Angela Spreadbury nominated to join the AIM Board.
Following an open recruitment process seeking Trustee candidates with significant financial experience, AIM is seeking to appoint Angela Spreadbury to join the Board.
Working latterly as Director of Finance and Resources for SS Great Britain, Angela started her training as a Management Accountant (CIMA) with a reinsurance business before going on to work as an accountant in the manufacturing, financial services, startup business and charity sectors.
Her interest in museums is a key driver behind her application, as Angela explains.
“As a keen visitor to museums in both the UK and Europe I am very excited to be joining the AIM Board. Working in a variety of sectors has given me a rounded experience as an accountant. I moved into the charity sector after completing a psychology degree as a mature student, using the knowledge gained in my degree to expand my portfolio of responsibility to include HR and volunteer management. I have had responsibility for these areas, along with finance and governance, for the last 16 years at senior management level and am passionate about ensuring that all the resources a charity has are fully utilised to maximise return on investment.”
Angela’s nomination will be put forward as part of the AGM at Conference in June.
AIM Board puts two forward for co-deputy chair roles
AIM Board members Nathaniel Hepburn and Alexander Ratcliffe have recently been nominated to the roles of co-deputy chair.
The popularity of co-roles in many organisations highlights an increasing shift toward shared leadership, perhaps acknowledging the complexity of contemporary organisational challenges and how diverse viewpoints can be effective in tackling them.
We spoke to Alexander Ratcliffe for his views on how he might navigate the dynamics of shared leadership.
“We first discussed with the Chair what her strategic priorities were for the coming months – not least because she would be absent for an extended period of time due to medical leave a week after our appointment! This grounded us as co-chairs and gave us a sense of what would be expected when she returned. Secondly, we discussed what our own perspectives and priorities were and identified common ground – and importantly where we had different views or capabilities. When meeting with the Director we agreed that one of us would generally lead, considering and then summarising feedback or steers from the other secured in advance. This helps to reduce conflict or confusion by providing a ‘single voice’. It requires trust and clear communication between you both. One of you has to learn to step back as the other steps forward.”
From your perspective, what are the unique advantages of being a ‘co-’?
Resilience and diversity of thought. We both have full time day jobs outside of AIM so it is important that we can share meetings and work to reduce the burden and ensure that between us we can provide AIM with the support and direction it needs. We also have different experiences and backgrounds professionally, which helps to not only identify the issues or tasks that may better fall to one of us over the other, but it also helps to balance our advice and steers. We can test whether our approach and decisions are proportionate and make sense to each other.
For those considering stepping into a co-leadership role, what advice would you offer to help them build a strong, productive partnership?
Get to know your co-chair. You must get a sense of how you are going to work together and how you will establish and maintain clear lines of communication. Getting to know them a bit outside of the Boardroom to understand more about who they are, their background and perspective, and any constraints or considerations on working pattern will pay massive dividends.
Briefing or downloading to your co-chair after important meetings or discussions held solo helps to keep you both on the same page, and avoids divergence of views or confusion. We are only starting out on this journey so we are by no means experts, but we will try to learn from the experience and from each other to help us be effective leaders.
Other news
AIM and National Army Museum extend partnership
AIM and the National Army Museum announce the extension of their successful partnership.
Reviewing our financial support – have your say!
As we near the end of a successful seven-year partnership with CFG (Charity Finance Group), we’re taking the opportunity to review and refine how AIM delivers financial support to members
Preserving heritage and powering communities
AIM Associate Supplier Volta Compliance on the sustainable energy solutions they found for Bamburgh Castle and Tadcaster Community Trust.