Have you ever felt that “someone like me” isn’t being properly represented on the Institute’s Council?
If so, here’s your opportunity to do something about it.
By standing as a candidate, or encouraging someone else to stand, or nominating a candidate and by voting in the election.
Council is our principal governance body. It is a group of approximately 90 Chartered Accountants from all corners of the globe and all walks of professional life, who meet every quarter or so to help steer the strategic direction of the Institute.
We need some new Council members to fill vacancies to represent some of our UK geographical constituencies and some of our wonderful member communities.
In an ideal World, the membership of Council would reflect the full range of diversity amongst our broad church of members, including those from the quiet majority of members who haven’t previously engaged with ICAEW very much since they qualified.
If you are wondering whether you are suitable for the role, the main requirement is really the willingness to engage and to contribute your own unique perspective, knowledge and experience to our debates and discussions. Don’t worry if you haven’t ever volunteered for the Institute before – in some ways the less “institutionalised” you are, the better.
In my own case, together with my business partner, we founded our own small practice in 2004. 10 years on, in 2014, I stood for a vacant seat in Beds, Bucks & Herts, having been almost totally disengaged with the Institute in the 20 years since I’d qualified in 1994. I’ve been on Council continuously since then, acting as Chair of Council for 3 years before becoming an Office Holder in June 2023.
Serving on Council has given me a wonderful community of contacts that in many cases have become friends. I’ve benefited from receiving early warnings of technical, regulatory and industry changes well before they have otherwise become common knowledge. And I’ve been able to feel that I’ve had my say on the big issues of the day and even been able to influence the Institute’s direction of travel.
If you are already thinking of standing, thank you and good luck. If you are still unsure, but would like to talk it through, please feel free to contact me through the Institute’s Governance Office council.elections@icaew.com or via LinkedIn.
If you are wondering whether you are suitable for the role, the main requirement is really the willingness to engage and to contribute your own unique perspective, knowledge and experience to our debates and discussions. Don’t worry if you haven’t ever volunteered for the Institute before – in some ways the less “institutionalised” you are, the better."