PSA Seeks New Trustees for Election to its Executive Committee

Are you looking for an opportunity to build your profile, skills, and experience? Are you interested in becoming a charity trustee? Do you want to play a role in enhancing the study of Politics and International Relations in the UK?

Then this opportunity to be a trustee of the Political Studies Association of the UK (PSA) could be for you!

We are now calling for nominations from our academic membership to serve as trustees to ensure the PSA, as the home of political studies, embodies excellence, sustainability, diversity, community and collaboration. You can find out more about the trustee role and what it entails here.

The PSA is the leading learned society of its kind in the UK and welcomes students, academics, and practitioners within its membership from around the world. The PSA is a registered charity which, to function effectively, requires a team of trustees (known as the Executive Committee) to set its strategy and oversee how it operates and invests its resources. This is a particularly exciting time to join the Executive Committee as we begin to implement our new Strategic Plan 2025 - 2028 and kick off some big projects to support our vibrant scholarly community.

You can find out more about our trustees and governance here.

All those elected will become legal trustees of the Association as a charity and, therefore, must act in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines - please see here for more information. Trustees serve on the Executive Committee for up to a maximum of two three-year terms.

The PSA trustee positions are open to all academic members and we especially welcome nominations from women academics and members from historically marginalised groups.

It is important that our Executive Committee reflects the diversity of our association in all its forms. Studies indicate that women and people from ethnically diverse heritage are less likely to apply for roles unless they meet every single criteria. If you are excited by this opportunity but your past experience does not fit perfectly, please don't be discouraged from submitting your nomination!

This year, we are looking to elect/appoint at least two positions:

• Honorary Secretary
• One other trustee.

Trustees of the PSA have a chance to shape the organisation’s strategy and hence achieve more for our 1600+ members. This is a great opportunity to broaden your networks and make your contribution to improving the PSA as well as providing an opportunity to work with others to give something back to the discipline and support others in their endeavours. You will be given full training and support in carrying out this important, enjoyable, and fulfilling role. We are particularly looking for this trustee role to support strategic activities relating to the PSA's membership and specialist groups.

The Executive Committee meets around four times a year – both online and in person (normally at the PSA’s London office). As such, the roles involve a time commitment in between meetings that fluctuates throughout the year but is not insignificant.

The role of Honorary Secretary is clearly prestigious and, as an ‘officer’, is a member of the PSA’s Senior Leadership Team in addition to sitting on the Executive Committee. The Honorary Secretary role primarily involves ensuring the PSA complies with its governing documents especially in terms of the operation of the Executive Committee and the PSA’s membership including ensuring we have the appropriate policies and procedures in place. The Honorary Secretary is also the principal point of contact by members and others with regards to our complaints policy.

A fuller description of the role is given in our bye-laws which can be found here. Knowledge of charity governance or operations although helpful is not essential as full trustee training will be provided. However, some senior experience of departmental or programme management is desirable as well as a number of years’ PSA membership.

The timeline for nominations and the election is as follows:

• Nominations open: Monday 13 January 2025
• Nominations close: Monday 10 March 2025
• Voting opens (if required): Monday 17 March 2025
• Voting closes: Friday 25 April 2025
• New trustees’ first Executive Committee: June 2025.

To apply, please email nominations@psa.ac.uk with the following information:

• Your name; 
• Your institutional affiliation (if you have one);
• Your PSA academic membership type (e.g - Academic, ECN);
• The name and email address of a seconder for your nomination, who is also a PSA member (they may be based at your own institution or elsewhere). Their name as your seconder will be made public on your profile as a candidate;
• A personal statement (max.150 words) that will be used within any election publicity as the rationale for why members should vote for you and what skills and experience you have that will make you a great trustee. You should also highlight how you are equipped particularly to deliver the PSA’s new strategic plan 25-28 and which elements of this plan particularly interest you;
• A headshot photograph to go alongside your personal statement. 
• Please also complete and return this Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

If an election takes place, please note the following campaigning rules for candidates:

• Please keep the election a positive and good-humoured affair. If you happen not to be elected, there will be another election next year, so please focus on telling others of your possible contributions, rather than other candidates’ weaknesses. 
• In terms of campaigning techniques, please feel free to canvas your colleagues and post on social media. If tweeting, please use #PSAelection25.
• There is a strict £0 budget available for candidate in the election; in other words, you cannot spend any money on your election, be it to purchase gifts for voters, take out newspaper advertisements, or otherwise!
• If Specialist Groups wish to highlight individual candidates, they must please highlight every candidate who is a member of their Group when doing so. 

We look forward to receiving your nomination!

If you have any questions about these roles, standing or the election, please contact the Returning Officer, PSA Vice-Chair, Professor John Craig via membership@psa.ac.uk 

To give you a feel for what being a trustee entails, you may be interested to read this conversation between two recent PSA Trustees: PSA TRUSTEE REFLECTIONS: Amelia Hadfield and Roula Nezi, University of Surrey | The Political Studies Association (PSA)

A fuller description of the role is given in our bye-laws which can be found here. Knowledge of charity governance or operations, although helpful, is not essential as full trustee training will be provided. However, some senior experience of departmental or programme management is desirable as well as a number of years’ PSA membership.