Governance & Board Development Trustee - Volunteer

Join The AVOCADO Foundation as a Governance and Board Development Trustee, helping strengthen Board effectiveness, succession planning and governance as the organisation grows.

What difference will you make?

As The AVOCADO Foundation grows, it is important that our governance arrangements develop alongside the organisation.

The Governance and Board Development Trustee will help strengthen Board effectiveness, succession planning and organisational assurance.

Their contribution will support the Board to understand its collective strengths, identify any gaps in skills or experience and maintain clear and appropriate governance arrangements.

They will also play an important role in helping us reduce key-person dependency, strengthen succession planning and ensure that governance responsibilities are shared effectively across the Board.

This will help The AVOCADO Foundation build a stronger and more sustainable governance structure, enabling the Board to provide effective oversight as the organisation delivers its strategic priorities over the coming years.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who

• Has experience of governance, Board effectiveness, company secretarial practice or a related regulated environment.
• Has a sound understanding of charity governance and trustee duties.
• Can think creatively and strategically and exercise independent judgement.
• Can work effectively and collaboratively as part of a Board.
• Can contribute to the development of an effective and inclusive Board culture.
• Understands, or is willing to understand, the responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Is committed to acting in the best interests of The AVOCADO Foundation.
• Has a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Aligns with our values of Integrity, Intelligence, Interaction and Inspiration.
• Ideally has experience specific to charitable incorporated organisations.

Ideally has experience supporting Board recruitment or trustee induction.

May bring lived experience relevant to our mission. We particularly welcome applications from communities currently underrepresented on our Board.

Hybrid

What will you be doing?

Our Board currently comprises six trustees, with two completing their terms in December 2026. We are appointing new trustees to strengthen and refresh the Board through this transition.

A key priority for The AVOCADO Foundation is to strengthen governance, succession planning and organisational assurance while reducing key-person dependency.

We are looking for a Governance and Board Development Trustee to support the Board in maintaining effective, proportionate and legally compliant governance as the organisation grows.

The trustee will

• Lead the Board’s oversight of the governance calendar and constitutional compliance.
• Support trustee recruitment, induction and succession planning.
• Lead periodic Board skills audits and effectiveness reviews.
• Provide assurance to the Board on the quality and completeness of Board records.
• Monitor and report to the Board on declarations of interest and conflicts of loyalty.
• Support the Chair in developing an effective and inclusive Board culture.
• Periodically review whether committees or delegated authorities remain appropriate.
• Advise the Board on governance best practice as The AVOCADO Foundation scales.
• Support the Board’s work to reduce key-person dependency.
  
  

During the first 12 months, the trustee will review the governance calendar, register of interests and Board skills matrix and support the induction of newly appointed trustees.

This role will be important in helping the Board remain effective and well structured as The AVOCADO Foundation develops.