Advert: Chair of the Board of Trustees

The UK Health Alliance on Climate Change is an alliance of 50 UK-based health organisations with a vision for a just, sustainable, healthy world. We bring health professionals together to advocate for just responses to the climate and ecological crisis, promote the health benefits that flow from those responses, and empower our members and other health professionals to make changes in their professional and personal lives to respond to the crisis.

As the environmental crisis worsens, the need for positive interventions from the health community to influence change both within government and the health sector to deliver actions that improve the health of the population while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts that are already here.

The Alliance is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission.

The role of the Chair

The Chair plays a critical role in:

• Listening and inspiring our alliance of 50 organisational members to set the strategic direction
• Leading the elected board of trustees to ensure ongoing delivery, financial security and accountability mechanisms are achieved
• Supervising and motivating the Director to set and deliver objectives for achieving our strategic aims
• Engaging with others through presenting at conferences, writing and networking to raise the profile of our work

The ideal person will need a good understanding of governance, excellent financial acumen, and experience of strong leadership.

Essential criteria 

The successful candidate must have:

• Concern about the climate and nature crisis
• Knowledge of the health sector in the UK
• Experience of leadership and being a chair
• Good communications skills
• Ability to work with a team
• Ability to devote one day a week to UKHACC

Desirable criteria

The ideal candidate will also be able to demonstrate evidence of:

• A high and positive profile
• Knowledge and understanding of the climate and nature crisis
• A wide range of contacts
• Knowledge of UKHACC and its members
• Financial skills
• Experience of fundraising
• Ability to commit more time to UKHACC

Practical information

Location: Home-based with two in-person council meetings per year held at one of our membership organisations. 

Expected hours: One day per week minimum plus attendance at a monthly online two hour meeting of the board of trustees

Remuneration: Unpaid voluntary role

Organisation: We are a small charity currently with one employee and nine elected voluntary board members

Appointment process

The new Chair will take up the appointment at our AGM on Thursday 18 September 2025 when the outgoing chair steps down. 

The term of office is three years with the possibility of a second term.

Timeline

Interested candidates should initially contact the Director elaine.mulcahy@ukhealthalliance.org with an expression of interest.