Election of trustees carried forward

Due to the extraordinary times we find ourselves in, and the impact this has had on the academic community, our Executive Committee has unanimously agreed to postpone the 2020 BISA elections by six months.

Alongside a small team of BISA employees, BISA is run by volunteer trustees, some of whom are elected and some of whom are co-opted. The term of office for elected trustees is two years, and elections are usually held in November each year.

The elections that were due to take place now, will instead be held in May 2021 with the results announced during the 2021 annual conference. All full members have the chance to nominate themselves before a vote is held. Details of available positions and how to stand for election will be provided in the spring.

In the meantime, BISA Director, Juliet Dryden, has confirmed that the existing trustees and officers (including Chair and Vice-Chair) will remain in office.

This decision has been taken due to the stress both existing and newly elected trustees would face moving into new positions and handing over roles at a time when they are under so much strain. Our hope through carrying forward the process is that it will be easier on our trustees, who are all volunteers alongside their academic positions and other commitments. We also hope that in the spring there will be many more members in a position to stand for election than could do so at the present time. We want to assure members this decision is not about the administration of running elections, but the continuity of BISA and the wellbeing of our trustees.