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Join Council

Being on our Council is a rewarding role that will give you the chance to get involved, and represent your fellow members, right at the heart of IOSH.

On Council, you’ll get to be part of debates and workshop activities where the future of IOSH, our membership structure and activities are discussed. You’ll get to tell us what you think, but remember, you’ll be expected to hold the interests of IOSH above any personal interest.

Find out about the key responsibilities of Council.

How can I get involved with Council?
All members can play a full role in the Council election process by standing for places on Council and voting in the annual election.

Who’s in the Council?
There are currently 42 Council members (PDF 30 KB) made up of:

  •  members who’ve been elected by other members
  •  chairs of Standing Committees
  •  our presidential team (President, President Elect and Immediate  Past President) and Vice-Presidents appointed by Council.

All members can apply to be elected to the Council but you’ll need to check your level of membership and the vacancy you’re applying for. There are usually 12 vacancies per year that corporate (CFIOSH, FIOSH retired, CMIOSH and MIOSH retired) and non-corporate (Affiliate, Tech IOSH, Grad IOSH and Honorary Fellow) members can stand for. There can be up to nine non-corporate members on Council.

How much time will I need to commit?
Council meets twice a year, but you’ll need to commit three or four days a year to Council work.

Who’ll decide if I can join?
All IOSH members (whose membership subscriptions are up to date) will be asked to vote for who they think should join Council.

What’s the election process?
If you’re interested in being part of Council, contact us. We’ll send you an application form and more information on the role. Your completed form has to be sent back to us by 28 May 2010.

As part of the application, you’ll need to write a 300-word Election statement. The statement can include personal and professional information and is your chance to promote your views to voters.

The word count is strictly applied to ensure equal opportunity for all candidates to promote themselves while keeping the statements brief and to the point for the benefit of the electorate.

The views expressed in your statement should not be considered a mandate as they will not necessarily be pursued or adopted if you are elected. You are advised to become familiar with our Corporate strategy and its objectives before you write your statement.

Voting slips and candidates’ details will be sent by the Electoral Reform Society to members eligible to vote by the end of June. The results of the election are usually announced in August.

Successful candidates become members of Council at the Annual General Meeting in November and stay on Council for three years before they need to be re-elected. In normal circumstances a member must stand down for one year after 12 continuous years of service.

Rules of electioneering

Before you apply to join Council, you’ll need to make yourself familiar with the rules of electioneering. These rules (as listed below and on the Election Nomination form) ensure that voters can compare candidates fairly and equally before they cast their votes.

Candidates for Election should:

  •  abide by the IOSH Code of Professional Conduct
  •  take steps to ensure that their supporters do not compromise their submission by breaching these rules on their behalf
  •  follow the instructions regarding candidate statements and word count
  •  not circulate leaflets or fliers
  •  restrict canvassing to making comments, statements or answering questions at Network meetings or making comments, statements and answering questions on the Members’ Forum
  •  Complete a 'declaration of interest' form before taking office.


If the electioneering rules are breached, you could be disqualified before, during or after an election.

If you're unsure about any matter during the election process, or would like to request an application form, you should contact the Chief Executive's Office.

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