Two GA Trustee vacancies open for nominations

A high-quality geography education is essential for future generations, as geography has a critical role in solving many of the global challenges we face.
The Geographical Association is looking for two new Elected Trustees to join its Board of Trustees from 1 September 2026.

Details and nomination form are here.

The Board of Trustees meets three times a year in Sheffield, London and online. It comprises 14 Trustees and has responsibility for providing strategic direction and sound governance for the Association.

Elected Trustees serve an initial four-year term with the possibility of continuing for a second term if supported by the Board. GA Trustee positions are not remunerated but travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed. Nominees for the role of Elected Trustee must be members of the GA and will be asked to show that they actively uphold and support the aims, values and mission of the Association.

Trustees welcome the nominations of colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences that can strengthen and complement the existing Board of Trustees. 

For example, this might include those in their early/mid teaching career stage, school leaders, primary colleagues and/or those with experience of leading the geography programme of a MAT.

The deadline for the current round of nominations is Monday 4 May 2026. 

If you have any questions about being a GA trustee, please contact the current Chair of Trustees, Alastair Owens via a.j.owens@qmul.ac.uk.

GA President 2027-2028 - Election now open

Another year and another opportunity to shape the work of the GA and be part of its history (and geography).

An election is being held for the GA President in 2027-2028.

There are three nominations this time round, which is great to see.

There are 3 candidates.

Rachel Hawke

Helen Martin

Sophie Wilson

You can read their statements on the link here:

All full personal, life, joint, concessionary and group members are eligible to vote. Make sure that you use yours.

The deadline for voting is the 27th of February 2026.

This will mean the 5th female GA President in a row - certainly unprecedented in the history of the Association (as was 4 in a row, and 3 in a row)... Catch up with all the previous Presidents by visiting my GA Presidents blog if you haven't already...

The results will be announced at the GA Conference in April 2026.

Could you be the GA President for 2027-28?

You have until October to put yourself forward...

There is also a position for an Elected Trustee.

This is the current Governing Body, with Alastair Owens as Chair.

GA President 2026-27 - an election has been called

An election has been called to elect the GA President who will follow Catherine Owen as GA President, and serve for 2026-7.

Voting will close on Friday 28 February 2025.

Nominations have been received for Kit Marie Rackley and Fiona Sheriff.

The GA President holds a number of key responsibilities, including setting the theme of the GA Annual Conference, chairing the Conference Planning Board and delivering the Presidential Lecture at Conference.

The President serves as Vice President (2025–6) in their first year and as an ex-officio member of Education Group. In the second year, they serve as President (2026–7) and for one further year as Immediate Past President (2027–8). Throughout this time they are a member of the GA’s Board of Trustees. During the period of office, they work with the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive to help steer the work of the Board of Trustees and the Association.

Please do vote – by taking part in this election you are ensuring that your voice is heard within the GA and you will be helping us to continue to respond to and meet the needs of the GA’s membership.

 
Go here to read their statements and cast your vote if you are a GA member.

Image: King's Ely Geographers supporting me at my Presidential conference in 2022

Update

Fiona Sheriff was elected GA President for 2026-7.... nominations for 2027-8 will open later in the year.

Congratulations to Fiona.

GA Presidential Election for 2025-6

Following the call for nominations for the role of GA President 2025–26, an election is now taking place to discover the next GA President to succeed Hina Robinson, who will be GA President for 2024-5.

Nominations have been received for Catherine Owen and Kit Marie Rackley.

The GA President holds a number of key responsibilities, including setting the theme of the GA Annual Conference, chairing the Conference Planning Board and delivering the Presidential Lecture at Conference.

The President serves as Vice President (2024–5) in their first year and as an ex-officio member of Education Group. In the second year, as President (2025–6), they will also serve as the Chair of Education Group. 

Following their presidency, they serve for one further year as Immediate Past President (2026–7) and remain as a member of the GA’s Governing Body. 

Throughout the period of office, they work with the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive to help steer the work of the Governing Body and the Association.

Read the statements from the two candidates and vote for your preferred choice by the 26th of February. You have a month to shape the future of the GA through your decision here. 

This election continues a trend of having more teacher Presidents put themselves forward than has historically been the case.

The new President will also be working with a new GA Chief Executive.

You have until the 5th of February to apply for that exciting role. Details here.

And if you want to vote and you aren't already a GA member, then now is your perfect opportunity to join and have your say.

Call for GA Presidential nominations for 2025-6 is now open

The Autumn 2023 issue of the GA Magazine is now available to download online, with printed copies arriving before too long.

Among the news and updates on the GA's wider activities, there is the annual call for nominations to serve as the GA's President for 2025-26, following on from Hina Robinson.

It would be great to continue the run of teacher Presidents - not sure we've ever had three teacher Presidents in a row in the GA's history.

If anyone is thinking about the possibility of putting themselves forward I'm happy to answer DMs or chat in confidence. And if you do decide to put yourself forward then good luck!

GA Presidential election for 2024-5

According to this UCL research paper:

Figures from 2019 show that 85.6% of all teachers and 65.4% of pupils are currently from a White British background; in comparison, 78.5% of the working age population of England were recorded as White British in the 2011 census 

(UK Government, 2020).

To date, 100% of GA Presidents have been 'White British' (with the occasional French-born President, and others born overseas). 

This needs to change.

If you would like to be involved in changing this narrative, we are now looking for the next GA President after Denise Freeman, who will be President in 2023-4. 

Nominations need to be in by the 1st of November.

You will see that there are also some other vacancies which we would welcome applicants.

GA Trustee Election

There are two candidates for the vacancy for the GA Trustee Election.

Deadline for voting by GA Members is the 26th of May.

Here are the candidate statements. Best of luck to both candidates.

The ballot is now closed.

GA Governing Body Vacancy - one week to go

One of the groups of people that operates to 'create' the GA and its day to day decision making and operations is the Governing Body. Members includs the Presidents during their period of office, Named Trustees and co-opted members as well as elected Trustees. 

The deadline is now the 8th of November.

GA Trustee Election - February 2021

An important part of the GA is the opportunity for members to get involved in different ways. Key roles include the trustees who form the Governing Body. There are also elections when there is more than one candidate for the role of Vice President, who eventually becomes President and Past President (this has now become a 3-year rather than a 4-year cycle).

GA members have until the end of February to vote for a place on the Governing Body. There are two candidates: Charlotte Milner, and Hina Robinson.

Follow the link in the tweet here to read their statements, and cast your vote - another important element of GA membership: to have a voice in decisions like this.

We are currently holding a a ballot for the GA Trustee Election - make sure you cast your ballot! https://t.co/qUfnuAFEi5

— Geographical Assoc (@The_GA) February 4, 2021

A chance to feature on this blog in the future...

 

Some people ask from time to time what they can do to get more involved with the Geographical Association -  other than the obvious way which is to become a member in the first place.

We have the Phase committees (including Early Years, Secondary and Post-16/HE) and other Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which have a changing roster of members and activity.

There are opportunities to write for the GA's journals: articles and contributions can take various forms and be of differing lengths.

Teachers can also apply to be Consultants to the GA, and work comes through fairly regularly. I've just completed some work with a game design company for example.

There is now a chance for you to put yourself forward to get involved with the journey that I am currently involved with, and apply to be a future President of the Geographical Association. There are also positions for trustees and governing body roles.

Details are published in the GA magazine for Autumn 2020.

You could be the person to become GA President after me.....