Aurora Trustee Recruitment 2023
24 October 2023
We are seeking to strengthen and diversify Aurora Orchestra’s board with the appointment of new trustees.
This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in shaping and supporting the future of one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative performing ensembles as it emerges to full maturity. Aurora Orchestra is a charitable organisation, and its governance structure ensures that it meets its requirements to ensure probity, good governance and outstanding performance.
Role specification
As Trustee, candidates will be expected to:
- Contribute to the continuing success of Aurora by offering support, guidance and constructive challenge to Aurora’s management team
- Be an Ambassador for Aurora
- Think strategically, creatively and for the long-term
- Bring strong personal networks, and a willingness to leverage them in support of the orchestra
- Actively support the orchestra’s fundraising activities
- Fulfil the core responsibilities of being a charity trustee
The orchestra is also seeking to reinforce its commitment to accessibility, diversity and inclusion and embed this throughout its programme, aiming to ensure its work is relevant to the broadest possible audience.
Person specification
Aurora is looking to appoint two new trustees, with backgrounds in Finance or Fundraising, to help the Board drive forward its ambitious artistic vision. The Board welcomes applications from individuals who bring a passion for music and the arts more generally; a track record in innovation and strategic contribution to organisations; a broad professional skill set; and great networks which could be mobilised in support of the orchestra.
Specifically, candidates will bring one of the following skillsets:
Finance: One successful candidate will have a background in finance, and will ideally be a qualified accountant with experience of charity governance and internal audit processes. This individual will join the Finance & Operations Committee.
Fundraising: One successful candidate will bring exceptionally strong personal networks who can help Aurora expand their current range of prospects and plan for a more ambitious programme of creative fundraising activity aimed at high-net-worth donors. Aurora’s ambitious artistic and educational plans will require a step change in fundraising, with a particular strategic focus on realising more fully the potential of their distinctive artistic offer to attract major individual donors.
Board composition
Dame Liz Forgan DBE (Chair)
Nicholas Hardie
Andrew Hochhauser
Mike Laven
Jenny Lewis
Alistair Lomax
Ben Lumsden
Rachel Mortimer
Suzanne Szczetnikowicz
Sharon Zhu
Terms of Appointment
There are four ordinary board meetings per year – these are generally held on a weekday evening in central London and last c. 2 hours. Additionally the board also holds an annual strategy day. Attending meetings in person is encouraged where possible, though provision for remote participation is made where necessary. In addition to main board meetings, trustees are appointed to one of the board’s committees, which usually meet quarterly over Zoom. Average time commitment is likely to be approximately 5 hours per month. In addition it is also expected that trustees will attend Aurora performances and other events throughout the year on a reasonably frequent basis.
This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be paid. This role is for a four-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.
Location
Candidates may be based anywhere in the UK. Although the majority of the orchestra’s performances take place in London, Aurora is acutely aware of the value of perspectives from outside the capital and encourage applications from candidates based in other parts of the UK.
Diversity
Aurora welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. It is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices and it positively encourages applications from all sectors of the community, and is willing to make adjustments to the application or interview process as needed. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.
Aurora believes that diversity of views and backgrounds makes for a stronger and more effective board, and is particularly keen to encourage candidates from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the arts to apply. One of the historic strengths of Aurora’s board has been its combination of trustees of widely varying stages in their professional careers, and it welcomes applicants of all ages and levels of professional experience.
Process
After we have closed the application window on the Nurole platform, our team of experts carefully assess your application against the criteria outlined in the role specification. We will select a group of the most suitable candidates to present to the organisation, who will then be able to view the full application. We will always get in touch to let you know the outcome of your application.
As the organisation will view the applications without edits, we therefore advise applicants to avoid using ‘see CV’ or ‘please call me to discuss further’ in your application as it may restrict your chances of progressing to the next round.
Find out about what to expect from the Nurole process.
Take a look at Nurole guides on how to submit a strong application.
Connected Parties
This organisation has requested that candidates do not contact them directly. Instead, if you know someone at the organisation, please mention it in your Reason for Application. Members who do not respect this may risk having their membership terminated.