EDITORIAL: THE FUTURE CHAIR

A report from the Bayes Centre for Charity Effectiveness raises some important questions about Chairs which are equally applicable regardless of what type of organisation is involved.

The research behind this report sought to understand what skills, behaviours and attributes Chairs will need for the next decade and beyond to provide sufficient organisational oversight and stewardship. To effectively navigate what is to come, the role of the Chair and Chairs themselves will need to evolve and develop. The report therefore looks at how the role of the Chair might be reimagined to meet future needs. 

The report contributes ideas that will help to shape the future development and recruitment of charity Chairs, highlights longer-term considerations for board discussion and provides fresh thinking to positively influence the regulation and best practice guidance for the sector. 

The report also highlights how the pipeline of future Chairs is a real concern. To achieve a healthy flow of Chairs, the sector will need to look harder at how to ‘open up’ boards, who their future Chairs could be and where they will be found. The importance of identifying and recruiting younger trustees and encouraging them to take on Chair roles is vital. There is no template for stepping up and into the role, at present the onus is frequently on an individual getting themselves into a ready position. Development pathways towards the role need to be explored in the context of the next generation of Chairs and their potentially different support needs.

The full report makes very interesting reading and the issues it raises are applicable far beyond the charity sector. It can be found here.