Board/Becoming a trustee

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2024 elections

At the 2024 AGM, to be held on Saturday 21st September, there are three trustee vacancies for election, with one existing trustee planning to stand for re-election. Any member has the right to stand for election to Wikimedia UK's Board of Trustees. Please follow the procedure below, and note that it is optional to have two other members vouch for your nomination by acting as proposer and seconder. All nominations must be sent to the teller by the deadline of 11.59pm on Friday 6th September 2024.

Wikimedia UK: the open knowledge charity

Wikimedia UK is committed to the ideal of a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge, and believe that here in the UK, we can play a unique and important role in realising that global vision.

Wikimedia UK’s strategy is informed by and supports the strategic direction of the global Wikimedia movement. Our work therefore focuses on knowledge and communities that have been left out by structures of power and privilege. We break down the barriers that prevent people and organisations from accessing and contributing to open knowledge, and support the development of people-centred and technical solutions to help eradicate inequality and bias on the Wikimedia projects. You can read more about our current strategy here.

The role of the Wikimedia UK board

Wikimedia UK's 11-person volunteer board provides strategic guidance, direction and oversight for the charity as a whole, while recognising and respecting the domain of staff and volunteer responsibility.

  • sets and maintains our direction, vision, mission and values, and helps develop strategy for effective charitable impact
  • sets and maintains the policies, practices, budgets and other processes necessary to deliver those aims
  • selects and supports the CEO who has oversight of operations, staff and employment procedures
  • maintains fiscal oversight and accountability, including risk management and ensuring that the charity operates in a prudent and solvent manner
  • ensures that the law and our Articles of Association are complied with
  • promotes and champions the charity
  • maintains its own effectiveness as a board

Trustee skills and experience

For the 2024 trustee election we are particularly keen for members of the Wikimedia community in the UK to stand. You do not need experience of charity governance, but must be committed to open knowledge for all, and willing to take on the responsibility of being a charity trustee and board director of a limited company.

We strongly value diversity in Wikimedia UK's board of trustees and welcome applications from people with different forms of lived experience.

Candidates should note that although we work closely with the Wikimedia Foundation in the US, and other Wikimedia chapters around the world, we are an independent charity under UK law and our aims, policies and processes are legally distinct from those of other organisations, including other Wikimedia organisations.

Expectations of trustees

Wikimedia UK is fortunate in having a board that is active and engaged. While the board is largely strategic, and does not normally get involved in the running of specific charitable projects, it is active in establishing direction and strategy as well as in helping to ensure the charity stretches itself and reaches its full potential. We expect trustees to commit not only to regular attendance at quarterly board meetings, an annual away day and our AGM, but also to make themselves reasonably available for ad hoc discussion and consultation - generally by email - at other times. There is an expectation that trustees may be able to join one of the board committees, depending on skills and experience. Trustees are expected to prepare for meetings by reading papers, and respond to emails in between meetings as necessary. Trustees are also encouraged to attend at least some events or community meet-ups where possible (either online or in person).

There is a Trustee Code of Conduct that we require all trustees to sign. Trustees must also declare any potential Conflicts of Interest.

Trustees are directors of the charity and have a number of legal and practical duties, details of which can be seen here. The probity of our trustees is of the utmost importance to us, and we have a comprehensive Conflict of Interest Policy.

All trustees need to be members of the charity. If you are not currently a member you are encouraged to apply to join right away. The membership fee is £5 a year for individuals, although you are welcome to give more as a donation.

The process

Trustees are appointed either by election (three year term) or co-option (two year term).

Trustees seeking election at the AGM should supply a short statement and preferably make themselves available to answer written questions from our community of volunteers. Answers are encouraged but are not compulsory, and help can be provided if you're not happy to post comments on the wiki page yourself.

While it is not essential to attend the AGM it is very much encouraged, and candidates who make the time to come do help to demonstrate their commitment to our voting membership.

Getting to know us

We are a very open and transparent organisation and a lot of information about what we do is on this wiki and our website. To get an idea, you could have a look at:

Timetable

  • 11.59pm on Friday 6th September 2024 - Deadline for nominations
  • Saturday 21st September 2024 - AGM

The nomination procedure

The form of nomination is by email. Any format is acceptable provided you supply the information given below.

To nominate yourself as a candidate, send an email to tellers@wikimedia.org.uk with the following information:

  • A statement that you would like to nominate yourself to serve as an elected director and trustee of Wikimedia UK, that you support and wish to advance the objects of the charity, and that you fulfil the legal criteria for appointment
  • Your full name
  • Any previous names
  • Your date of birth
  • Your occupation
  • The names of any other UK companies where you have been a director in the last five years.

You should also enclose a short candidate statement (up to 300 words). This will be sent out with the ballot paper to the voting membership and will be published on this website.

During the election only your name and your candidate statement will be made public. If you are successful the other details will be filed with Companies House as a public record. You will be required before taking up your position to inform the charity of your usual residential address, but this will be kept confidential.

Candidates must be members of the charity, or have their application to join pending, at the latest by the closing deadline for nominations. You can apply to join here.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that their membership application and the details required above are received by the charity before the deadline.

Teller

Our teller this year will be Sharon Mitcheson, Wikimedia UK's Head of Finance and Operations.

See also

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