BEHIND THE SCENES: HOW ESRA WORKS

Understanding How Our Society Comes Together

For many members, ESRA is the congress they attend every year, a webinar they join after work, an examination they prepare for, a guideline they use in practice, or a network of colleagues and friends across countries.

But behind every activity, there is a structure of people working together to make it happen.

As our Society continues to grow, we thought this would be a good moment to explain—simply and briefly—how ESRA works.

Because understanding how the Society functions is also understanding where each member can contribute.

MEMBERS: THE HEART OF ESRA

Everything starts with the members.

ESRA exists because of its members and for its members.

Individual members support the Society through participation, ideas, scientific contribution, volunteering, attending activities and, at important moments, by taking part in Society decisions through the General Assembly.

Members are not observers of ESRA.

They are ESRA.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly brings together the membership and represents an important moment in the life of the Society.

It provides members with opportunities to receive updates, discuss key topics and participate in decisions according to the Society framework and bylaws.

While not part of day-to-day operations, it reflects one of ESRA’s most important principles: member participation.

THE COUNCIL

The Council connects ESRA with its broader community and national representation.

Council members contribute perspectives from across countries and practice environments and support the strategic direction of the Society.

The Council helps ensure that ESRA remains connected to its members and responsive to the evolution of regional anaesthesia and pain medicine across different settings.

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board works together to transform ideas into action.

It supports planning, decision-making and implementation across ESRA’s activities and priorities and acts as a bridge between strategy and execution.

The Executive Board represents collective leadership, ensuring that ESRA continues to evolve while remaining aligned with its mission and values.

THE MAJOR OFFICERS (MOs)

The Major Officers provide strategic leadership and continuity for the Society.

These roles include:
• President
• President Elect / Past President
• Secretary General
• Treasurer

Working closely with the Executive Board, Council, committees and Office, the Major Officers support coordination across the Society and help ensure continuity between leadership cycles.

Their role is not to work separately from the Society—but to help connect people, align priorities and support the long-term vision of ESRA.

COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS: WHERE IDEAS BECOME REALITY

This is where many members first become actively involved.

Committees and working groups drive much of ESRA’s work and bring together volunteers with common interests.

Their activities include: Education and training; Congress scientific content; Webinars; Examinations; Communication and publications; Research initiatives; Residents and trainees activities; International collaborations and New projects and innovation, etc.

Many of the most popular and best initiatives started as ideas within these groups.

THE ESRA OFFICE:
THE BACKBONE OF THE SOCIETY

If members are the heart of ESRA, the Office is its backbone.

It is the glue that keeps people connected.

It is the engine that quietly keeps things moving.

Behind every congress registration, membership renewal, webinar, committee meeting, educational activity, examination, communication, financial process and member enquiry, there is a team making it happen.

Often unseen by members, the Office works continuously in the background—quietly, diligently and effectively—to transform ideas into reality and ensure continuity throughout the year.

While elected positions evolve over time, the Office provides operational continuity, organisational memory and day-to-day support that allow ESRA to function and grow.

Today, the ESRA Office brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals, each contributing a different area of expertise:

Administrative Manager. Ensures smooth day-to-day coordination of Society operations and supports governance and organisational continuity.

Quality Officer. Supports process development, quality standards and continuous improvement across ESRA activities.

Marketing Manager. Leads visibility, promotion and communication strategies to strengthen ESRA’s reach and impact.

Memberships Coordinator. Supports members throughout their ESRA journey and helps maintain an active and connected community.

ESRA–DRA (former EDRA) Coordinator. Coordinates examination activities and supports one of ESRA’s flagship educational programmes.

EU Project Manager. Supports international projects and collaborations that contribute to education, innovation and growth.

Events Manager. Coordinates educational and Society events and helps transform ideas into meaningful experiences.

Congress Manager. Leads the planning and delivery of the Annual Congress and supports one of the Society’s largest undertakings.

Accounting Officer. Ensures financial administration and supports responsible operational management.

Community Manager. Creates connections across communication channels and supports engagement between ESRA and its members.

Industry Manager. Develops partnerships and collaborations that support ESRA’s educational and scientific mission.

Together, this team does far more than organise activities.

They answer questions before they are asked.
They solve problems before they become visible.
They connect people across countries and time zones.
They support volunteers, committees and leadership.
And they help turn ideas into projects, and projects into reality.

The Office does not simply support ESRA.

The Office helps make ESRA happen.

Their work may often happen behind the scenes—but its impact is visible in every webinar attended, every congress experienced, every examination delivered and every member supported.

ONE SOCIETY. MANY PEOPLE. ONE DIRECTION.

ESRA is not built by one committee, one leader or one meeting.

It is built through collaboration.

Through members.
Through volunteers.
Through elected representatives.
Through faculty.
Through committees.
Through the Office.

And there is always space for new people to become involved.

If you have ever wondered whether there is a place for you in ESRA—

the answer is yes.