Calling all Europhiles and heritage enthusiasts… do you care about our shared European cultural heritage and want to take a leading role in promoting cultural links between the UK and Europe?
As our current Chair, Sara Robertson, nears the end of her term of office, we are beginning the search for someone new to lead Europa Nostra UK.
Europa Nostra UK is a small volunteer-run charity. As Chair, you will guide our work to raise the profile of Europa Nostra; promoting its awards and advocacy work, and encouraging heritage professionals in the UK to engage with cultural heritage at European level.
Our Chair leads our board of trustees, ensuring that together we govern the charity effectively, in service of Europa Nostra UK’s vision and mission. Working with the Honorary Secretary, they plan and chair EN UK’s board meetings and AGM. The committee meets quarterly, in addition to our AGM, with shorter ‘operational’ meetings dotted in-between as required. Board meetings are generally held online towards the end of the working day and operational meetings take place at lunchtimes on Fridays.
The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity; acting as a spokesperson and figurehead for Europa Nostra UK and ensuring optimal engagement with the wider Europa Nostra network.
What we are looking for:
- Experience of being a trustee/Chair and of leading volunteers is desirable – but not essential.
- An inclusive leadership style and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion: able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing.
- The ability to listen and engage effectively. You will be comfortable with challenge and debate, and able to encourage others to contribute while fostering a collaborative board environment.
- A keen sense of strategic purpose for EU – UK relations in the field of cultural heritage.
- Be able and willing to champion EN UK’s work through personal networks, social media, and other channels.
- Be responsive. As a small charity, things sometimes ‘come up’ that require the Chair to advise, support or give consent to. It is very helpful to have a Chair who is available and responsive.
In addition to the above, the Chair will have the responsibilities and qualities of all trustees:
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
- Enthusiasm for our vision and mission and a willingness to lead according to our values.
- A commitment to independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect EN UK’s interests to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
Our board of trustees works together to deliver EN UK’s actions and programmes:
- coordinating UK support for the prestigious Europa Nostra Awards (which includes liaising with Europa Nostra in The Hague, promoting applications from the UK, finding awards assessors, and promoting UK winners);
- leading/expanding our work with Young Members (EN membership is free for those between 18 and 33) through which we aim to provide networking opportunities, careers advice, and access to leaders in the heritage sector;
- maintaining the ENUK website and our online comms as well as contributing to the coordination and promotion of our quarterly newsletter and our webinar programme;
- reviewing and approving EN UK’s financial statements and contributing to fundraising initiatives.
Please note that all EN UK trustees must be members of Europa Nostra or be willing to join Europa Nostra for the duration of their term of office. Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term of office, which can be renewed for 2 further terms up to a maximum of 9 years.
In terms of the process, according to our Constitution: “At an Annual General Meeting of the Charity the members shall elect from amongst themselves and for a term of three years, a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer as the honorary officers who shall hold office from the end of that Annual General Meeting.”
If this role appeals to you then please send an expression of interest, and any questions you may have to our current chair, Sara Robertson (europanostrauk@gmail.com)
Even if you are not personally inclined to apply for this role, please spread the word through your own networks, and encourage any friends and colleagues who might be interested.