Parkin, JamesDevulder, JustineVijverberg, SusanneUbags, NikiPatout, MaximeCuevas Ocaña, SaraGille, ThomasCruz, Joana2023-06-132023-06-132023-06-13Cite this article as: Parkin J, Devulder J, Vijverberg SJH, et al. Experience of being chair and co-chair of the ECMC and reasons why you should be the NEXT. Breathe 2023; 19: 230089 [DOI: 10.1183/ 20734735.0089-2023]http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/8583In this article, we provide an overview of the experience of being chair and co-chair of the Early Career Member Committee (ECMC) of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) from past and current officers – Niki Ubags (past chair), Maxime Patout (past co-chair), Sara Cuevas Ocaña (current chair) and Thomas Gille (current co-chair) (figure 1). The past chair and co-chair share their main achievements and challenges as leaders of the ECMC, and how the position has impacted (or is impacting) their career. The current chair and co-chair provide their view of the ECMC for the future and the goals to achieve during their mandate.engEarly career memberRespiratoryEuropean Respiratory SocietyProfessional developmentjournal article10.1183/20734735.0089-2023