Trustee vacancies A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated Since our formation in 1831, the British Science Association has led the way in bringing the public and scientists together to discuss the big societal issues facing the UK. While we have an enviable heritage, we are a modern and ambitious organisation that aims to change the way people engage with science across society. We want to ensure science is not just seen as being for professional scientists or something you did at school, and we’re looking for new trustees to help us increase our influence and impact. The BSA is looking for candidates from across the UK with different skills and experiences to broaden our diversity, and a science background is definitely not necessary. We look forward to hearing from you, GiselaGiselaAbbam, Chair, British Science Association Our purpose The British Science Association (BSA) sees science as a mindset, a way to ask questions about the world and test them out. Our mission is to -transform the diversity and inclusivity of science; -reach under-served audiences;and -increase the number of people who are actively engaged and involved in science. By unlocking the potential of a more diverse group of people, we increase our ability to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges and shape our future for the better. Our activities We organise several annual programmes including the British Science Festival , British Science Week , CREST Awards for schools, workwithcommunity groups and bespoke activities for the science engagement sector and professional audiences. We seek to influence and collaborate with stakeholders from across science, business, policy and the media through activities such as the APPG on D&I in STEM and the Huxley Summit . We are a Royal Charter charity with an annual income of approximately £3 million and a professional staff of around 30 people based in London. We are funded by a mix of grants, sponsorships, donations and earned income. Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Making diversity & inclusion an integral part of our organisation and wider sector is crucial to achieving our vision, so leading change in this area is an active and high-profile area of our work. Our plan is to develop the BSA to ensure we reflect the society we want to see, supported by a specialist EDI Advisory Group. We are diversifying our programmes to increase their relevance to audiences who are traditionally under-represented in science engagement activities and work to influence others to similarly develop and improve their practices. A picture containing indoor, room, lit, living Description automatically generated A smiling person in front of a building Description automatically generated A person posing for the camera Description automatically generated About our Council (trustees) The BSA is governed by a Council which forms the board of trustees . Council has specialist sub-committees which look after particular functions(e.g. audit/risk, nominations, finance, honorary fellowships). A person wearing a suit and tie Description automatically generated A person wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera Description automatically generated A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated A person posing for the camera Description automatically generated A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated Gisela Abbam Chair Thought-leader in government affairs in healthcare, who was the winner of the Black British Business PersonAward 2019 Matt Locke Deputy-Chair Founder of Storythings, a creative studio, who previously worked for the BBC and Channel 4. KalliBowyer Treasurer Finance executive who works for London Stock Exchange Group. Professor Louise Archer VP for Education Sociology Professor at Kings College London, who leads a study on children’s science aspirations & career choice. Catherine Brown VP for Cultural Development Non-Executive Director, who was previously Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency. Dr Steven Hill Trustee Director of Research at Research England, who was formerly Head of Research Policy at HEFCE. Darryl Brissett-Dowe Trustee Award winning Digital Transformation Consultant who has worked for Fujitsu and BAE Systems. Sarah Main Trustee Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, who was previously a biologist. Stephen Nuttall VP for Engagement Consultant who was Senior Director for YouTube EMEA and, before that, Sky's Group Commercial Director. A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated Your role As a charity trustee, your role is to work with other Council members to set the strategic direction for the charity and oversee the effective running of the organisation. You will focus on the key issues, opportunities and risks facing the BSA, and provide guidance on strategic direction to the BSA’s staff. You should ensure that we define our goals, evaluate our performance and safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation. You would also be expected to act as an ambassadorfor the BSA with our key external audiences, help us build relationships with potential funders, and demonstrate leadership on the BSA’s commitment to improve diversity and inclusion. Who joins Council? To get the most out of being on the BSA’s Council, we suggest that you have a passion for our vision and goalsand can commit to the time and effort required. Our Council members need strategic vision, independent judgement, and an ability to work effectively as part of a team. As one of the charity’s senior representatives, you will have extensive and senior networks in the business, policy or charity sectors or a related field. Leadership abilities, communication skills, experience of working in diverse contexts, an understanding of organisational change/effectiveness and personal credibility will be valuable. You should be able to demonstrate a commitment to the principles of effective governance and financial management in charities, and to the BSA’s goal of improving equality, diversity & inclusion –both internally and with our external stakeholders. We are especially keen to hear from people from communities who are currently under-represented on Council, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people. We are looking for people with experience and networks from across the UK. What skills are we looking for? We have more than one vacancy and are looking for people who can contribute one or more of the following skills and experiences: .Board/governance experience (or adjacent/transferable skills) .Expertise in research/science policy .Experience in business development .Experience of working in or with community groups who reach under-served or disadvantaged audiences, orworking with diverse communities. How much time would be involved? This is a volunteer(pro bono) role so there is no salary. We pay reasonable out of pocket expenses (e.g. travel to meetings). The initial term is three years. Council members are eligible for re-appointment at the expiry of that term, for one additional term only. There are four Council meetings per year, lasting four hours each. Council members are expected to join one or two sub-Committees which have meetings between one and four times per year for approx. two hours each. Each meeting has prior reading which probably takes around an hour. We can accommodate requests for reasonable adjustments such as dialling in remotely. You will be invited to several BSA stakeholder events per year though not expected to attend them all. You may need to be available for ad hoc meetings or phone calls with key staff or other Council members, occasionally at short notice, though this is unlikely to happen often. There are also optional opportunities to socialise with staff and Council members, attend induction and further training about trustee responsibilities and engage in discussions online. How to apply A group of people posing for the camera Description generated with very high confidence To put yourself forward for this volunteer role, please send a CV and a brief covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to Jack Harmsworth (details below) by 23:59pm, Thursday 2nd April 2020. For an informal conversation about the organisation please Jack Harmsworth directly: Jack Harmsworth, Inclusive Boards, 16 Upper Woburn Place, London, WC1H 0AF, Jack.h@inclusiveboards.co.uk Thank you, We’re looking forward to hearing from you. www.britishscienceassociation.org