Call for nominations to serve on the BISA Executive Committee 2026
We're pleased to announce that we have four trustee positions up for election to the BISA Executive Committee.
We rely on the dedication, expertise and support of elected trustees to oversee our mission to develop and promote International Studies and related subjects through publication and research, the maintenance of academic networks, and the free exchange of ideas.
We encourage nominations from individuals at all career stages and from all backgrounds. We are particularly keen to see nominations from those currently underrepresented within our pool of trustees. This includes career stage, race, gender, age, disability and background.
As the UK’s foremost professional association promoting International Studies, we represent the interests of those who research, teach and study the discipline. With almost 30 specialist working groups and a Postgraduate Network, we convene more than 70 events a year, including an annual conference, give funding to support research and scholarship, award a range of prizes that recognise excellence in research and learning and teaching, and are home to two highly-regarded academic journals plus a prestigious book series.
Over the last few years, we have made great strides in our approach to communications, outreach, public engagement, career development and learning and teaching. With a growing membership and over 25,000 followers across our social media platforms, we are committed to serving our membership and the wider community.
We are looking for trustees with the following qualities.
- Values-led
- Strategic thinking
- International outlook
- EDI focused
- Excellent time management/able to dedicate the time that the role requires.
The available positions are:
Academic Freedom lead
We are seeking nominations for a new member of the Board of Trustees who will lead on the development and implementation of our Academic Freedom strategy. BISA is committed to academic freedom which we consider to be central to the scholarly work of our members and of the broader scientific community. It is essential that individuals and institutions are free to undertake research and teaching without fear of discrimination, censorship, or other restrictions that would prevent them from undertaking their work.
Our primary aim is that the AF lead will support BISA to improve the visibility of, and our support for, academic freedom issues. If you have the appetite for developing and implementing a strategy to realise these ambitions, please consider standing for election. You can find our current statement on academic freedom on our policies page.
If elected, you will undertake the role of BISA lead for Academic Freedom for two years.
Three ordinary trustees
There are three positions available as an ordinary trustee. Ordinary trustees may be asked to take responsibility for a particular portfolio of work. These positions are two-year terms.
“At a time when the value of academic knowledge is being questioned, serving as a BISA trustee gives me a sense of purpose. The Association does so much important work to encourage, support, and promote a wide array of international studies research, teaching, and scholarship, and it’s great to be part of a team actively contributing to that work.”
It is essential that you read the relevant role description before nominating yourself or being nominated for a position on the Executive Committee. If you're elected you will become a legal trustee of BISA as a charity, so you must act in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines.
For a full description of each role please download the documents at the bottom of this page.
All nominees must be BISA members and must be based at a UK higher education institution.
For details of how to nominate, a full timeline for the election, and more information, visit our elections page. You can also read about past trustees’ experiences in our article ‘Why become a BISA trustee?’
Nominations close at 11.59pm (UK time) on Monday 13 April 2026.
Downloads
“The highlight for me has definitely been my role as chair of the Michael Nicholson prize committee for best thesis in International Studies which has given me the opportunity to see the tremendous quality and innovation of work being carried out by PhD students in the UK and beyond. New trustees can expect a warm welcome from others on the BISA Executive Board and a noteably collegial working environment once they are there. I would highly recommend colleagues to consider putting themselves forward for election.”
