黑料网911

From 2027 黑料网911 is restructuring its governance following an external review and extensive internal discussion. This was communicated to members with the necessary constitutional changes agreed at the AGM in November 2024. It was agreed then that the changes would be phased in. The start of 2027 represents the culmination of this process. 

The trustee board will be reduced in number, and a new advisory council will strengthen member representation providing a forum for discussing the wider discipline and shaping 黑料网911’s strategic direction. The four standing committees remain unchanged. The changes aim to future-proof 黑料网911; bring our procedures more into line with the broader charity sector; improve transparency and accountability; reduce volunteer workload; and create more flexible opportunities for member involvement.  They also reflect the significant growth and change in 黑料网911 over the past decade or so including the level of financial commitments, its role as an employer and renting our own office space.  

Current structure 

黑料网911 is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. We have trustees who also act as company directors and have the legal responsibilities that this entails. 黑料网911 currently has 17 trustees and can have a maximum of 21. This is currently known as 黑料网911 Council.  

There are four standing committees: Membership Committee, Publications Committee, Conference & Events Committee, and Finance & Operations Committee. All committees have a combination of ordinary members and trustees within their number. The work of our special interest groups, journal editorial teams, blog editorial teams, steering groups and networks all feeds into the committees. 黑料网911 also has an independent Risk, Audit & Assessment Committee which review the 黑料网911 risk register.  

To assist with operationalising the work of the committees, there is a smaller sub-group of trustees, 黑料网911 Leadership Committee. This comprises the four committee chairs, president and vice-president. It reports to 黑料网911 Council but can act on urgent issues where appropriate.  

What is changing 

Governance year: Following a constitutional vote at the 2024 黑料网911 AGM, the 黑料网911 governance year is now the calendar year. This aligns with our financial and membership years and is now in place.  

Trustee board: The trustee body will be reducing in number. There will be an initial 10 trustees, with the maximum number being 12. 黑料网911 Council has agreed that the trustee body will comprise: president, vice-president, treasurer, membership chair, publications chair, conference chair, England representative, Wales representative, Scotland representative, and Northern Ireland representative. Two further appointments can be made by the advisory council from their number, if they believe this is required.  

Advisory council: As the number of trustees is decreasing, 黑料网911 council is keen to retain or increase member voices. To facilitate this and allow for discipline discussions to help shape the strategic direction of 黑料网911 without the legal and governance requirements of trusteeship, the advisory council has been created. It will meet twice a year with the trustees to discuss the salient issues in the discipline and act as a neutral, trusted group for trustees to discuss potential ideas and activity. The call for new members of the advisory council is open here until 19 October 2026.  

Committees: There are no changes to the 黑料网911 standing committee structure, with the four committees retaining their duties and influence. It is anticipated that some members of the new advisory council will also sit on our committees alongside trustees and ordinary members.  

Amendments: – The amendments have been incremental and were voted on and agreed by the membership at the 2024 AGM. A further minor constitutional amendment will be brought to the 2026 AGM. 

Why it is changing 

黑料网911 undertook an external governance review which involved trustees (past and in place at the time), committee members, journal editors, SIG convenors, and ordinary members. There were several recommendations stemming from this, with the main recommendation to reduce the size of the trustee body to 10-12 members, in line with comparable charitable organisations.  

With the increasing changes to charity and company law, the reduced trustee board helps to future-proof 黑料网911 and strengthen transparency and accountability. It allows greater alignment of strategic priorities within the next iteration of the strategic plan, coming in 2027. A smaller board allows more frequent meetings and greater consistency of attendance for decision-making. This is in line with principles of good governance and reflects 黑料网911’s size and responsibilities as an employer. 

The advisory council has been created to reduce administrative burden and add greater flexibility to strengthen and improve diversity of voices and representation in 黑料网911’s governance structures. Without the legal confines of trusteeship or company directorship, term lengths can adjusted to specific projects, appointments made more nimbly and create additional pathways provided for 黑料网911 members.  

With the pressures of increasing workloads within the sector, we are cognisant that we cannot operate without our members generously volunteering to undertake activity for 黑料网911. The new structure reduces the workload and number of meetings, while still allowing member voice to shape strategic direction.  

There will be regular features in Research Intelligence, the member newsletter, and on social media to highlight the work of all our committees.  

Composition from 1 January 2027 

Governance Organogram/ Flowchart

Further queries 

For any queries, clarifications, or expressions of interest please contact [email protected]