Board nominations and elections FAQs

We are asking for nominations to fill three places on the Board of Directors from 1 May 2026  

•   Two individual voting members from the Student, Junior Associate, Associate, MITI, FITI, Hon FITI, MITI (retd) and FITI (retd) membership categories

•   One individual non-voting member from the Affiliate membership category

The Board of Directors must be made up of no fewer than seven and no more than eleven elected members of the Board, made up of at least four Board members nominated and elected by the voting members. Voting members must always be in a majority on the Board. 

Current composition of the Board:

• One of the Board members nominated and elected by the voting members should be an Interpreter – this place is currently held by Anna Kerod MITI  

• The other elected members of the Board should include a corporate member nominated and elected by the corporate members, and a non-voting member nominated and elected by the non-voting members  

• Up to two co-opted Board members

• ITI's Chief Executive  

You can read about the current Board members on the our website: Our people 

The Board sets ITI's strategic direction and monitors progress against agreed objectives. Board members are collectively responsible for ensuring the Institute is financially sustainable, complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, and delivers on its mission. The Board also holds the Chief Executive to account for the operational performance of the organisation.

The Chief Executive is responsible for ITI's day-to-day management and leads the staff team in implementing the strategy set by the Board. The Chief Executive supports Board members by providing the information, analysis and professional advice they need to fulfil their governance responsibilities and make informed decisions.

Joining the board is an important commitment. As a director of ITI, you will have legal responsibilities and duties under company law. However, we provide comprehensive induction and ongoing support to help you succeed in the role and find it rewarding.

Effective governance depends on Board members working collegiately to make decisions in the best interests of the organisation. This sometimes requires compromise to ensure ITI's agreed priorities can be delivered. Board members are expected to build constructive working relationships with their fellow directors, ensuring everyone can contribute fully and on equal terms.

We value constructive challenge and diverse perspectives. However, all Board members must maintain respectful relationships with colleagues, listen actively to different viewpoints, and support Board decisions once they are made, even when they have argued for a different course of action.

 

ITI benefits from having Board members who bring diverse skills, experience and perspectives. All Board members need certain core capabilities regardless of their background. These include the ability to think strategically, to analyse information and make sound judgements, to work collaboratively with colleagues, and to communicate effectively. You should also be willing to challenge constructively and to commit the time needed to prepare for and attend meetings.

Beyond these fundamentals, we are keen to strengthen specific areas of expertise on the Board. Our recent skills audit identified gaps in financial management and oversight, understanding of research in translation and interpreting, and experience of policy and public affairs. We would particularly welcome candidates with experience in senior management or leadership roles, whether in commercial organisations or the not-for-profit sector, who can bring strategic thinking to the challenges ITI faces. The translation and interpreting profession is navigating significant change, including the impact of generative AI, evolving client expectations, and shifting market dynamics. Board members who can help ITI respond effectively to these challenges whilst supporting our members will be invaluable.

If you have relevant skills or experience in any of these areas, we would encourage you to consider standing for election. However, please don't be deterred if you feel you lack corporate or professional experience in these governance areas. We provide comprehensive support to all Board members, including induction, mentoring from experienced directors, and access to training courses to help you develop in your role.

Preparing for and attending Board meetings and the AGM requires a time commitment of around 10-12 days per year. There is also a requirement to engage with matters that arise in between meetings. These discussions are usually conducted by email or via OnBoard, our online platform.

In addition, we expect all Board members to get involved in either committee work or in one or more of our task and finish groups. The amount of time required for these activities will vary, but it is sensible to assume that it could amount to a further 10-12 days.

 

Currently the Board meets formally seven times each year. Five of the Board meetings are held online in the afternoon. The other two meetings are usually held in person in Milton Keynes over two half days - the afternoon of the first day and the morning of the second day - with an informal social evening in between. The first Board meeting of the new financial year is an in person meeting and will take place in early May 2026. Additional meetings are sometimes required.   

In addition to formal meetings, ITI events such as the Conference are a great opportunity to network and share views with other members. Board members are encouraged to attend these events; conference ticket costs are usually paid for by ITI, but not travel and accommodation costs.

Board members are expected to attend the AGM.  

All Board meetings have an agenda, and most supporting information is distributed a week prior to the meeting to allow time for pre-reading. Meetings are fully minuted and important resolutions are agreed by a vote. Board members are privy to a considerable amount of sensitive information, and they are expected to keep this confidential.. 

In line with the Articles of Association, Board members receive discretionary payments for attending formal Board meetings. In-person meetings will be paid at the rate of £216.00 per meeting and online meetings will be paid at the rate of £54.00 per meeting. Attending the AGM is not included in this agreement.  

If Board members wish to claim their discretionary payments, they should submit an invoice within 14 days of the Board meeting taking place. The invoice should clearly state “Board attendance fee” as the service provided and should include the date of the Board meeting.   

Information correct at 19/11/2025.

Board members will be repaid all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred while carrying out work on behalf of ITI. This includes travel, accommodation and other expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at Board, committee, or member meetings in accordance with the Travel and Expenses Policy, part of the Board Handbook.  

As a Board member, you will be under an ongoing obligation to disclose any other interests that constitute an actual or potential conflict of interest with your position as a Director of ITI, or to seek advice if you are unsure. Please ask for clarification before submitting your nomination if you think that any of your existing obligations could potentially be considered a conflict of interest that may prevent you from fulfilling the duties of a Director of the ITI.  

Please email Sara Robertson, CEO who will be happy to answer any queries you may have –  [email protected]  

Nominations open at 12:00 on 4 December 2025  and close at 17:00 on 19 December 2025.

A communication will be sent out by Mi-voice when nominations open in December. This will contain a link to the nomination form. If you haven't received any nominations communications, please contact Mi-Voice Support ([email protected] or +44 (0)23 8076 3987). 

You must provide the following information on the nomination form:

• Your name, address, email address, phone number and ITI membership number.
• A nomination and election statement of up to 400 words, explaining why you believe you should be elected. Please take note of the skills and attributes that the Board is currently seeking in order to fill existing gaps and explain how you would use your expertise and experience to help to deliver ITI's strategic priorities. Try to specific about how you meet the criteria in the Board member profile and what you hope to achieve in the role.
• A recent headshot.
• Information about any other interests you may have, known as a “declaration of interests”. As a company director, you are required by law to give information about your other interests, so that we can avoid the risk of a conflict between your other interests and those of ITI. Any information provided will be treated in strict confidence.
• Details of “connected persons” (You only need to complete this section if you have a connected person who is likely to or is currently doing business with the Institute in any capacity. The definition of connected person includes your husband, wife, partner, parents, grandparents, children, stepchildren, children of a partner, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, grandchildren, brothers and sisters or the spouse or partner of any of these persons and includes similar relations by marriage (i.e., “in laws”).

Yes. You must be supported by members within the same category of membership as you. 

Once ITI has reviewed your nomination application to ensure all the details are correct, you will go forward to gain support. All the nominees’ details will be sent out to all the members in their membership category, so that they may then nominate one member. Once this stage has closed, we will know whether an election is necessary. 

The support required for each category is set out below. Once you have the required number of supporters, you will be put forward to stand for election. 

 Support required:  

 •   Voting members require three other voting members to support them. 

•   Non-voting members require three other non-voting members to support them. 

•   Corporate members require one other corporate member to support them. 

 

 Please contact Tony Slater at Mi-Voice [email protected] or +44 (0)23 8076 3987.   

 You will receive a confirmation email to the address that you entered on your nomination form. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Mi-Voice Support ([email protected] or +44 (0)23 8076 3987).

When will I know if my nomination was successful? 

Nominations close on 19 December 2025 at 17:00 GMT and you will be informed whether your application was successful and whether you will be going forward to the next stage for support from members.  

When is the deadline for members' support to be received?  

The support process opens on 6 January 2026 and closes on 16 January 2026 at 17:00 GMT.  

If the number of successful nominations is the same or less than the vacancies within a category, an election will not be held. The candidate(s) nominated will then automatically join the ITI Board from 1 May 2026. 

If there are more valid nominations than there are vacancies available, an election will be necessary.  You will be informed of this after the support stage has closed on 16 January 2026. 

 If an election is necessary, when will it be held?  

The election will be held online between 22 January 2026 and 12 February 2026. Members will be sent information about how to vote by Mi-Voice, the independent election provider.  

Mi-Voice will conduct the election on behalf of ITI. Voting will be carried out using the STV (Single Transferable Vote) system. You will be asked to rank the candidates in order of preference, rather than voting with an 'X' as in previous years

Full instructions will be on the secure voting site. However, you may find it helpful to watch this short video by the Electoral Reform Society, which explains how an STV election is counted. 

You will be sent an induction pack containing various documents which you are asked to study carefully.  

Before your first meeting, you will be invited to an in person induction workshop at our office in Milton Keynes, where you will meet Sara Robertson, Chief Executive and Fiona Gray, the current Chair. You will learn about your responsibiltiies and the principles of good governance, with plenty of time to ask questions about the Board and being a Director. Sara will also explain how the staff team and the Board work together and introduce our governance polices and procedures.

You will also be invited to attend an online training system for OnBoard, which is the document management platform used by the Board.

In addition you will be invited to attend the April Board meeting (online) as an observer. You will then attend the first in person Board meeting of the new financial year (usually held in early May).   

When do newly elected Board members take office?  

Newly elected Board members will take up their positions on 1 May.