About EASM

The European Association for Sport Management (EASM) was established in 1993 as an independent association of people involved or interested in the management of sport in the broadest sense. EASM membership is composed of academics and professionals from the public, voluntary and commercial sectors.

EASM has a wide international network of experts and National Organisations in the fields of sport management and has close European and Intercontinental relations (the International Sport Management Alliance). Members of EASM come from nearly 40 different countries, and from every continent.

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HOW TO BECOME A BOARD MEMBER

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

SUSTAINABILITY GUIDELINES

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

STATUTES AND BY-LAWS

BOARD

President

JAMK University of Applied Sciences

Aila Ahonen (FIN)

Vice President

University of Bayreuth

Tim Ströbel (GER)

Treasurer

Lithuanian Sport University

Irena Valantine (LIT)

Secretary General

Leipzig University

Anton Behrens (GER)

Board Member

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Kostas Alexandris (GRE)

Editor ESMQ

University of Michigan

Kathy Babiak (USA)

Board Member

UEFA

Thomas Junod (SUI)

Board Member

University of Lausanne

Ioannis Konstantopoulos (GRE)

Board Member

University of Warsaw

Grzegorz Botwina (POL)

Student Representative

Hanze University of Applied Science

Ashlinn Walsh (AUS)

Board Member

University of Stirling

Claudio Rocha (BRA)

EASM Office

Office Manager

Leipzig University

Celina Gaedeke (GER)

Office Assistant

Leipzig University

Julia Zierl (GER)

How to become a Board Member

The EASM Board is made up of volunteers from across Europe who work together to fulfill the main aims of EASM. If you respond “yes” to the following questions, then you can find some helpful advice regarding what the activity entails and the criteria needed to become an EASM board member.

Do you have a passion to work in sport management?
Are you interested in sport management education and research?
Would you like to extend your international network and improve your inter-cultural skills?
Do you “want to give something back to society”?
Have you gained experience with EASM conferences?
Do you like the goals and the culture of EASM?
Are you keen to work with like-minded people from across Europe and the globe?
Above all, do you want to have fun and bring a bit of humour into your working life?

Essential Criteria & Competencies

To be able to effectively contribute to the work of EASM and allocate time for that
Demonstrate excellent teamwork and project management skills
Be self-motivated and able to work both independently or as part of a team
Able to take responsibility and to work accurately and methodically
Possess good communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to think strategically
Possess cultural competencies
High levels of enthusiasm and commitment
Ability to deliver on deadlines
Friendly and helpful

As EASM undertakes various work and projects, depending on the competencies of the Board at any given time, specific competencies and skills may be required. Such areas could include:

legal knowledge of the industry
practitioner based competencies
research, event management, facility and operational skills
financial skills
grant application writing knowledge

All meetings and correspondence undertaken by EASM are in English. Hence, all Board members should have good verbal and written skills.

EASM Exspectations

Board members are expected to attend two in-person Board meetings per year. Board meetings usually take place during the EASM Conference in September, and also spring each year.
Board members will be assigned individual projects and tasks related to the EASM aims and expected to report back regarding developments and progress. Specific roles and responsibilities are signed after the board elections.
All Board members are required to be involved in helping to organise and coordinate the key work undertaken by EASM including: the Annual EASM Conference, EASM Student Seminar; EASM PhD Student Seminar; EASM Summer School; the European Sport Management Quarterly and other projects associated with EASM.
All members are expected to help write the EASM Annual Report that is presented at the AGM each year.

Take note of these specific EASM Statutes paragraphs

The Board of EASM shall comprise eleven persons being:

Eight persons elected by the members of EASM
A student member appointed by the elected Board members
The ESMQ Editor appointed by the ESMQ Editorial Board
The Secretary General who shall be appointed by the Board

Balanced Board and Nationality

The General Assembly (and Nominations Committee in seeking candidates) should strive for geographical, national and gender equity and balance in the membership of the Board and at least 4 members of the Board shall be male and at least 4 members shall be female, and not more than two of the elected members of the Board may be from any one nation
A person’s Nationality shall be determined by their Passport or National Identity Card. In the event they hold two or more Passports or National Identity Cards, their nationality shall be deemed to be that of their place of birth and if no longer a nation then the place in which they are permanently domiciled. This definition of Nationality applies throughout this Charter.

Nominations

Nomination of candidates for election to the Board may be submitted by any two full or institutional members of EASM, who must be eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), provided that such nomination is deposited with the Secretary-General in writing not less than 42 days prior to the AGM. The nomination should specify for which position on the Board the candidate has been nominated. A candidate may nominate for any number of positions on the Board but may only hold one position and must accept the first position to which they are elected.

Nominations committee appointed by the EASM AGM is actively seeking nominations for Board positions and can be contacted to get more information. The current chair of the Nominations Committee is Dr Karin Book from Malmö University.

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Vision

To be the driving force for developing sport management in Europe.

Mission

To provide a leading european platform for networking, knowledge creation and issemination in the field of sport management.

Research & Knowledge Dissemination

Foster a research culture and environment that advance theory and method development in sport management
Ensure the highest quality standards of research and practice and promote exchange of ideas at EASM Conference, EASM Student Seminar, EASM PhD Student Seminar and EASM Summer School
Sustain and further develop ESMQ’s high research profile
Develop and promote EASM’s Sport Management Book Series

Safeguarding & Sustainability

Develop and implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions
Establish consistent sustainability KPIs across years and conferences, with transparent reporting through an interactive dashboard on the EASM website
Develop and operationalise a safeguarding policy, including clear procedures, responsibilities, and reporting mechanisms

Partnerships & Advocacy

Forge meaningful partnerships with European organisations and international sport management associations (e.g. NASSM, SMAANZ and WASM)
Harness partnerships and cooperation to enhance the impact of EASM’s activities
Serve as a conduit and build bridges between academic and practice

Education & Career Development

Support student professional growth through hands-on programmes that connect theory with real-world practice
Facilitate newcomer engagement within the community at the annual EASM Conference. Provide platforms for emerging scholars to present, network, and develop professionally through the EASM Student Seminar and EASM PhD Seminar
Pair students with experienced mentors who provide guidance and career support in our EASMentorshipProgramme
Offer practical learning through real-world sports management case studies in EASM Summer School

Committees

Employability & Entrepreneurship Committee

The EASM Employability & Entrepreneurship Committee aims to develop employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship frameworks to assist the career development of future and existing sports managers (paid and voluntary) across Europe by supporting EASM members and the EASM board with the creation of relevant resources and dissemination of best practice, including;

Establishing a common language for developing employability and entrepreneurship
The monitoring of the sport management labour market trends in Europe
Identifying employment and career structures within the sport industry across Europe
Involving employers in discussing sport management curricula and research agendas
Working with professional support services (e.g. careers) to enhance curricular delivery
Enterprise and entrepreneurship education
Career development learning
Work Based Learning (e.g. Placements/internships, mentoring)
Work Related Learning (e.g. simulations, field study, insight visits)
Curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular innovation

This committee will prioritise increasing employer engagement in EASM activities, including the integration of employers within the EASM conference. Appropriate parallel themes will be explored focused on the employers’ perspective and knowledge exchange.

Members interested in being part of the committee are invited to contact the Chair of the Committee Steve Osborne.

Sustainability Advisory Committee

The Sustainability Advisory Committee aims to support the development of a consolidated Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) strategy for EASM and oversee its effective implementation. The Committee provides strategic guidance on environmental, social, and governance priorities, monitors progress against sustainability objectives, and supports the integration of ESG principles across EASM’s activities, policies, and events. Through the expertise of its members, the Committee seeks to promote continuous improvement, accountability, and alignment with international sustainability standards and best practices.

The Sustainability Advisory Committee consists of:

Ioannis Konstantopoulos is an FNS Researcher at the University of Lausanne and a sustainability advisor with extensive experience in sport governance, sustainability, and integrity. As Founder of The Sports Footprint and Board Member of EASM responsible for safeguarding and sustainability, he has supported numerous sport organizations in developing and implementing sustainability strategies while advancing education and research at the intersection of sustainability and integrity in sport.
Kathy Babiak is Professor of Sport Management and Director of the Michigan Center for Sport & Social Responsibility at the University of Michigan. An internationally recognized scholar in corporate social responsibility and social impact in sport, her research focuses on how sport organizations develop and implement sustainability and social responsibility strategies to create value for both society and the sport sector.
Argyro Elisavet Manoli is Associate Professor of Marketing and Management at the University of Bergamo and an experienced sport industry professional. Her research focuses on sport governance, integrity, marketing, and communications, with extensive experience in European policy projects and stakeholder engagement, providing valuable expertise on governance and accountability within the Committee’s ESG framework.
Karin Book is Senior Lecturer in Sport Sciences at Malmö University, with a background in human geography and urban development. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity, sustainable urban development, and inclusive public spaces, bringing valuable expertise on the social and environmental dimensions of sport to the Committee’s work.
Martin Muller is Professor of Geography and Sustainability at the University of Lausanne and an internationally recognized expert on the sustainability and legacy of major sporting events, including the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. His research focuses on sustainability transitions, urban development, and the impacts of mega-events, bringing extensive academic and policy expertise to the Committee’s work.

ESG STRATEGY

The purpose of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Strategy is to guide EASM’s commitment to sustainability across all its activities, events, and operations. EASM is committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy, establishing consistent sustainability KPIs with transparent reporting through the EASM website, strengthening safeguarding practices, and fostering partnerships that advance sustainability and responsible sport management.

The implementation of the ESG Strategy is overseen by the Sustainability Advisory Committee, which provides strategic guidance and monitors progress towards EASM’s sustainability objectives.

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SAFEGURADING POLICY

The purpose of the safeguarding policy is to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in EASM activities. EASM is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of violence, as well as any other behaviour that may cause harm, intimidation, or distress.

By the decision of the Board, Ioannis Konstantopoulos serves as the Safeguarding Officer for the term 2025–2028. His work builds on experience in sport integrity, safeguarding, and sustainability through both research and practice. Any incident should be reported by contacting safeguarding@easm.net directly.

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STATUTES AND BY-LAWS

EASM Statutes and By-Laws are the key governance documents for EASM and set the main purpose and practises of operations. Membership is open to individuals and organisations interested in sport management. Members have the right to attend meetings and vote on key decisions. The organisation is governed by:

The General Assembly, which includes all members and makes major decisions, and takes place annually in EASM Conference in September
The Board, which oversees strategy and operations. Board members are elected by the General Assembly for a fixed three-year term

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