BNA elections: Your chance to have a national role in neuroscience

10th Dec 2018

Are you a BNA member who wants to get more involved in the neuroscience community, have a role at national level, and help shape the BNA for all its members and beyond? 

The call for nominations for the following positions is now open.  If you wish to put yourself forward as a candidate, please do so by 14th January 2019. 

Association Secretary

As Association Secretary you will be a Trustee, Director and member of the BNA Council and National Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’). The Association Secretary is expected to take the lead at Council level on: 

• compiling the Trustees’ Annual Report, including composing the initial draft, collating input from other Trustees, gaining trustees’ approval and submitting a finalised report by February of each year to the Chief Executive of the BNA.
• elections of Council and Committee members, liaising with office staff to ensure the call for nominations and voting for new members takes place in time for confirmation at AGMs
• nominations for honorary members
• record keeping and archiving the BNA’s history
• reporting on  matters to the Council at quarterly Council meetings
• reporting highlights of the Trustees’ Annual Report to members at the Annual General Meeting

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. 

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Membership Secretary

As Membership Secretary you will be a member of the BNA’s National Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’). The Membership Secretary is expected to take the lead at Committee level in order to:

• representing the views and needs of the BNA’s members
• projects which increase the BNA’s membership in practical ways and improve member retention
• working with the Groups Co-Ordinator to engage with Local Group Representatives and increase value of membership in BNA Local Groups
• Being the BNA executive team’s primary contact for enquiries about reduced membership fees and membership types
• reporting on membership related issues at Council and Committee meetings (four per year)

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. 

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Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative

As Equal Opportunities & Diversity Representative you will be a member of the BNA’s National Advisory Committee (‘the Committee’). 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

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. 

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We are also welcoming nomiations for 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.  It would be normal practice for a nomination to have a Proposer and a Seconder (both of whom should be members of the BNA) and that the nominee is aware of their nomination and has given their consent to be put forward for the role. 

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

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All members are reminded of the need to adhere to the Association’s policies, including the Equality and Diversity Policy.

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