Exciting Opportunities for Fellows

Council – up to 5 vacancies

The Council serves as our board of trustees and holds overall responsibility for the Society’s governance, strategy, activities, and finances. Furthermore, members may represent the Council on various groups, including the Governance Oversight Committee. Current members of Council can be found here. The forward business plan can be found here.

The Council particularly invites applications from the following Fellows:

• STEMM Fellows
• Fellows with a background in supporting charitable organisations, especially in governance, finance, and fundraising strategies

Your commitment: Four to five hybrid meetings a year (January, March, July, and November) at LSW’s offices in Cardiff & Teams/Zoom. Each meeting is expected to be no more than two hours. In addition to the meetings themselves, the main time commitment for members is to read the papers for each meeting, although there are multiple opportunities to do more should you wish, by being a Council representative at other internal and external Committees, meetings and events 

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term. 

Eligibility: Open to all LSW Fellows. 

Application process: To apply for the Council positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk  

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with no names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.

The Fellowship Committee is vital to our strategic leadership, giving you the opportunity to shape the Society’s future ambitions and direction. The Fellowship Committee oversees the election process for Fellowship and works to improve Fellowship diversity.

Current members can be found here. Terms of reference and forward business plan can be found here. 

Your commitment:  Four online meetings a year (June, October, February and April) with ad hoc meetings arranged as necessary. All meetings currently take place on Zoom. Each meeting is expected to be no more than an hour and a half in length. In addition to the meetings themselves, the main time commitment for members is to read the papers for each meeting. 

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term. 

Eligibility: Open to all LSW Fellows. 

Application process: To apply for the Committee positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk  

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with no names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.

The General Purposes Committee has a wide and interesting remit that includes providing strategic direction on the Society’s policy work, events, publications, awards (including our medals) and agreements with important stakeholders. Current members can be found here. Terms of reference and forward business plan can be found here. 

Your commitment: Three online meetings a year (February, June and October). All meetings currently take place on Zoom. Each meeting is expected to be no more than an hour and a half in length. In addition to the meetings themselves, the main time commitment for members is to read the papers for each meeting. 

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term. 

Eligibility: Open to all LSW Fellows. 

One current member of the Committee is eligible for re-election and has indicated their willingness to apply again: 

• Ms Maxine Penlington. Ms Penlington has attended 6 out of 8 meetings during their first term.

Application process: To apply for the Committee positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk  

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with no names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.

The General Secretary is one of the five key Honorary Officers of the Learned Society of Wales. They play a vital role in driving our strategy, planning activities and ensuring the charity’s long-term success. The General Secretary works closely with the other Officers: the President, the Vice-President for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Science, the Vice-President for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine and the Treasurer. At staff level, they are supported by the Chief Executive and Clerk. The General Secretary sits on the Society’s Council (board of trustees) and other key committees.

 Role description available here.

Your commitment: approximately 18 hybrid Meetings a year – two online for Human Resources Committee, two online for General Oversight Committee, ten online Executive Committee, one online Cenhadon and four hybrid Council.

As General Secretary you will be an Ex-officio member of:

• Council (board of Trustees)
• Executive Committee
• Governance Oversight Committee
• Human Resources committee (Chair)

Please see here for a description of these committees.

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term.

Our current General Secretary is eligible for re-election and has indicated their willingness to apply again:

 Professor Faron Moller. Professor Moller has attended 18/18 meetings in his first term.

Application process: To apply for the Committee positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk  

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.

The Human Resources Committee is crucial in ensuring the effective management and well-being of our staff. It oversees organisational structure and promotes a supportive, productive workplace, all of which are essential to the organisation’s success. Current members can be found here. Terms of reference and forward business plan can be found here. 

Your commitment: Two online meetings a year (April and September). All meetings currently take place on Zoom. Each meeting is expected to be no more than an hour and a half in length. In addition to the meetings themselves, the main time commitment for members is to read the papers for each meeting. 

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term. 

Eligibility: Open to all LSW Fellows. 

Three current members of the Committee are eligible for re-election and have indicated their willingness to apply again:

• Ms Maxine Penlington. Ms Penlington has attended 5 out of 5 meetings during their first term.
• Ms Elin Rhys. Ms Rhys has attended 2 out of 4 meetings during their first term. 
• Professor Geoff Richards. Professor Richards has attended 5 out of 5 meetings during their first term.

Application process: To apply for the Committee positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk  

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with no names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.

The Vice-President is one of the five key Honorary Officers of the Learned Society of Wales. They play a vital role in driving our strategy, planning activities and ensuring the charity’s long-term success. The Vice-President works closely with the other Officers – the President, the Vice-President for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine, the Treasurer and the General Secretary. At staff level, they are supported by the Chief Executive, Clerk, Head of Equity and Engagement and Fellowship Officer. The Vice-President sits on the Society’s Council (board of trustees) and other key committees.

Role description available here.

Your commitment: approximately 20 hybrid Meetings a year – four online for Fellowship Committee, two online for General Oversight Committee, ten online for Executive Committee and four hybrid Council meetings. Additionally, ad hoc meetings related to the Fellowship nomination cycle.

Ex-officio membership:

• Council (Board of Trustees)
• The Executive Committee
• Fellowship Committee (Co-Chair)
• Governance Oversight Committee

Please see here for a description of these committees.

Term of office: Three years, with a possibility of a second term.  

 
Eligibility: Open to all LSW Fellows.  

Application process: To apply for the Committee positions please complete this form and return it by Sunday 18 January 2026 to Dr Haydeé Martínez-Zavala at clerk@lsw.wales.ac.uk   

If we have received enough valid applications to require an election, we will issue ballots to Fellows during the week beginning 26 January 2026, for return by Monday 16 February 2026. All Fellows of the Society will be eligible to vote. The ballots will contain only the candidates’ supporting statements, with names included. The election results will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting. 

We are seeking expressions of interest from Fellows who would be interested in sitting on a new Review Panel. 

We have 3 rounds per year of applications to the  FLSW Event Support to fund, promote or support events that Fellows are involved in organising.   

We are developing the panel of Fellows who sit on this review panel.   

• The panel will consist of 6 Fellows– with each having the option to step out of a round and/or declare a conflict of interest when relevant

• There are 3 deadlines for submissions each year.   

• The process involves:
  • Received applications are reviewed and ranked by staff against LSW strategic priorities. 
  • The Review Panel assesses the applications alongside the staff proposed ranking and make the final decision on the allocation of funding.  

• Discussions between Review Panel members take place via email or online and are led by one member of General Purposes Committee (GPC) as Chair 

Terms of Reference 

Apply now: Click here to complete the short application form.  

Enquiries: If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us on lsw@wales.ac.uk