BAOT Council election 2025

Are you interested in standing for Council?

If you’re interested in having your say on how your membership body supports our occupational therapy community, why not consider standing for Council in our upcoming elections?  There are two council positions up for election this year: 

• Chair of Council  
• Council member, Wales  

Being a member of Council is a demanding but rewarding volunteer role 

Council members are essential to our success. They provide the leadership needed to drive forward our organisation to deliver on our vision and strategy for our members, the profession and the public. They represent and champion the organisation and our profession.  

As an elected Council member of BAOT you will be a director of the company. You will also be appointed as a director and trustee of RCOT. With fellow Council members and trustees, you will lead how the organisations are run and are responsible for delivering for both our members and meeting RCOT’s public benefit requirements.  Find out more about Council.

Why become a Council member?  

If you want to shape the future of our organisation and profession, why not consider standing for Council. In these essential leadership roles, you’ll: 

• have the opportunity to learn about business management and professional body administration 
• debate issues, consider risks and help make decisions that influence our organisation and profession  
• hold the management team to account to ensure our plans and activity are impactful and effective 
• make sure we’re complying with our governing documents and the law  
• act in the organisations’ best interests and with reasonable skill and care 
• make sure organisational resources are managed effectively  
• be accountable to members, regulators and other stakeholders for the performance of the organisation 
• act as a ‘critical friend’ to management.  

What roles are up for election this year?  

There are two positions on Council up for election this year: 

Chair of Council 

The Chair of Council is an inspiring and confident leader who’s the public face of RCOT. In this role you’ll lead our organisation and champion and represent our occupational therapy community. You’ll chair Council and Board of Trustee meetings and ensure BAOT Council and RCOT Board of Trustees fulfills its functions effectively on behalf of our membership. The current Chair Odeth Richardson will be standing for re-election.  

Council member, Wales 

The Council member, Wales, is a key role. It is someone working or living in Wales who upholds our organisational governance and champions occupational therapy for and on behalf of our membership ensuring the views and perspectives of members in Wales are represented and considered. The current Council member, Wales, Paul Dunning, has come to the end of his term/ will be standing down.  

Who can stand for Council elections?  

We want to encourage anyone who thinks they have the skills and experience to make a difference to consider standing for Council, so our membership has a genuine choice in who represents them. We value the diversity of our membership and welcome broad perspectives, skills and experiences. We’re particularly interested in hearing from members who come from under-represented groups.  

• Nominees for BAOT Council Chair must be a Professional Member of at least five years in good standing. 
• Nominees for BAOT Council member, Wales must be a Professional Member in good standing working and/ or resident in Wales.  

How much time will you need to commit if you’re elected to Council?  

Joining Council is a demanding role. You’ll need to attend: 

• Four one-day Council meetings a year predominately in London 
• A development/ strategy day 
• Any extra-ordinary Council meetings that are required, these will generally be 1–2-hour virtual meetings. 
• BAOT Annual General Meeting  
• RCOT Annual Conference 
• You’ll also be asked to read a large number of documents before each Council meeting, and you’ll receive emails to respond to within a reasonable deadline outside of these meetings too.  
• Due to the time commitments required away from work, we recommend you seek the support of your manager in advance of completing your nomination as these positions do require time away from work which they’ll need to be aware of. 

Register your interest today 

• If you’re interested in standing for Council register your interest now by emailing governance@rcot.co.uk    
• You’ll receive a detailed Election pack at the end of February 2025 which explains the process. 
• You’ll need to complete a nomination form and candidate statement by 20 April 2025. 
• Postal ballots will be shared with our members in May ahead of the voting deadline prior to the AGM in June 2025.  

How are members elected to Council positions?  

The election will be by a postal ballot of all BAOT members in good standing. The independent scrutineer for the ballot, appointed in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, will be Civica Election Services. Election results will be announced at the AGM in June 2025. 

If only one suitable candidate is put forward for a role there will be no ballot of members, and they will be appointed as an uncontested candidate. Only members in Wales are eligible to vote in the ballot for Council member, Wales.