BAA Board Elections 2026
We’re delighted you are considering standing for BAA Board. Have a look through what could be involved if you put yourself forward and are elected in October.
Any full member of BAA should consider standing for Board!
The BAA is seeking nominees for the organisation’s board of directors, with the window to put your self forward now open. Being a board member gives you the opportunity to expand your professional network, as you form part of the team looking to provide a clear and strong voice for professionals in audiology, promote excellence in clinical knowledge and practice, and be an advocate for the profession! BAA board members serve a three-year term beginning at the AGM. The board meets at least four times a year, and board members typically lead a committee that will also meet (virtually) four times each year. You are also expected to attend and help at our annual conference.
This year, we have six vacancies on the BAA Board. The term of office is three years and will start from 29th October 2026.
The deadline for nominations is Friday 4th September 2026 at 11.59pm
We recognise the diversity in our profession’s workforce and would like to encourage applicants from all backgrounds to better reflect this diversity. We would also encourage nominations from across the four home nations to ensure better geographical representation for members.
Complete the nomination form here: BAA Board Nomination Form
Read more about Board Directors in the BAA Articles of Association and the general job description for Board Directors is as follows: BAA-Board-Director-Generic
Read our Frequently Asked Questions below.
Frequently Asked Questions about standing for Board
We are aware that some of you may have considered standing in the past but are a little unsure about quite what is involved. Have a look through some questions we have been asked about standing and serving as a Director on the BAA Board, which may help you to decide to stand in the forthcoming elections.
The position of Board Director is open to all FULL or Honorary members of the BAA.
No, not at all. However, being a member of the BAA board means that you will be asked to represent your profession. You will be asked to give your opinion on various professional matters and will be expected to work strategically within the team to develop professional standards now and into the future. For this reason, the position of Board Director will may be more appropriate to those who have a senior role within Audiology and who have managerial and other committee experience. However, all members of the BAA are eligible to be nominated and if you feel that you would be able to contribute you are absolutely welcome to apply.
A current board director who is not a head of service said,
I would strongly encourage members to go for it. You don’t need prior experience, I certainly didn’t have any. What matters most is enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and contribute, and an open mind. The Board is a supportive environment, and it’s a great place to develop new skills and confidence.
There is an all-day Board meeting four times a year (two online and two in-person) and the full Board is also expected to attend our Annual Conference where we have the Annual General Meeting and other commitments.
In addition to this there will be work related to any BAA teams or committees that you will lead on with. You need to ensure that you are able to obtain leave from work commitments to allow you attend these meetings and complete any necessary work. All committee meetings are conducted online.
You may also be asked to represent BAA on external meetings from time-to-time but these will be in-frequent and are not compulsory.
No. All Board Directors are volunteers
If you are elected to be President, then BAA buys one day of this person’s time from their employer. This is to make sure the President has the time and capacity to represent BAA, manage the multiple work streams and Board Directors, respond to emails appropriately and so on.
Reasonable expenses are covered for Directors, if you are required to travel for BAA commitments. There is an Expenses Policy which members can access here.
A term of office is three years. You can serve two terms in total, although you must stand for re-election to allow you to continue. Speaking about our term limits, a board director said:
I think term limits are really important. They allow for fresh ideas and new voices to come through, which helps keep the organisation dynamic and relevant to its members. As Board roles are voluntary, it also ensures the responsibility is shared more widely and prevents burnout, while giving more members the opportunity to contribute.
There are various roles that Board Directors maybe asked to fulfil. Most of these come with a committee or task and finish group approach to complete work required.
Current of the Board Directors can be found, along with their Objectives here (Click on each Director to read more). Every Board Director has a specific Job Description to emphasis what the expectations are.
Further to this, the Directors will be asked to review and comment on documents and policies that are both generated within the BAA and by external bodies. Board Directors may be involved in ad-hoc working groups, depending on their specific interests and talents.
The profession needs strong leaders to take it forward, so by being a Board Director you are able to influence the direction of your profession in the future. Board Directors are at the front line of information coming into the profession. When asked about the benefits to them of volunteering, one of our current board directors said:
Serving on the Board has given me the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a wide range of people across the profession. I’ve built valuable connections, been involved in projects outside my usual role, and developed new skills. One of the highlights has been launching the Learning Hub, which has been a meaningful contribution to members’ CPD.
Election Timeline
BAA call for nominations sent to all full members.
Members complete their nomination forms.
If seven or fewer nominations are received, all are elected to Board.
If more than seven forms are received, elections are held.
All full members are invited to vote for their preferred candidates.
Candidates elected to Board are announced at the the AGM.
If elected in October 2026, your first term of office will run until the Autumn AGM in 2029. At this point you are eligible to stand again for one more term.
Dr Sam Lear completes her time on Board in October after serving two terms, and time on our Exec team as Vice President, President and the last two years as Past President. Thank you Sam!
Board Director vacancies 2026
The following Board Directors are completing their time on Board after two terms:
- Saira Hussain, Board Director for Education
- Lauren Willis, Board Director for Regional Groups
- Jason Smalley, Board Director for Pubs & Comms
The following Board Directors are eligible to stand for a second term
- Catherine Magee, Board Director for eLearning
- Dr Michelle Foster, Board Director for Professional Affairs and Workforce
I have been involved with the BAA Board for the past three years, serving as a Board Director with responsibility for eLearning. During this time, I’ve been able to take an active role in supporting the development of educational resources and helping shape how we deliver learning opportunities to members.
I was inspired by the work the Board was doing supporting services and being a proactive voice in the early days of the paediatric improvement programme. Seeing the impact of that work, along with the passion and commitment of the Board Directors, made me want to get involved. I was particularly motivated by the opportunity to help influence the direction of the profession and contribute to important conversations.
Serving on the Board has given me the opportunity to meet and collaborate with a wide range of people across the profession. I’ve built valuable connections, been involved in projects outside my usual role, and developed new skills. One of the highlights has been launching the Learning Hub, which has been a meaningful contribution to members’ CPD.
My experience in paediatric audiology and enthusiasm for improving access to learning has helped inform the development of eLearning resources. I also bring a collaborative and open-minded approach, which supports constructive discussions and decision-making.
I think term limits are really important. They allow for fresh ideas and new voices to come through, which helps keep the organisation dynamic and relevant to its members. As Board roles are voluntary, it also ensures the responsibility is shared more widely and prevents burnout, while giving more members the opportunity to contribute.
I would strongly encourage them to go for it. You don’t need prior experience, I certainly didn’t have any. What matters most is enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and contribute, and an open mind. The Board is a supportive environment, and it’s a great place to develop new skills and confidence.
How approachable and ‘normal’ everyone is, it’s very collaborative and supportive.
Can you share a moment or achievement from your time on the Board that you’re particularly proud of?
I’m particularly proud of being involved in the launch of the BAA Learning Hub. It’s been a fantastic CPD resource for members and something that I hope will continue to grow and benefit the profession.
Having a mix of perspectives—from different roles, backgrounds, and stages of career means that decisions are better informed and more reflective of the wider membership. It helps ensure that a broad range of priorities and experiences are considered, which ultimately strengthens the board.
I would say go for it. While it does require extra time and effort on top of your usual role, the experience and personal development you gain are absolutely worth it. You also get to work with a fantastic group of people and make a real contribution to the profession.
You could start by joining a committee to build your confidence and get a feel for how things work. But ultimately, don’t let self-doubt hold you back sometimes putting yourself forward is the best way to grow.
Documents and Forms