As an independent Scottish charity, we are governed by a Board that is responsible for overseeing the management of the organisation and determining its overall policies. 

Who is on our Board?

The Board is made up of volunteers with a wide range of skills and backgrounds including:

• Media and communications
• Envionmental law
• Politics
• Public health
• Finance and IT
• Academia
• Local groups.

What they share is overwhelming commitment to the aims of Friends of the Earth and a willingness to give up their time to help the organisation work effectively.

View our current list of Board members.

What do our Board members do?

The Board has a number of duties to carry out including:

• formulating, reviewing and monitoring the strategic direction of the organisation
• ensuring proper governance, financial and ethical responsibility
• providing support for the Chief Executive and staff.

They aim to represent the interests of Friends of the Earth Scotland members as expressed through the AGM and other consultations.
 

How are they elected?

Members are elected at our Annual General Meeting each year, normally for a 3 year term. They can also be co-opted on the Board at any time if special skills are needed.

Nominees need to have been members of Friends of the Earth Scotland for at least a year and to be nominated by two other members.

How much of a time commitment is it?

The full Board meets 4 times a year. There is an Executive of office bearers, which meets more frequently, and short life hoc groups can be set up to pursue various tasks.

The Executive is made up of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, the Chief Executive, one staff representaive and two other Board members. This group meets between Board meetings to take any necessary interim decisions and support the Chief Executive.

What sort of people are you looking for?

The Board aims to encourage a balance of skills, expertise, backgrounds, and geographical spread. All Board members are expected to subscribe in writing to the principles of corporate working and to accept the financial, legal and other accountability responsibilities that go with serving on the Board of a charity. The Board is not the vehicle for pursuit of single interest campaigning.

Board members need to be, or be willing to be trained in, basic financial reporting and accounting procedures and protocols; and to understand and accept the principles of strategic planning and direction.

Standing orders presently set a maximum of 15 Board members (excluding cooptees). Cooptees are appointed by the Board to provide specialist skills to support the organisation its work. They serve for up to a year at a time and do not have voting rights.

Do Board members get paid?

All board members are volunteers but Board members can claim for reasonable public transport travel costs.

Would you like to join the Board?