The Trustees

To comply with our Memorandum and Articles of Association, an election to the Board of Trustees takes place every two years. There have been Trustees of the National Women's Register since 1980, a requirement of being a charity (NHR was granted charitable status in 1980). When NWR (as NHR) became a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee in 1986, it was also necessary to have at least one director to manage the company, and the Trustees became Directors of NWR the company.

Irene Hughes: Long Melford group NWR After spending many years overseas in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan I joined NWR in 2001 after moving to Long Melford in Suffolk. I found NWR invaluable in helping me to settle in to the community and find new areas of interest and I have been actively involved in organising our NWR Book Group. This year (2009) I attended my first NWR conference at Leeds and found it a most enjoyable experience and would thoroughly recommend it as an excellent way of making new friends. My working background is in Business Administration and Finance and am currently working for a company in the Renewable Energy sector. I hope that my skills and enthusiasm will enable me to contribute fully to the Board of Trustees and am looking forward to meeting many more members in the coming years.
Pam McKee: Crosby Group NWR I have been a member of Crosby Group for over 20 years. Like others in my Group I "graduated" to NWR from National Childbirth Trust when my daughter was small. NWR has been my friendship group and what great friends I have! I have taken my turn as Local Organiser. On retiring from a career as an HR Director in social housing, being a trustee seemed the ideal next step in allowing me to give something back to the organisation that has given me so much. My experience also embraces governance and public relations. In my spare time I enjoy the company of friends and family, travelling, continuing to learn Spanish and trying to keep reasonably fit.
June Nash: Knowle NWR I was introduced to NWR by a neighbour who had been in my situation and I have been a member ever since: about 28 years. In 1990 I was the Chairman of the organising committee for the Warwick Conference, a dream come true. A long time ago I promised myself that I would get more involved with NWR at a national level but small children, running a business and then elderly parents always had to take priority. A year ago, with all children having left home and parents deceased I sold my business and took some time to consider what I would do next. This was my chance to take more part in NWR.
Kathleen Tanner: Market Deeping NWR I was brought up in Northern England. I graduated in Maths and worked in the Paper and Steel Industries at the University of Bradford. We had our children (2 sons) in our thirties and I later worked in the Voluntary sector and with Housing Associations. More recently I ran the GP Out of Hours Cooperative in Peterborough. I have also been involved in local community activities such as the PTA and Youth Club. I have been a school Governor and am interested in local politics. While I was always aware of NWR (I remember reading the original Guardian article) I only joined in Market Deeping in 1982 when I was at home with small children. I have been actively involved ever since but at the local level. For instance I have never been to the annual National Conference so this year will be a new experience. The Deepings NWR group is very lively and interesting and I have made many close friends as a result of being a member. I feel very honoured to be offered the opportunity to be an NWR Trustee and hope I will live up to it.
Marjorie Briggs: Bracknell I was the classic housebound mum back in 1971 with a 2 year old and a new baby when a neighbour invited me to her NHR meeting. Now, two more children and three grandchildren later, I still belong to the same Bracknell group. Outside of NWR I teach maths at the local CFE and am involved with my local church and with Guiding at county level. I sampled NWR Conferences when I felt the children were able to fend for themselves for a weekend! Once I did I was hooked and subsequently became part of the organising committees of both Guildford 2002 and Reading 2005.

The Role of the Trustees

The Trustees have a dual role as Directors under the Companies Act and Trustees under the Charities Act. It is their legal and overall responsibility to ensure that NWR is working to achieve its aims and is operating within its charitable remit as a company limited by guarantee, and that the organisation is run on a financially viable basis.

As Directors, the Trustees are collectively agents of the company and must observe the rules governing them. They are responsible to the company, not to the members as individuals or a body, and members of the company cannot instruct the Directors in their duties. Directors also have a legal duty to consider the interests of company employees (the Office Administrator and her Assistant).

The Trustees meet with the two Co-ordinators at least four times a year. One meeting is at the National Conference. All the employees, viz. the Co-ordinators, Bookkeeper and Office Administrator are line managed by a Trustee. Each Co-ordinator has regular meetings with their line manager and keeps in close contact via telephone and email.

The Trustees are available to all members and the employees for advice when consulted. There may be between three and five Trustees, who must stand for re-election every two years.

The Trustees of the National Women's Register wish to give the best possible support to the organisation and may be contacted by any member at any time.