. This includes ensuring that the conference program is inclusive and representative of diverse perspectives and backgrounds, inviting speakers and participants from underrepresented groups, and creating an environment that is welcoming and accessible to all. For example, this could involve organizing a diversity and inclusion committee or implementing measures to support attendees with disabilities.
View more technical information on Chair roles in Conference Organizer’s Manual:
https://eai.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/EAI_Conference_Organizers_Manual_2018.pdf
