International Committee

The International Committee is a Standing Committee of the RSC Board.

The following Terms of Reference shall be reviewed every three years by the Governance and Ethics Committee, and recommended changes shall be submitted to the Board for approval.
Purpose

The purpose of the International Committee is to advise the Board on international relations and assist the Board in advancing and implementing the RSC’s international strategy. 

Committee Chair

• The International Committee shall be chaired by the International Secretary.   
• The International Secretary shall be a Fellow of any RSC Academy selected by the Board (on recommendation by the Governance and Ethics Committee) for a term of three (3) years renewable for one (1) additional term. 
• The International Secretary shall report to the Board on behalf of the International Committee.
• A person having served two (2) terms as International Secretary is not eligible for further appointment to that position.

Committee Composition

• The International Committee shall be composed of the International Secretary and eight (8) additional RSC Members – two members from each of the three RSC Academies and two members from the RSC College.
• Committee members who are Fellows shall serve a term of three (3) years, renewable for one (1) additional term. 
• Committee members who are RSC College members shall serve a term of two (2) years, renewable for one (1) additional term.
• An RSC Member having served the equivalent of two (2) full terms as a member of the International Committee is not eligible for future appointment to the International Committee except if the person is elected as International Secretary.
• The RSC President is an ex officio voting member of the International Committee.
• The Executive Director and Programmes Manager are ex officio non-voting members of the International Committee.

Committee Member Selection Process

• The Governance and Ethics Committee invites RSC Members to submit expressions of interest to serve on the International Committee. Under usual circumstances, this happens approximately three months in advance of the Celebration of Excellence and Engagement as the term of office for committee members starts and ends at the Annual General Meeting held during the annual Celebration of Excellence and Engagement.
• The International Secretary, at their discretion, may invite members of the International Committee who have served one term, to serve a second term. If a committee member is interested in serving a second term, the International Secretary provides this information to the Executive Director who will inform the Governance and Ethics Committee.
• The Governance and Ethics Committee in consultation with the International Secretary, (i) reviews expressions of interest and nominations from the International Secretary, and (ii) makes a recommendation to the Board regarding membership on the International Committee.  While the usual term of office for RSC Fellows is three (3) years, on occasion a shorter term of office may be specified to ensure that membership on the International Committee is appropriately staggered.  
• The Board may at any time remove a member of the International Committee for cause.
• As required, the Board may instruct the Governance and Ethics Committee to fill any vacancy on the International Committee.
• When a vacancy is filled the start date for the term may be different from the usual start date.  Regardless, the end date will be on the usual cycle (i.e., the term will end at the appropriate Annual General Meeting)

Committee Meetings

• The International Committee shall meet as needed, based on the workload developed by the International Committee or assigned to it by the Board, and no less than twice per year. 
• Meetings shall be scheduled by the RSC Secretariat in consultation with the Executive Director, International Secretary and members of the International Committee.
• A quorum for meetings shall be a majority of the members of the International Committee, present in person or virtually.
• Decisions are usually reached by consensus. When this is not possible, there will be a formal vote (in person by show of hands or virtually) and decisions shall be a majority of the members of the International Committee. Proxy voting is not permitted. In the event of a tie vote, the International Secretary will cast the deciding ballot.
• The International Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes and may delegate this to another committee member.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Promote Canadian scholarship and accomplishments internationally through exchanges with other national academies.
• Advance the RSC's international engagement strategy
• Assist in coordinating the RSC’s participation in the S7 and S20 Summits. In particular, assist with the preparation of official Summit Statements.
  • Appoint one or more lead experts (persons with subject matter expertise). Lead experts will usually be RSC Fellows or College Members. They may, but need not, be members of the International Committee.
  • Appoint a minimum of two peer reviewers with subject matter expertise who will report to the International Committee. The peer reviewers may, but need not, be RSC Fellows or College Members. The peer reviewers should not be members of the International Committee.
  • In addition to peer review from appointed peer reviewers, there may be peer review by the International Committee.
  • Liaise with other national academies, as invited, to share feedback during the drafting process.
  • Submit penultimate peer reviewed (Draft) Statement(s) to the President for review and approval.
  • Submit final peer reviewed Statement(s) to the Board for electronic vote authorizing the RSC President to sign on behalf of the Society.

Approval and Review Dates
Approved by: RSC Board of Directors
Approved on: October 5, 2026
To be revised on: October 5, 2029