Governance
Wellcome is an independent, global charitable foundation governed by its constitution. The Board of Governors has responsibility for Wellcome's activities. The Executive Team is responsible for its day-to-day management. We take advice from advisory committees of experts and peer reviewers to make funding decisions on grant applications.
The Wellcome Trust is an independent, global charitable foundation (registered charity number 210183). Like all registered charities in England and Wales, Wellcome is regulated by the Charity Commission.
The Wellcome Trust was created in 1936 by the will of Sir Henry Wellcome. It is now governed by our Constitution, an updated version of Sir Henry Wellcome's will.
The Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number 210183). The sole trustee of the Wellcome Trust is The Wellcome Trust Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered in England (company number 2711000).
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Our Board of Governors guides and oversees Wellcome in achieving its mission to improve health for everyone by helping great ideas to thrive. The board is responsible for all Wellcome’s activities but focuses on our mission, professionalism and people.
The governors ensure that we:
- fulfil our mission by adopting the right long-term strategy and priorities
- uphold high standards in the way we run Wellcome, and the way we conduct ourselves
- are true to our principles in all that we do
- have a high-quality culture of which we can be proud and that reflects our principles
- have the right people in place to deliver our mission, both within Wellcome and externally in the activities we support.
The Board assesses regularly and robustly whether we have been successful, according to our success framework.
Accountability
We are accountable to society for delivering our mission, while using our independence for public benefit.
Committees of the Board
The Board of Governors is supported by its principal committees, all of which have at least one member who is a governor. The membership and terms of reference of these committees are:
Our leadership team is made up of senior managers from Wellcome's different divisions. It is chaired by our Director, Jeremy Farrar, who is equivalent to a CEO. It reports directly to the Board of Governors.
Executive team members are responsible for Wellcome's day-to-day management and provide advice to both the governors and the Director on strategic, planning, operational and policy matters.
Wellcome's operations are guided by policies that ensure how we act is legal, ethical, responsible and transparent.
- Modern slavery statement
- Website accessibility
- Privacy and terms
- Good environmental practice guidelines
In addition, Wellcome's Conflict of Interest Policy [PDF 137KB] applies to all employees, Governors and committee members.
Individual members of our Board of Governors may, in various circumstances, sit on committees as members or observers.
We rely on external experts to help us make decisions across Wellcome's funding remit. External experts act as members of our advisory committees and provide us with written peer reviews.
Advisory committees
View a list of the advisory committees that shortlist and interview people who have applied for funding.
Peer reviewers
We recognise the burden of peer review on the research communities, and are extremely grateful to those people listed below who have provided us with their expert reviews and funding advice during 2018.
Read our latest annual reports, financial statements and bondholder update.
We've published details about our 2019 gender and ethnicity pay gap.