Trustee Opportunity – Join Our Partnership Board
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire was the first UNESCO Biosphere in Scotland and is now one of seven in the UK. Our designation was awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in 2012, recognising the fact that this region is a world class environment for people and nature. The GSA Biosphere Partnership is a registered Scottish charity led by a Partnership Board, currently comprising 12 Trustees – people who live and work in the region and share a passion for sustainability. Our Partnership Board supports 15 officers, working collaboratively to advocate sustainability in business, land management and communities within the Biosphere. We are a unique organisation in how we operate: covering three local authority areas and bringing diverse, multi-sector groups together to work in partnerships for a sustainable future.
Following UNESCO’s renewal of our designation in 2023 for a further 10 years, we are now looking to expand our team of Trustees and we would welcome applications from individuals with experience of driving through improvements in sustainability, particularly within the following specialisms:
• Marine and wider environment
• Financial management and fundraising
• Community development
• Tourism
• Marketing and Communications
The Partnership Board meets quarterly for 2-3 hours, alternately via MS Teams and in-person meetings at various locations within the Biosphere region. For those with more time to offer there may be the option to join our Audit, Risk and Governance (ARG) Committee which meet 8 times per year for approximately 2 hours. Hybrid meeting options are normally available for
both ARG and Partnership Board meetings. Whilst the role of Trustee is a voluntary and unpaid we can offer reasonable travel expenses and subsistence.
Trustees are encouraged to spend time supporting the strategic aims of the Biosphere through their own networks, attendance at events, responding to policy consultations, etc. We are particularly keen to hear from individuals with strong political, fundraising and commercial networks who can support us to raise the profile of the Biosphere and attract funding and
interest to the region.
We welcome all applications, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. However, we are striving to ensure the demographic across the region is appropriately represented within our Trustee and staff group, therefore, we would particularly like to receive applications from women (including trans women and trans feminine people and those who identify as women) and people with disabilities or from an ethnic minority background.
To discuss this opportunity further, please contact our Acting Chair, John Thomson via email at chair@gsabiosphere.org.uk or our Director, Ed Forrest, at ed@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
Applications for the role of Trustee should be emailed to info@gsabiosphere.org.uk before 30th June 2024. Please include a recent CV and complete the application form below (click to download).