Stand for Election: SMP Board

25 August 2017

We invite Members to consider standing for election to the SMP's Board of Directors at the 30th September 2017 AGM.

We invite Members to consider standing for election to the SMP’s Board of Directors at the 30th September 2017 AGM.

The SMP is governed by a Board of 16 Directors who meet every eight weeks, usually at 6pm on a Wednesday evening in Edinburgh. It’s vital the Board has the right mix of skills, experience and expertise to effectively govern the organisation. We feel it’s also important the Board reflects the diversity and composition of our national network.

Directors are elected to serve a three-year term on the Board. At the end of this Directors must stand down but are welcome to stand for re-election should they wish: they do so competing on an equal basis with those standing for the first time. There is no limit to the number of times a Director can stand for the Board.

If the number of applicants standing for the Board is equal to or less than the number of vacant places, the Board reserves the right to propose slate of nominees to the membership at the AGM. If this motion is passed it allows all those standing to be elected.

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, members attending the AGM are invited to vote on the candidates based on the written information provided by the applicants.

At the 2017 AGM, seven existing Directors have their term of office ending: Stuart Brown, Isabel Bruce, Mizeck Chagunda, Claire Martin, Jeremaya Phiri, Ken Ross and Jack Thompson (who very sadly recently passed away). In addition, Grace Manyika has chosen to stand down for personal reasons. This leaves up to eight seats vacant on the Board. Five of the departing Directors have indicated they will be standing for re-election.

Every year the Board reviews its current composition prior to the AGM, assessing what further skills, experience and expertise are required in the coming year, and the extent to which the current Board composition reflects the wider membership.

Informed by the strategic review, in 2017 the Board especially welcomes applications from those with experience and expertise in:

  • Income generation
  • Legal compliance
  • Financial management

Further, the Board especially welcomes applications from the diaspora community, female applications (the current board is 68% male) and applicants representing community links with Malawi.

Applicants do not have to meet one or more of these criteria. All are welcome to stand.

Those interested in standing should:

(1) Read the SMP’s ‘Information for Prospective Directors’ pack

(2) Complete the ‘Application to Stand for Election Form’

(3) Email the form and a photo of you to david(at)scotland-malawipartnership.org before 09.00 19th September 2017.

Prior to the AGM members will be sent details of all those standing for election at the AGM.

At its core, the SMP is driven by committed individuals who choose to donate their time and expertise for the advancement of our national network. The Partnership cannot succeed without this commitment and volunteerism. We are indebted to all our Directors, past and present, and we encourage members to consider volunteering their time if they feel they could help govern the network.

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