The board of directors develops and updates the mission, strategic core and strategic directions for RAPS; establishes policy, directs the activities of the elected officials and committees; and approves all action about the business of RAPS. Members of the Board are instrumental in identifying opportunities to advance the profession as well as continually improve and expand association programs and services that support the profession worldwide. This opportunity is open to all voting members in good standing. Associate and student members are not eligible to apply. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations are announced through the RAPS Volunteer Portal and selections are made by the nominations committee.

Sub-committees of the Board:

• Executive Committee — The executive committee shall consist of the chairman, president, president-elect, secretary/treasurer and the executive director in ex-officio, non-voting capacity. The executive committee may act for the board of directors pursuant to authority delegated by the board.
• Finance Committee — The finance committee provides input and guidance to the board of directors in support of the board’s financial oversight responsibilities. The committee is chaired by the treasurer. Some committee members are appointed by the board chair, and additional members are solicited through the RAPS volunteer portal.
• Nominations Committee — The nominations committee reviews/refines the nominating process, timeline, candidate criteria and submission materials. The nominations committee shall use its best efforts to select one qualified candidate from the society’s membership for each officer and director position to be filled in the RAPS Board of Directors to offer balanced leadership and representation. The outgoing board chair leads this committee and committee members are selected for two-year terms by staff invitation and confirmed by the nominations committee chair.

The editorial advisory committee (EAC) helps RAPS identify key topics, needs and areas of interest for regulatory professionals, and identifies potential authors and subject matter experts for books, feature articles, case studies, interviews, white papers and other content. The EAC’s primary purpose is to help develop editorial calendars for each calendar year, including monthly themes and recurring topics for Regulatory Focus articles, suggest authors for publications and articles, facilitate the production of new publications, and suggest technical reviewers based on areas of expertise.

The EAC chair recommends members based on professional contacts, suggestions by EAC members and RAPS staff, and unsolicited nominations submitted to RAPS.

The fellows committee is responsible for reviewing applications and selecting participants of the RAPS Fellows Program and providing RAPS Fellows with substantive activities that contribute to the advancement of the RA profession. Committee members are also responsible for reviewing and adjusting criteria to select participants of the fellows program. Committee members are solicited through the RAPS volunteer portal and selected by the chair/vice chair. All members shall have the RAPS Fellows distinction.

The education committee provides regulatory affairs expertise across product sectors and regions to the RAPS education team as related to RAPS’ education and training programs and initiatives, except for the Convergence event. The education committee will assist RAPS education staff by providing feedback for both RAPS’ current portfolio of courses and potential future offerings. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Helping identify both "evergreen" and "emerging" topics of interest.
• Serving as subject matter experts in designing and developing new and reviewing existing content.
• Identifying qualified instructors for online and in-person educational activities.
• Helping RAPS staff understand what other regulatory affairs training is offered.

Committee members are solicited through the RAPS volunteer portal and selected by the chair/vice chair.

The Convergence planning committee develops themes and tracks and identifies topics and speakers for the RAPS Annual Conference (“Convergence”) that are suited to the needs of members and the profession and positions the annual conference as the preeminent professional development, learning, and networking opportunity for the regulatory profession.

Committee members are solicited through the RAPS volunteer portal and selected by the chair/vice chair, based on open spaces and needed representation.

As RAPS works to be the face of the global regulatory workforce, the RAPS Awards Program will support the mission in celebrating organizations and individuals that drive good regulatory practice and policy while advancing public health. The awards committee will provide the resources and expertise to select recipients whose exemplary contributions deserve recognition.

Committee members are invited by the chair/vice chair.

The RAPS EU board consists of board members responsible for a separate legal non-profit entity established in Brussels, Belgium under the RAPS board. RAPS EU is responsible for the local EU business activities provided by RAPS in Europe, including training events and conferences and EU representation of RAPS. The RAPS EU board is selected and confirmed by the RAPS EU general assembly which consists of representatives of RAPS US (identified by the RAPS US chair) and members of the RAPS European Council.