Governance
Governance documents regarding the aims and processes of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), alongside codes of conduct with which our members must comply, are all publicly available.
The RSB is incorporated by a Royal Charter and further governed by the Bylaws and Regulations. In 2019, the Society celebrated 40 years of the Charter, which is agreed by Her Royal Majesty's Privy Council, as are the Bylaws.
The Royal Charter outlines the parameters within which the RSB can operate and the charitable objectives it must adhere to. The Bylaws detail the structure of the organisation and the Regulations provide instructions on the day-to-day functioning of the Society. The RSB Council has the power to amend the Regulations.
Annual report and accounts
The RSB financial year runs from 1 October to 30 September. Each year we publish a report detailing all the work that has gone on during the financial year, as well as the full set of accounts which are formally approved by our membership at Annual General Meetings.
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2024
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2023
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2022
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2021
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2020
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2019
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2018
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2017
- Annual report and accounts for year end September 2016
Other useful governing documents
Royal Society of Biology AGM
The Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 21 May 2025 at the Geological Society, Burlington House, London and Zoom. It included a Charter Lecture entitled 'Self Defence: A Myth-busting Guide to Immune Health' by Professor Daniel M Davis MBE FMedSci FRSB, and presentation of the Trustees' Report and Accounts.
The agenda and PDF presentation from the 2025 meeting are available to download, alongside the minutes from the 2024 Annual General Meeting. You can also watch the Charter Lecture on the RSB YouTube channel.
Contact
For any AGM queries, please contact events@rsb.org.uk.
The Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 8 May via Zoom. It included a Charter Lecture entitled 'Reflections on… career paths, life at the science policy interface, and opportunities for bioscience', by Professor Dame Melanie Welham FRSB, RSB Council member, and presentation of the Trustees' Report and Accounts.
The questions and answers from the 2024 meeting are available to download, alongside the AGM presentation and the draft minutes from the 2023 Annual General Meeting.
Watch the Charter Lecture on the RSB YouTube channel.
Voting members
Members from all grades can attend our AGM, but only those members at grades MRSB and FRSB are entitled to vote. Up to two representatives from each Member Organisation of the RSB can attend the AGM. Only Full Member Organisations may vote and only one representative is entitled to vote.
Contact
For any AGM queries, please contact events@rsb.org.uk.
The Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 10 May at the Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE.
The AGM Charter Lecture was delivered by Fiona Fox OBE Hon FRSB, chief executive of the Science Media Centre, and entitled 'Fighting misinformation — using our trusted voice to good effect'.
Download a summary of the accounts of the Society for October 2021-September 2022, which was approved at the AGM. A full 48 page version of the accounts and infographic of activity is also available.
The 2022 RSB Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 18 May from 11:00-14:00 BST at The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A IPL. The AGM included a Charter Lecture, delivered by RSB Trustee Dr Suzy Moody MRSB, entitled Celebrating diversity: the joys of being a zebra among horses. The meeting also included a presentation of the Trustee's Report and Accounts, and succession of the new Society President, Professor Sir Ian Boyd FRS FRSB.
Download a PDF of the presentation.
Download accounts (48 pages) of the Society for the year October 2020-September 2021, which was approved in the AGM.
The 2021 RSB Annual General Meeting was held online on Wednesday 19 May.
The AGM included a Charter Lecture, delivered by Professor Stefan Przyborski FRSB, RSB Trustee, and professor of cell technology in the Department of Biosciences at Durham University, entitled 'Bioengineering Human Tissues in the Laboratory'. There was also a presentation of the Trustee's Report and Accounts, and announcement of the RSB President-elect.
A pdf of the AGM presentation is available, and the Charter Lecture can be watched on the RSB YouTube channel.
Download a summary of the accounts of the Society for the year October 2019-September 2020, which was approved in the AGM. A full version (46 pages) is also available.
Draft minutes were formally approved at the AGM in 2022.
Over 150 members and representatives from Member Organisations attended last year's Annual General Meeting on Thursday 24 September. The virtual meeting included a Charter Lecture by Dr Jacqui Piner CBiol FRSB, presentation of the Trustee’s Report and Accounts and election of new Trustees to the RSB Council.
A PDF of the AGM presentation, updates on MPA committee activity and ESP committee activity are available, and the Charter Lecture can be watched on the RSB YouTube channel.
A summary of the accounts of the Society for the year October 2018-September 2019 which was approved in the AGM can be downloaded. A full version (46 pages) is also available.
Draft minutes are available to download and were formally approved at the AGM in 2021.
Business Plan
The Strategy & Five Year Business Plan — 2025-2030
To help us put together the strategic plan, we asked for input and opinion from our Member Organisations, special interest groups, branch committees, other committees and working groups, and individual members.
We would like to thank our community of members, who have contributed to the development of the strategy.
Previous business plans
- The Strategy & Three Year Business Plan — 2022-2024
- Biology Changing the World: Strategic Plan 2019-2021
- Three Year Review of the Business Plan 2019-2021
- The Next Three Years: 2015-2018
- Three Year Review of the previous business plan 2012-2015 explains the work of the Society of Biology, successes to date and a selection of our key objectives across our major areas of work.
Discover our Council members