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Chartered Trustee

Role Description 2026

 

The role and its impact

The Board of Trustees (the Board) is responsible for setting the strategic direction and managing the affairs of the RTPI. It oversees how the RTPI is meeting its strategic objectives and delivering services of value to our members.

Trustees play a pivotal role right at the heart of the RTPI, bringing their ideas, experience, knowledge and constructive challenge to the Board. As a member of the Board, Trustees are collectively responsible for driving the RTPI forward and for setting and overseeing the delivery of a corporate strategy, business plan and budget that meets the Institute’s purpose and ensures an effective use of RTPI resources.

What’s involved

As a member of the Board, you will partake in oversight work, discussions and collective decision-making in areas such as, but not limited to:

Statutory responsibilities

  • Ensuring that the Institute is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
  • Complying with the Institute’s governing document and the law
  • Acting in the Institute’s best interests
  • Managing the Institute’s resources responsibly
  • Acting with reasonable care and skill at all times.

Strategy and planning

  • Shaping the corporate strategy, the business plan, and the annual budget and supporting documents such as committee work plans
  • Ensuring the RTPI has appropriate and up-to-date polices in place on key matters such as health and safety, risk management, data protection and financial management.

Financial management

  • Reviewing and approving the RTPI’s annual report and accounts.
  • Reviewing the auditors’ report on the annual accounts
  • Agreeing the subscription structure for the following year, subject to consultation with the General Assembly.

One Institute cohesion

  • Overseeing how the work of the Institute’s standing committees and panels, subcommittees, committees in the regions and nations and working groups contribute to the Institute’s purpose and mission
  • Receiving reports from the President Team, Chief Executive, volunteers, and senior staff.

Committee membership

Trustees will also be asked to join at least one (more often two) of the Board's sub or standing committees either as Chair, Vice Chair or member and to report on the work of those committees at each Board meeting.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to stand for election as a chartered Trustee, candidates must:

  • Be a chartered RTPI Member
  • Hold credibility within the profession and among external stakeholders
  • Have a strong commitment to supporting the RTPI’s strategic objectives and vision

Time commitment

Appointment as a chartered Trustee is for a three-year term running from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2029.

The role will require preparing for and attending meetings related to your role, including:

  • 6 full day Board meetings a year and an annual Trustee training day
  • An annual Board away day including an overnight stay
  • Chair, Vice-Chair or a member of at least one Board subcommittees or Standing Committee (4 half day meetings per year per committee)
  • 4 full day General Assembly meetings a year
  • Occasional written correspondences or resolutions by the Board.

Trustees may also be asked to represent the Board at events as required.

About you

We are looking for individuals with the following experience and attributes:

Essential

  • A commitment to further the work of the Institute and to devote the necessary time to the requirements of the role
  • A good understanding of the Institute and the key stakeholders with which it engages
  • An ability to bring well thought-out and constructive queries and challenge to meetings
  • A professional and team player mentality, including tolerance of the views of other people and a willingness to accept a majority decision.
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Impartiality, fairness, and the ability to treat sensitive information confidentially

Advantageous

  • Previous active involvement within the Institute.
  • Previous experience in governance roles at other organisations

All Trustee roles are voluntary. All RTPI volunteers must:

  • Follow the Trustee Code of Conduct and Responsibilities, Behaviours and Competences
  • Act in the interests of the RTPI, irrespective of any commitments to other organisations or groups or any personal interests.
  • Declare any potential conflicts of interest and seek advice from the Governance team as necessary.
  • Adhere to relevant RTPI policies, procedures and behaviours.

How we will support you

Elected Trustees will be provided with:

  • An annual induction/refresher day, typically in January.
  • If new to the Board, a ‘buddy’ from current members of the Board
  • Access to online training and additional resources
  • A key contact for the role (see below)
  • Reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred when carrying out Institute business, in line with the expenses policy
  • Relevant organisational policies, procedures and insurance to support your role as a volunteer. Find out more in the Volunteer Handbook.

Benefits of getting involved

Becoming a Trustee of the RTPI is a chance to be part of an enthusiastic team of professionals and make a real difference to the planning profession and communities in which we live and work. 

As a Trustee you will:

  • gain experience and transferable skills in strategy, business planning, investment and risk management
  • help shape the future development of the RTPI
  • help steer the delivery of the objectives set out in the Institute’s Corporate Strategy Empower 2030
  • have access to professional networking
  • expand your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio
  • gain an understanding of the role of governance in a membership organisation
  • learn about areas of planning outside of your current expertise.

How to get involved

Trustees are elected by members of the General Assembly.

RTPI members will be emailed in August inviting them to apply for roles starting in 2027.

Candidates are required to complete a nomination form by the Wednesday 16 September 2026. Nominations form must include a candidate statement, a headshot and the names and details of six RTPI chartered members who support their nomination.

Voting will open on 28 September 2026. If there is more than one candidate for these roles, nomination details for all eligible chartered Trustee candidates will be published on the RTPI website and on the independent election scrutineer’s voting page and General Assembly members will be notified that voting has opened.

The election of Chartered Trustees uses a single transferable vote system (voters rank the candidates in order of preference: 1 for their first preference, 2 for their second preference, and so forth).

Election results will be announced in October 2026.

Key contact for the role

If you would like to find out more about the role of Chartered Trustee role or other roles in governance please contact governance@rtpi.org.uk.

These are voluntary roles. The duties outlined reflect our shared hopes and expectations but do not create any contractual obligations. Find out more in our Volunteering Charter.