Introducing the International Confederation of Sport and Exercise Science Practice (ICSESP) [Editorial]

Concerted work to develop a unified structure began on the sideline of the October 2018 Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand Annual Conference, with representatives from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand (SESNZ). Following some lead up discussions between and within some of these organisations, and the addition of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), a proposal was formally put forth to form an international alliance whose charter would include promoting global connections for the dissemination of information, developing common professional standards and practice guidelines and influencing global and national health policy. All five organisations committed to the creation of a steering committee, subsequently called the International Alliance Steering Committee (IASC), to develop a framework for a future, more permanent, alliance. Memoranda of understanding were signed during December 2018 and January 2019 to ratify this decision and Terms of Reference were set. Over the following year, the IASC set about developing a draft Vision, Purpose and Values for a future global body. The governance architecture was conceived and included a constitution and by-laws, organisational structure, board charter, membership structure and foundational membership prospectus.