The ESHG is a non-for profit organisation currently registered under Austrian law. The Society was originally founded in 1967 - a brief history is on another page.

The ESHG is one of the founding members of the International Federation of Human Genetics Societies.

The Society has an Executive Board (comprising the officers of the Society) who report to the Governing Board, which consists of about 30 members. According to the statutes, each year a sufficient number of Board members are elected to guarantee a balanced group in terms gender, speciality and country representation. Up to half of the vacant positions can be proposed by the Board. The General Assembly needs to confirm the proposals.

The Board has set up a number of committees to oversee aspects of the Society organisation, and appoints the chairmen.  A full activity report is presented to members at the membership meeting at the annual European Human Genetics Conference.  Nominations are sought from members for the prestigious ESHG Award, a prize donated previously by the Baschirotto family at the European Human Genetics Conference. 

There is an Annual Meetings Committee which is responsible for all the practical and legal arrangements for the European Human Genetics Conference.  The scientific programme is arranged by the Scientific Programme Committee.

The role of the Policy and Ethics Committee (PEC) is to thoroughly discuss fast technological developments in genetics and to produce clear policy statements, background papers, recommendations and guidelines regarding their professional and societal ramifications.

One of the most important activities of the EuroGentest Committee (www.eurogentest.org) and its sub-committees is focusing on quality, professional guidelines, training and its dissemination in the area of genetic testing.

One of the benefits of joining the Society is that members receive the European Journal of Human Genetics. The Board appoints the Editor who works closely with the Editorial Board to develop editorial policy.  There is a Publications Committee which works closely with our publishers over organisational and financial matters.