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18 May 2026

BUILA Executive Board Election 2026

BUILA Executive Board Election 2026

Open for Nominations

 

The role of the Executive Board is to represent the membership body and develop a fruitful relationship with sector stakeholders. As you will be aware we have been continually developing and expanding BUILA’s role to meet the needs of members during these unpredictable times. 

This year we have focussed on establishing BUILA as a pillar of ethical and sustainable recruitment, responding on behalf of the sector to the implementation of the International Education Strategy via the Education Strategy Action Group and its associated 100-day plan. We worked with members and partners to deliver the Global Talent Local Impact report and English Language Testing Good Practice Guide in response to potential UK Government policy shifts. Our training programme continues to evolve in support of members professional development, and our Regional Interest Groups, Directors’ Forums and Conferences provide key spaces for communication and collaboration across institutions.    

 

Vacant posts

This is now YOUR opportunity to become involved and make a real difference representing the interests of our 150 UK university members. We have five Executive Board Posts open for election, with a start date of 1 August 2026.  

  • Vacancies 1-4 - We have four England Region posts open for election to replace outgoing Board members
  • Vacancy 5 - This is our Region-Free post on the Board; candidates are accepted from any member institution from all UK nations. 

To ensure we remain representative of all our members we would particularly welcome applications from Russell Group institutions and from members interested in supporting our work on the AQF and the Regional Interest Groups. 

Please note: The Regional Representative posts for the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Regions have their own election process and are not open at this time, as Executive Board members in these posts are still within their three-year terms. Members from these regions can only stand for the Region-Free vacancy in the 2026 election. 

Eligibility and Nomination

  • Any individual may stand for election to the Executive Board, provided that they:

    - work in an aspect of International Education within the specified region

    - have the permission and support of their institution and manager

    - are not currently absent from their role on maternity leave, sabbatical or long-term sickness.

  • Executive Board members serve for a three-year term: see the role description via the button below giving more detail about the role.
  • The Executive Board meets bi-monthly and carry out a range of liaison and organisational duties which means that there is a time commitment to the role; we are looking for individuals that will really make an impact within the team and for the sector. The organisational duties of Board members centre on both stakeholder/relationship management and supporting conference content and delivery.

  • Nominations must be proposed and seconded by a Named Representative, and the nominee must indicate in advance their willingness to stand – see Named Representatives list below.

     

BUILA Executive Role Description

The full Named Representative list has been sent to members via the BUILA email mailbase.

 

Candidates


If you are thinking of standing, members of the Executive will be very happy to discuss what the role involves and the reality of being on the Executive team! Candidates will need to provide the following:

  • Headshot photo

  • Profile (300 words MAX) to cover:

    - Your background and experience in international higher education

    - Why you would like to be on the Executive Board

    - What skills and perspectives you can bring to the Executive Board

  • State the names of the Named Representatives who have proposed and seconded your nomination

Please email the above requirements to [email protected] - by 5pm, Monday 18 May. Please ensure that you have read the role description (above) and election processes document (below) before submitting yourself as a candidate. To discuss what the role involves, please email [email protected]

Voting Process

  • In the event that we receive more nominations than vacancies there will be a vote by ballot by the Named Representatives for each member institution.
  • Votes in the elections can be cast only by Named Reps from the English Region for Vacancies 1-4, but by Named Reps in ALL regions for Vacancy 5.
  • Each English institution has ONE vote for Vacancies 1-4, plus ONE vote for Vacancy 5.
  • Each Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish institution has ONE vote for Vacancy 5.
  • The vote must be cast by the Named Representative. Directors can only cast the vote if the Named Rep is unavailable to do so.
  • Named Representatives who have proposed/seconded a candidate can vote.
  • Candidates who are Named Representatives can also vote.
  • Candidates’ details will be emailed to the Named Representatives list only. Named Representatives can share the details with their Director to vote by proxy if they are unable to vote themselves.
  • In the event of a tie, the BUILA Chair will select the successful candidate/s from those tied on number of votes, taking into account the representative needs of the Board. 

     

Election Timetable

 

Nominations open: Monday 27 April

Nominations close: Monday 18 May

Voting opens: Wednesday 20 May

Voting closes: Friday 12 June

Results announced: Friday 19 June

Please note, we would like the newly elected Executives to attend the BUILA Annual Conference 2026 in Glasgow in July as Executives-Elect and participate in the Executive Board’s activities.

To request the Nomination Form, please email [email protected] 

 

Outgoing Executive Board

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Executives Andrew Bird, Jake Duffin, Shonagh Maak and Ula Tang-Plowman for the exceptional support they have given to the Association during their terms of office. BUILA is very grateful for their time on the Board and will really miss their contribution and enthusiasm going forward.
 

FAQs

Can Scottish/Welsh/Northern Ireland Named Representatives propose/second a candidate for an English Region post? No - Nominations need to come from within the region concerned, therefore, only English region Named Reps can propose/second a candidate for an English region vacancy on the Executive Board. For the single ‘All-Region’ post, Named Representatives from ALL UK regions can propose/second candidates.

Can a Named Representative propose/second more than one person? No – Named Representatives can only propose/second one person

Can a Named Representative who is standing for election themselves propose/second someone else? Yes

Can BUILA Executive Board members who are NOT Named Representatives propose/second a candidate? No

Can a candidate have both proposer AND seconder from the BUILA Executive Board? Yes  

 

Impact activity

Job Vacancy: BUILA Executive Director (permanent post)