New positions on the BNA Council and Committee

13th Aug 2018

BNA President-Elect

In April 2019, the BNA will appoint a new President-Elect for the organisation.  Any member of the BNA can nominate an individual to become President-Elect; we invite you to read the below and consider submitting a nomination.

Please note that the President-Elect need not be a BNA member to be eligible for appointment.

Being President of the BNA is a prestigious role, previously occupied by leading UK neuroscientists including John O’Keefe, Nancy Rothwell and David Nutt.

The President-Elect, along with the President and Past-President, acts as a figurehead of the BNA.  They should therefore be a high-ranking individual within the UK neuroscience community with strong links to national, European and international neuroscience, as well as policy makers, biomedical charities and funding councils.  The President represents the Association externally, and should make use of their position and contacts to further the overarching strategic direction, aims and activities of the BNA.

BNA Presidents are expected to be heavily involved in the biennial Festival of Neuroscience which falls within their term of office, and planning for the one immediately following.

The term of office for President is two years.  However this is preceded by two years as President-Elect and followed by two years as Past-President, meaning there is a commitment of six years to the BNA. The following outlines the dates of each term and links to a full description of each role:

President-Elect - April 2019-21
President - April 2021-23
Past-President - April 2023-25

Education & Engagement Secretary

As Education & Engagement Secretary you will be a member of the BNA’s National Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’). The purpose of the BNA Committee is to represent different demographics and interests within the Association’s membership, and to use their skills and experience to provide information and advice to the Council.

The Education & Engagement Secretary is expected to take the lead at Committee level and work with the Education and Engagement Executive Officer of the BNA in order to:

• seek opportunities for the BNA to undertake and/or support public engagement of neuroscience
• identify candidates for the BNA for the Public Engagement prize
• work alongside the Research Policy Trustee to improve the teaching of neuroscience at all levels of education
• report on public engagement & education at Committee meetings (two per year)

For a full role description please click here.

The term of office is four years. The retirement date is that of the next Annual General Meeting to take place following the completion of four years in office, which in this case would be April 2023. 

Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative

As  Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative you will be a member of the BNA’s National Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’). The purpose of the BNA Committee is to represent different demographics and interests within the Association’s membership, and to use their skills and experience to provide information and advice to the Council.

The  Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative is expected to take the lead at Committee level in order to:

• advise the Council and Committee on Equality and Diversity (E&D) issues
• seek ways to improve involvement where there may be under-represented groups within the BNA, as far as genuinely possible, and help the BNA achieve gender balance on e.g. programme committees, council etc.
• annually review the BNA’s E&D policy
• be the BNA’s primary contact and representative for addressing any E&D concerns raised by members and non-members

For a full role description please click here.

The term of office is four years. The retirement date is that of the next Annual General Meeting to take place following the completion of four years in office, which in this case would be April 2023.