Structure & governance

The Board of Trustees consists of up to 18 members. Nine Trustees are elected by the membership and up to nine are appointed by the Board itself, which includes the Honorary Treasurer and those who serve as the Chairs of the Boards. The normal term of office is four years.

The Board of Trustees is chaired by our President who serves two years as President-Elect, two years as President. Our members can contact the Governance team if they wish to view Board minutes.

The President, President-Elect and Honorary Treasurer are the Honorary Officers of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Annette currently holds various non-executive positions including at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Addenbrookes Hospital Charitable Trust (ACT), The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) charity and Member of the Tonbridge Grammar School Academy Trust. She has also recently been appointed as a Trustee of the St John Ambulance charity. 

She has recently been elected as the next President of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a charity focussing on education and research to advance the chemical sciences.

In 2009, Annette was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to the pharmaceutical sector.

Robert's research interests are on the design, synthesis and characterisation of new forms of sustainable porous materials and the study of their structure-property relations. The research involves exploring fundamentally new synthesis methods that are simpler, cheaper, and more efficient and offer valorisation routes to materials with optimised properties for targeted sustainable energy applications.

Claire is an active chemist, mentoring for MRSC and CChem candidates. She champions change in her sector and established a younger members network early in her career and more recently has led the way in founding womens networks. Her work in these areas have been recognised by awards.

Steve holds an honorary professorship in the Physics Department at the University of Warwick, visiting position at the University of Leeds and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Northumbria.

He has strong interests in physical and molecular characterisation for the optimisation of pharmaceutical products, with extensive involvement in the applications of solution/solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging.

Edwin held an ERC Advanced Grant, was Vice-President of the University of Basel and is currently Chairman of the Swiss Academies Expert Group on Research Integrity. He was recently honoured by being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Aline has a strong track record of raising funds and translating her academic research into the commercial and clinical setting through co-founding three spin-out companies. Her work has led to several awards including the 2008 the Royal Society of Chemistry MacroGroup UK Young Researchers Medal, the 2014 Philip Leverhulme Prize for Engineering and she was Finalist for the Great British Entrepreneur Award 2021.

She has been Treasurer of the Recent Appointees in Polymer Science Group (2002-2005), affiliated to RSC MacroGroup UK and also been Member (2008-18), Treasurer (2010-16) and then Chair (2017-19) of the Polymer Physics Group, which is a joint Interest Group between the Institute of Physics and the RSC.

She is also an experienced change leader and passionate about enabling organisations achieve their strategic vision and continually improve.

Richard was a member of the Review Group for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) Subject Benchmark Statement in Chemistry, a member of the Chemistry Review Panel for the Higher Education Academy Physical Sciences Centre Review of the Student Learning Experience in Chemistry, and an elected member of the Standing Committee of Heads of Chemistry UK.

In Sheffield, he served on the University HR Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the University Finance Committee. He was as an elected member of the University of Sheffield Council, and Trustee.

David has recently moved to Swansea University to become Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

He is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. He is passionate about widening participation and ensuring equality of opportunity in higher education—from outreach at all levels, through developing new opportunities for students, such as degree apprenticeships and a new foundation programme, to supporting students from traditionally underrepresented groups to achieve their potential and close attainment gaps.

Our Leadership Team manages the implementation and operational delivery of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s agreed strategy and programmes of activity by promoting leadership and direction and works closely with Council to ensure we are governed effectively.

Helen was appointed CEO of the RSC in 2021 and continues to be an influential advocate for the role that the chemical science community plays in making the world a better place through her leadership of an international publishing business and professional body. She is an appointed member of the Executive Board for the European Chemical Society (EuChemS).

From 2018 - 2021, Helen was Chair of the Science Council, a UK organisation for the advancement of the science profession. During this time, she led an extensive change programme to embed a new strategy. She has also chaired a sector-led group of influential organisations and overseen a significant programme, funded by the Gatsby Foundation, to increase the visibility and professional recognition of technicians in higher education. In 2020, Helen was invited to join the UK National Policy Commission looking at the future technical skills’ needs of UK higher education. This led to the establishment of the Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy (ITSS) funded by Research England. Helen is now the inaugural chair of the ITSS advisory board.

In January 2024, Helen was awarded an MBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours for her services to science.

Liz leads our Customer directorate, which includes data science and insight, experience, marketing, and creative services. She holds a BA in Mandarin Chinese and Business Management from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She gained her MBA from Cranfield School of Management, where she was the 2023 recipient of the Odger’s Prize and the Tasman Cup.  

Our trustees would like the members serving on our governance bodies to represent the breadth and diversity of the chemical sciences, with reference to industrial and academic backgrounds, geographical spread, gender, ethnicity, and age range.

The diagram below illustrates all of the RSC committees which feed into the Board of Trustees. See our committees section and sub-committees section (under Boards and committees tab) for more details.

Vacancies for elected positions on our Boards, Committee and Subject Communities

We are accepting nominations for the Board of Trustees, Member Communities Board, Professional Standards Board, Inclusion and Diversity Committee and Subject Communities. Those elected will serve from the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July 2025.

Trustee vacancies

There are vacancies for four elected Trustees on the Board of Trustees to take office from the AGM in July 2025, for a four-year term, until the AGM in July 2029. The Nominations Committee is keen to receive nominations for members with digital skills, financial skills, and/or experience in fundraising and surplus diversification.

Board vacancies

There is a vacancy for an elected member of the Member Communities Board, who must be active within early careers (experience of serving on a network committee within the past five years) to take office from the AGM in July 2025, for a three-year term, until the AGM in July 2028.

There is a vacancy for an elected member of the Professional Standards Board to take office from the AGM in July 2025, for a three-year term, until the AGM in July 2028.

Committee vacancies

There are vacancies for two elected members of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee to take office from the AGM in July 2025, for a three-year term, until the AGM in July 2028.

Subject Community vacancies

Subject Community Councils have an important role in providing leadership to the Subject Communities and in the development and implementation of the Communities’ activities. The Subject Community Presidents and Subject Community Council members come from a range of backgrounds and career stages.

There are vacancies for President of the Analytical Science Community, President of the Chemistry Biology Interface Community, President of the Education Community and President of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy Committee to serve as President Elect for one-year from the AGM in July 2025 and take office as President for a three-year term until the AGM in July 2029, followed by a period as Immediate Past President, typically four months.

There are vacancies for two elected members of Analytical Science, Chemistry Biology Interface, Dalton, Environment, Sustainability and Energy, Faraday Community for Physical Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Community Councils and one vacancy for Education Community Council to take office from the AGM in July 2025, for a three-year term, until the AGM in July 2028.

Nominations

Any member of the RSC is invited to make nominations for Boards and Committees, and any member of their respective Subject Community are invited to make nominations for their vacancies. Nominees will be asked to declare that they are willing to make the necessary commitments if elected.

To be eligible to nominate and vote in Subject Community elections, you must be subscribed to the Subject Community concerned.  To subscribe to subject communities you can update your membership record by:

• the online Members’ area 
• tel: +44(0)1223 432141;
• email

There are two ways of submitting a nomination:

Self-nomination

• Any member, regardless of membership category, may self-nominate for one vacancy. This does not prevent a self-nominating member from being nominated for another vacant position by either the Nominations Committee, any other RSC Board or Committee or another member.

Proposer nomination

• Any member, regardless of membership category, may propose candidates for nomination
• All nominations need to be accompanied by the names of two RSC members willing to second the nomination. This will form part of the candidate’s application

For elected members of the Board of Trustees, Member Communities Board, Professional Standards Board, the Inclusion and Diversity Committee and Subject Community Presidents, the Nominations Committee will confirm the candidate’s willingness to be nominated. They will evaluate all valid nominations to produce a shortlist of candidates who meet the requirements of the role descriptor and can demonstrate the requisite of skills and experience to fulfil the role. The shortlist of successful candidates will be put forward for election.

For elected members of the Subject Community Councils, the Nominations Committee will establish that each nomination is valid, confirm each member’s willingness to serve if elected, and put them forward for election.

We have contracted with Mi-Voice, an electoral service provider, who has set up a secure online nominations website on our behalf. Here you can find further information on our vacancies and where members can submit nominations for the vacancy they wish to stand for.

Important documents

Please read these documents before submitting your nomination:

• Electoral Regulations
• Role Descriptors
  • Trustee
  • Board Member (Professional Standards)
  • Board Member (Member Communities)
  • Subject Community President
  • Committee Member (Inclusion and Diversity)
  • Subject Community Council Member
• Terms of Reference
  • Professional Standards Board (PSB)
  • Member Communities Board (MCB)
  • Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC)
• General Principles and Working Practices

The closing date for receipt of completed nominations is 17:00 GMT on Friday 7 February 2025.

Governance review

Our trustees’ most important role is to steward the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 177-year heritage and to plan for an even more successful future. This is why our Board of Trustees – called our Council – accepted the recommendations of our recent governance review led by our president, Professor Sir John Holman. Some of these recommendations involve changing elements of the membership of Council.

In making these changes we will gain even better expertise, planning and decision-making abilities, which will enable our community to continue to grow and succeed.

Background

Our president, Professor Sir John Holman, initiated in 2016 a review of our governance to clarify the role of the trustees, the structure and membership of Council (Board of Trustees), boards and committees and the effectiveness of the relationship with the executive.

Working with our staff, members and external specialists, and to standards and frameworks of sector best practice, the review identified that there is capacity for improvement of aspects of our governance, including:

• the purpose and function of the boards
• the skills mix required from trustees to effectively discharge their legal and financial responsibilities
• a culture that facilitates high-level strategic conversations, effective self-evaluation and inclusivity across the governance structure
• the governance schedule and a realistic view of volunteer commitment
• the nominations and elections process

Proposed changes

Council approved 25 recommendations for changes to our governance structures and processes. Three of these – specifically those related to the make-up of Council – require changes to our by-laws. These are:

• The role of honorary treasurer will become appointed from within the membership rather than elected from within the membership. (Due to the complex nature of this role, the associated skills-set and significant time commitment, there are often no nominees for election to the role of Honorary Treasurer and the position has to be filled by appointment. By formalising this practice, we can ensure that candidates continue to have the appropriate skills-set and understanding of the time commitment demanded by this role).
• At the end of their term of office, the president will step down as a trustee (allowing the president-elect to serve a two-year term of office before becoming president for two years).
• Up to three non-Royal Society of Chemistry members may be appointed as trustees (to ensure flexibility in finding an appropriate collective skills base of our trustees).

We will present these proposals at our Annual General Meeting in 2018 and, if passed by voting members, to the Privy Council for approval.

The remaining recommendations propose operational changes, such as the structure of our boards and committees, and working practices for Council, boards and committees. Council have already accepted these changes and we will implement them after the AGM in 2018.

Council has approved the following governance framework, which we will implement from July 2018:

Through this framework of boards and committees, we will ensure that we meet our legal and financial responsibilities and that we develop our strategic aims and objectives with recognition of the diversity of our activities, the sectors we operate in, and the communities we engage with.

These boards and committees will be supported by a number of sub-committees and working groups with responsibility for a specific task (such as the Admissions Committee, Benevolent Fund Grants Committee etc).

We will also be creating a Strategic Advisory Forum, intended to provide advice to Council, from a global perspective, on how the chemical sciences are likely to develop over the next 10-20 years and what issues and opportunities Council (as well as boards and staff) might need to take into consideration in developing and implementing our strategy.

Contact for further info: Gemma Wood