Call for Nominations | BRISMES Graduate Section Co-Presidents (2024-2027)
The BRISMES Graduate Section invites nominations from members for the positions of Co-Presidents of the Graduate Section.
There are up to two vacancies available. The term for these positions will be three years (2024-2027). The terms of service for the successful candidates will begin officially at the Society’s Annual General Meeting in early July 2024, but an informal handover period will commence as soon as possible after their election.
We welcome nominations of candidates from groups who are under-represented in BRISMES leadership, or in academia more broadly. We believe that a diverse leadership is essential for fostering an environment that is aligned with our aims and purpose.
About BRISMES
Founded in 1973, BRISMES is the largest national academic association in Europe focused on the study of the Middle East and North Africa, and a leading voice for the discipline both within the UK and internationally. Since 2019, the Society has undertaken an extensive process of reform, becoming more diverse and more democratic.
BRISMES is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales. The Society has two part-time employees – a Manager and a Conference Coordinator. It is run by BRISMES Council whose members are trustees of the charity and directors of the company. The council is comprised of the officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) and council members elected or co-opted from among the membership.
All members of Council are required to fulfil all the duties and responsibilities statutorily required of trustees to ensure that the Society conducts itself and its business in a manner consistent with its charitable status. The Society’s governing document can be found below.
What the Position Involves
The Graduate Section Co-Presidents will :
- Organise and host the BRISMES Graduate Section event at the Annual Conference.
- Establish initiatives in accordance with the aims of the Graduate section (such as events, workshops, research networks etc).
- Manage communications for the Graduate Section with the BRISMES manager.
- Represent the student membership on BRISMES Council.
- Be legally registered as a director and trustee of BRISMES with Companies House and the Charity Commission.
- Undertake other duties as appropriate, as agreed with the other BRISMES officers and, where appropriate, with BRISMES Council.
Upon assuming the role of Graduate Section Co-President, the successful nominees will also be co-opted to serve on BRISMES Council. Further details about the role of council members are included below:
- Council members will be expected to attend council meetings.
- Together with the officers and other council members, they will be expected to contribute to the strategic development of the Society.
- Council members will be expected to represent and promote the interests of the Society in any appropriate contexts and proactively to encourage membership.
- Council members will be expected to attend the Society’s annual conference, annual general meeting and other events as appropriate.
Responsibilities as a Trustee
As a trustee, you will serve on the governing body of BRISMES (the Council). Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of a charity, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. Please ensure that the nominee reads the Charity Commission’s guidance on being a charity trustee before the nomination is submitted.
Nomination Process and Timeline
Anyone who is thinking about being nominated is encouraged to contact the current Graduate Section Co-President, Lucy Garbett (l.garbett@lse.ac.uk), to arrange an informal conversation about the position.
Nominations will close at 5pm (UK time) on Wednesday 28 February 2024 and should be submitted via the form below.
Nominees should be enrolled on a PhD programme at a UK university. PhD students submitting before 2027 are eligible for nomination and may step down before the end of the 3-year term.
All nominations must have a proposer and a seconder (interested members may nominate themselves and ask a colleague to second the nomination). Proposers must have obtained the agreement of both the nominee and the seconder. Proposers, seconders and nominees must be members of the BRISMES Graduate Section (this includes current students and those who have graduated in the last two years). Each member can submit one nomination.
Proposers must provide a biography and a short statement (250 words maximum each) explaining their reasons for nominating the candidate. This information may be circulated to members should an election be necessary.
Please email office@brismes.org if you need to check your membership status or if you have any questions about the nomination process.