This year, GEM held its second hybrid-format Governing Board meeting, with 17 partners and 18 staff attending in person, and 30 partners and 9 staff attending remotely. More than 50 guests remotely attended an open session featuring presentations of GEM’s progress report on its technical work program in the second semester.

The Governing Board approved several new and renewed memberships. CelsiusPro is a new Advisory Sponsor and Aon is a new Private Governors, represented by Alireza Khodaverdian and Adam Podlaha, respectively. Also approved was a change in sponsorship type for MarshMcLennan/Guy Carpenter and Willis Towers Watson from Advisors to Private Governors, with Stuart Callum and Matthew Eagle as the new voting representatives, respectively.

The meeting also highlighted the participation of Rui Pinho, who presented the program for the upcoming World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, which will be held in Milan in 2024. Rui is leading the WCEE Organising Committee. He also served as GEM Secretary General from 2009-2013 setting the foundation for the achievements of GEM today. Here’s an excerpt from his speech at the GEM dinner.

“GEM is going very strong,” said Rui. “Well done to the people who make up GEM today. Keep the GEM mission going forward. Thank you.”

GEM would like to extend its gratitude to all the participants and guests who actively participated in the open sessions. GEM will hold its next Governing Board meeting on June 15-16, 2023, also in hybrid format.