Trustee Board and Council Members

About you

You must be a Corporate Member (Ordinary Member or Fellow). You should demonstrate the following:

• Commitment to the Institution and the Engineering profession
• Willing and able to devote the necessary time and effort required by the role
• Discretion at all times
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgement
• Ability to think creatively
• Willingness to speak their mind
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Ability and willingness to support publicly corporate views not held privately
• Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness; integrity; objectivity; accountability; openness; honesty; leadership
• Recognise, respect and welcome diverse, different and, at times, conflicting Trustee views.

Meet a past Trustee Board Member

• 

  Jon Hursthouse

  Jon served as a Trustee Board member from 2014-2015, using his skills to drive the strategic direction of the Institution whilst engaging with senior engineers and influencers.

What you will do

Trustee Board member

If you are seeking to serve as a Trustee Board member, you will need to attend and input into Trustee Board meeting, which typically take place six times a year as well as attend Council meetings.

You will be required to use any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve:

• Scrutinising board papers
• Leading discussions
• Focusing on key issues
• Providing guidance on new initiatives
• Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise
• Chairing an expert subcommittee

Your statutory duties as a trustee will include:

• Ensuring that we comply with our governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensuring we pursue our objects as defined in our governing document
• Ensuring we use our resources exclusively in pursuance of our objects, ie we must not spend money on activities which are not included in our own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are
• Contributing actively to the board of trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• Safeguarding our good name and values
• Ensuring our administration is effective and efficient
• Ensuring our financial stability
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of our funds
• Appointing the chief executive officer and monitoring their performance

Council member

The Council provides guidance and advice to the Trustee Board on matters related to strategy, the Institution’s membership and other relevant issues. Council meets on average four times a year.

For more information, please see the Council Terms of Reference.

How you will benefit

You will:

• Have an opportunity to gain an even broader perspective on mechanical engineering
• Develop an appreciation of issues across a wide spectrum of technology
• Enhance your strategic knowledge and skills
• Broaden your network of contacts
• Benefit from a career development opportunity

How much time it will take

The Trustee Board meets on average six times a year, and you should attend. Trustee Board members are also expected to attend Council meetings.

How it works

You may contact the Governance team in the first instance to register interest. A link will also be available once nominations open

Candidates standing for election to the Trustee Board can take two routes.

1. Apply through the Nominations Committee

2. Be proposed by 12 Corporate Members (12 signatory route) (ie, Fellow/Member) who are prepared to support your candidacy.

For nomination as an Ordinary Member of the Council – Fellow or Member, you need to be nominated by two Corporate Members (ie, Fellow/Member).

Nominations for the 12 signatory route and for Council will close in early March.

Candidates’ details will then be included in the voting papers/biographical details sent to all Corporate and Associate Members during April. The results are announced at our Annual Meeting in May.