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Nominations for Council

We are seeking to fill four vacancies on our Council from April 2025

 

Positions available:

- Chair of Council

- Honorary Secretary

- Editor-in-Chief

- Member without Office (x2)

 

According to guidance from the Charity Commission (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved) Trustees’ (MA Members of Council) main duties are to:

1. Ensure your association is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit.

2. Comply with your association's governing document and the law.

3. Act in your association's best interest.

4. Manage your association's resources responsibly.

5. Act with reasonable care and skill.

6. Ensure your association is accountable.

 

MA Council meets quarterly in March, June, September and December of each year.

Nominations for election must be made in writing and be supported by two Members of the Association. Alongside your nomination, please describe what experience you could bring to the role.

To ensure fair representation of our membership, we would like to encourage Scholars, ECT and Trainee members to consider applying, as these members are not currently represented on our Council.

Nominations are to be emailed to ceo@m-a.org.uk no later than 31st December 2024. 

In the event of there being more nominations than vacancies then a ballot will be conducted at the AGM in line with the current Articles of the Association and members will be asked to vote.
 

For more details about the roles, please see below:

Chair of Council

Duties include:

  1. Chairing meetings of the Board of Trustees. 
    Managing and communicating regularly with the Chief Executive Officer. 

  2. Ensuring the Board of Trustees has the range of skills required to carry out its role, making sure all Trustees understand their role, and managing any conflicts of interest. 

  3. Encouraging the Board of Trustees to work as an effective team, to participate constructively during meetings and to take their share in the work of any committees. 

  1. Leading strategic developments within the Association, in partnership with the Executive Officer. 

  1. Understanding the importance of the work of our volunteers and ensuring effective communication with the Association’s volunteers. 

  1. Being an ambassador for the MA at external meetings and events, such as meetings with government or aligned associations. 

Skills and experience sought 

The principles and personal attributes that individuals bring to the MA are as important as their skills and knowledge. These qualities enable Council to use their skills and knowledge to function well as part of a team and to make an active contribution to effective governance. The Chair of Council should demonstrate: 

  1. Strong commitment to the MA’s aim and goals. 
  1. Experience of collaborative leadership and chairing meetings. 
  1. Experience in a trustee / non-executive director role. 
  1. Knowledge of good governance. 
  1. Experience in a strategic role, and an understanding of the differences between strategic and operational roles. 
  1. Excellent knowledge of or willingness to learn about mathematical enrichment in the UK and beyond. 
  1. Willingness to take a leading role in the work of the Association, devoting the required time and energy to help advance the education of young people in mathematics. 
  1. Creativity and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom in an appropriate manner and open-mindedness about new approaches, recognising the value of innovation and creative thinking to organisational development and success. 
  1. Ability to communicate views and opinions clearly and in a constructive manner in person and via email. 
  1. Willingness to listen and work in partnership with others. 
  1. Ability to build strong working relationships with Trustees, volunteers, the Executive Officer and other staff, and with other stakeholders as appropriate. 
  1. Ability to deal with challenging situations in a courteous but, where necessary, firm manner. 

As part of your nomination for this role please confirm how you can demonstrate the relevant skills required. 

Honorary Secretary

Duties include:

  • Helping to ensure that directors have the right information to make informed decisions.
  • Representing the interests of members.
  • Overseeing the governance of the association, ensuring compliance with charity and company law. 

Editor-in-Chief

Duties include:

  • Oversee the successful production and distribution of each of our journals and magazines by providing support to the editors and their teams.
  • Chair the annual Editorial Board meeting
  • Represent the board at quarterly meetings of Council, reporting on progress and raising any issues for discussion and decision. 

Member without office (x2)

Members without office are trustees without a specific role but who are required to take an active part in the association by adhering to the main duties of a trustee as specified above.