AGM and National Conference
This is the primary decision making forum for Amnesty International UK and a key event in the activist calendar.
Open to all Amnesty UK members, the two-day residential conference provides an opportunity for members to come together to inspire and be inspired, to learn more about Amnesty's campaigns and programmes of work and to share skills knowledge and experiences with other UK members, international guests, speakers and staff.
Above all, it is a crucial part of our democracy and accountability, where members can have their say and contribute to debates and decision-making.
Our constitution outlines the functions of the AGM as follows: determining the policy of Amnesty International UK, receiving the report of the directors and nominating directors for the coming year, receiving the accounts and ratifying the budget for the coming year, and considering other business that the chair determines as suitable. The chair is appointed each year by the AGM.
Nominations Committee, Membership Appeals Committee and Standing Orders Committee
This committee consists of three individual members who are not directors. They are elected by members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and may be re-elected for up to six consecutive years. The committee makes recommendations to members on the skills and experience it considers are required by the Board of Directors and may conduct a search for members possessing such skills and encourage them to stand for election. The committee also offers advice and recommendations concerning non-board membership of sub-committees of the board.
Current Nominations Committee members are: Heather Phillips (Chair), Sarah Nash and Alex Siddall.
A returning officer runs the election process. The returning officer is John Pestle.
The Standing Orders Committee
This Committee consists of three individual members who are not directors and are elected by the members at each AGM. Their role is to help the AGM and National Conference run smoothly by scheduling the business, organising the working parties and setting out the rules of debate. An important part of their job is to advise proposers of resolutions on wording, to vet resolutions and allow them to be discussed at the AGM.
The 2012-2013 Standing Orders Committee members are Mike Perrin, Allison Cosgrove (Chair) and Pascal Jerome
Members' and Directors' Appeals Committee
This committee is directly elected by members at the AGM and consists of three persons who must not be current directors and who serve for a three year period. The committee considers any appeal made by an individual member or director who has been expelled from membership of Amnesty or from the board by a resolution of the board under Article 8.1.4 or Article 31.1.9. The committee's decision is final.
Current members are Reg Pyne, Barrie Hay and Gregory Udeh.
About the Board
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'The Board shall review the overall position of the Section and interpret the policy of the Section as decided by General Meeting and arrange for the Director to implement it.' Standing Orders for Amnesty International UK Board |
Remit
The Board of Directors is the primary governing structure for Amnesty International UK. The board members are elected members of Amnesty and they meet 8 times a year. They are responsible for interpreting and taking forward the decisions made at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), through the director. They also exercise general management of the section, through the director.
The board can elect standing committees and working groups to help in delivering this - as it sees fit.
The Board is made up of members nominated by various constituent groups of the UK section. Two members are nominated by local groups, two by networks, and one by country coordinators. The remaining places are open to any member to put themselves forward for election.
Board members serve a three-year term of office and can be re-elected for one further three-year term before standing down. After a gap of one year they may stand for election to the board again if they wish. The board may also co-opt up to three additional members to serve one-year terms.
After the results of the election of new members of the Board are declared (normally within 10 days of the AGM), the new Board elects from within its members a Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer at its first meeting after the AGM.
Staff involvement
Members of the senior management team will attend board meetings to represent and give information on issues relevant to their departments and to the progress of the organisation as a whole. A staff representative also attends, to speak on behalf of all paid and unpaid staff.
Our Senior Management Team
Members of the Senior Management Team of Amnesty International UK are the Departmental Directors and Director. SMT meets weekly and also regularly with Management Group and Amnesty International UK's Board.
- Kate Allen - Director of Amnesty International UK
- Tim Hancock - Director of Campaigns
- Tony Farnfield - Director of Corporate Services
- Kerry Moscogiuri - Director of Marketing
Director
The Director is defined in the constitution as the most senior member of paid staff. The board delegate the day-to-day management of the section to the director who then regularly reports back to the board.
The Director of the UK section of Amnesty International is Kate Allen. Read Kate Allen's Biography
SMT meetings
SMT meetings take place every Thursday morning. At each meeting the SMT approve agenda items for the following week's meeting.
The international issues sub-committee
The International Issues sub-committee (IISC) serves to provide advice and guidance to the board on major developments of international movement policy.
They provide both a 'watching brief' on International Council Meeting matters and issues within the international movement, and also advice on the direction of internal consultations and Annual General Meeting business.
Membership:
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Non board members |
Board representative |
Staff members |
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Fiona Anderson |
Harrison Littler (Chair) |
Kate Allen |
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Lucy Anderson |
TBC |
Tim Hancock |
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Lucy Barnett |
Tom Hedley |
Carron Mann (Secretary) |
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Simon Bromiley |
Katie McSherry |
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Louise Ewington |
Hugh Whitby |
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Stuart Hathaway |
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Elizabeth Mottershaw |
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Jane Salmonson |
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Download the full terms of reference for the IISC (pdf)
International issues sub-committee report - 10 November 2012 (pdf)
Meeting dates 2012 - 2013
- 10 Nov 2012
- 8 Dec 2012
- 16 Feb 2013 | Read the February 2013 meeting report (PDF)
- 29 Jun 2013
Meeting dates 2013 - 2014
- 16 Nov 2013
- 7 Dec 2013
- 1 March 2014
- 28 June 2014
The Finance Sub-Committee
The Finance Sub-Committee provides expert advice to the board and trustees on the financial health of the organisation and any remedial action necessary.
It holds the professional finance staff accountable for discharge of their responsibilities, including compliance with external regulation.
It will also undertake activities such as reviewing fundraising activities and reviewing banking arrangements.
In relation to the Charitable Trust, and our planned charitable status, the FSC is the body which ensures compliance with specific regulatory requirements and guidance in relation to finance, accounting and reporting issues - including proper stewardship of restricted funds.
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Non board members |
Board representatives |
Staff members |
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Mike Parkinson |
Brian Landers (chair) |
Kate Allen |
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Nick Prior |
Chris Burson-Thomas |
Tony Farnfield |
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David Norgrove |
Peter Murray |
Kerry Moscogiuri |
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Paul Breckell |
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Iain McSeveny |
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Simon Goodale |
Raj Rajukumar | |
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Rebecca Warren |
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Sue Gascoyne (administrator) |
Download the full terms of reference for the Finance Sub-committee (pdf)
The active membership sub-committee
The Active Membership Sub-Committee exists to monitor and develop activist engagement within the section. It was reformed in June 2006.
Recently the AMSC has reviewed the Youth Group Strategy and the Student Strategy prior to approval by the Board. It is currently working on the Review of Local Groups and an Equalities and Diversity Strategy for the Amnesty International UK membership.
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Non-board members |
Board representatives |
Staff members |
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Premal Bhatt |
Sarah O'Grady (chair) |
Kate Allen |
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Chris Holly |
Hannah Perry |
Tim Hancock |
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Ade Couper |
Ruth Breddal |
Champa Patel |
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David Ford |
Isobel Mitchell | |
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Katy Fattuhi |
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Jo Cobley |
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Naomi Hunter |
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Amy Summers (administrator) |
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Malcolm Dingwall-Smith |
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Martha Setchfield (youth member) |
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Barrie Hay |
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Robin Sukatorn (student co-optee) |
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Download the full terms of reference for the Active Membership Sub-Committee (pdf)
Meeting dates 2011/12
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10 December 2011
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18 February 2012
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23 June 2012
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22 September 2012
- 10 November 2012
The Joint Consultative Committee
The aim of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) is to provide a forum in which our board, management and union can work together to ensure staff are managed in accordance with best practice, that staff can work effectively for the benefit of the organisation, and that staff maximise their own potential.
The JCC has specific responsibilities to discuss our strategic plans and budgets, and also to receive reports on major organisational projects or changes at Amnesty.
It ensures that we are complying with relevant current legislation and identifies good practice in human resource management.
The JCC produces an annual report to the board on employee relations.
Download the full terms of reference for the Joint Consultative Committee (pdf)
Our activist constituencies and representative bodies
Groups
Amnesty International UK has three broad types of group that campaign and fundraise for usLocal groups - groups of Amnesty supporters in cities and towns throughout the UK who meet monthly.
Student groups - groups of Amnesty supporters who are organised within universities, meeting weekly.
Youth groups - groups of young people in schools, 6th form, further education colleges and youth clubs who meet, usually once a week.
- local groups and student groups each have 10 votes at the AGM
- youth groups do not currently have any votes as groups at the AGM though individual members can join Amnesty from age 14 and have one vote at the AGM
- it is not necessary to be an individual Amnesty member to be a member of a local group, student or youth group
From May to November 2007, Amnesty UK undertook a review of local groups. The aim of the review was to inform the development of an exciting but realistic strategy for growing local group activism - either through growth in their number or growth in the quality of their work (or both) - and ensuring their essential contribution to Amnesty UK's campaigning and fundraising is developed fully and is properly resourced. Its recommendations suggest ways to overcome identified barriers to growth and development of the local groups network. The review confirmed that Amnesty International has a vibrant network in the UK, amongst the strongest - if not the strongest - of all UK non-NGO campaign networks. It detailed the successful work of our local groups across a range of campaigning & fundraising activities. The review shows how committed & passionate Amnesty UK's local groups are and addresses their concerns. The review has now concluded with a new local group strategy.
Regional Representatives Forum
Local groups are represented by the Regional Representatives Forum. This brings together regional representatives from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, along with representatives from 10 geographic regions in England.
Regional representatives are individual and group members, elected by groups in their region. They keep abreast of the work and needs of the groups in their region. They provide support and organise regional conferences and they ensure the voice of groups is heard in key policy debates. They provide a crucial link between Amnesty staff, particularly the groups campaigner in the activism team and local groups.
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Region |
Representative |
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London |
Rosalie Davidson |
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Scotland |
Alison Cosgrove |
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Wales |
Vacant |
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North West England |
Jennifer Jaynes |
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North East England |
Peter Sagar |
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Southern England |
Ros Topley |
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East Midlands |
Vacant |
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West Midlands |
Will Roberts |
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South Midlands |
Bob Corn |
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East Anglia |
Liesbeth ten Ham |
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South East England |
Phillip Strudwick |
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Northern Ireland |
Philip Nye |
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South West England |
Chris Ramsey |
Download the Regional Representatives role outline (pdf)
To contact the Regional Representatives, please email the activism team: activism@amnesty.org.uk, or call +44 (0)20 7033 1675.
Country Coordinators Forum and Steering Committee
Country coordinators are individual members who specialise in a particular country or countries. Together they make up the Country Coordinators Forum. Country coordinators have a direct relationship with the researcher for their country at the International Secretariat.
They are organised into 13 regional teams, each covering a defined geo-political area of the world. Each regional team will be led by a regional coordinator who helps shape the work of the team as a whole, developing regional action plans with their team. We are working towards each regional team relating to their counterpart regional team at the International Secretariat.
The Coordinators Steering Committee is made up of the 13 regional coordinators and a chair who is elected at a meeting of the forum at the AGM. The steering committee keeps abreast of the work of the 13 regional teams, sharing and developing best practice.
Local groups are able to opt into work on one or more of the 13 regions and are then supported directly by their regional team of coordinators.
Regional teams are also beginning to communicate with a wider audience through their own regional pages on our public website.
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Region |
Representative |
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Chair |
Hugh Sandeman |
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Vice-Chair |
Sheila Royce |
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North America & Caribbean |
Noa Kleinman |
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Central America |
Sheila Royce |
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South America |
Ian McGarr |
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Middle East and Gulf |
Louise Walsh |
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North Africa |
Beverley Foulkes-Jones |
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West & Central Africa |
Walther Schwarzacher |
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Horn & East Africa |
Beatrice Mahoney |
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Southern Africa |
Maggie Towse |
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Former Soviet Union |
Barrie Hay |
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Europe |
Barbara Lodge |
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South Asia |
Peter Murray |
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Indochina & South East Asia |
Paul Hainsworth |
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China & East Asia |
Tiffany Jenkins |
Download the Coordinators Steering Committee Terms of Reference (pdf)
Individual members, special interest networks and committees
Individuals aged 14 or over or families can be members of Amnesty UK section and receive one vote, per individual or per family, at the AGM.
Many individual members and non-member activists chose to join one or more 'special interest networks', as well as supporting our major campaigns. These networks are represented by committees or individuals with a strong personal interest and commitment to their area of human rights. These key members have a direct relationship with International Secretariat staff who work on their specialisms. They work with the communications coordinator in the activism team to develop their own area of the website and associated e-magazine communications with network members and special events.
The most active networks are the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Network, the Children's Human Rights Network (CHRN) and the Women's Action Network (WAN). The Journalists and Health Professionals Networks do not currently have committee, but do have individual leadership.
Individual members and activists can join two other key networks, if they wish. These are the Urgent Action Network, which offers urgent actions in support of individuals at immediate risk of human rights abuse, and the Crisis Response Network, which is activated when Amnesty deems a human rights emergency to be occurring in a particular country or countries. This network offers urgent action aimed at ending the crisis.
None of these networks has voting rights as networks at the AGM but those network members who are individual members do have their one vote.
Trade union affiliates and Trade Union Network Committee
Most national Trade Union Congress affiliated trade unions in the UK are also affiliate members of our section. Large numbers of local branches and smaller numbers of regional branches and trades councils are also in affiliated membership. They are the largest group of affiliate members. Others include faith groups and community organisations.
Most organisations can affiliate to Amnesty provided that they support our aims, though there are some restrictions. Our Articles of Association (constitution) define affiliated members as:
"Organisations based in the UK which are not political parties, solidarity groups or single interest country groups and which have been admitted as Affiliate Members by the Board"
These restrictions are designed to ensure political neutrality and to avoid distortions of our work by single-country groups.
Affiliate member organisations can vote at the AGM with a number of votes proportionate to their size. They have one vote for the first 5,000 members and a further one vote for each further 10,000 members or part thereof, up to a maximum of 10 votes.
Each national union affiliated to Amnesty has the right to send one representative to the Trade Union Network Committee. This committee works with the trade union campaigner in the activism team to shape and develop campaigning with the trade unions at both national and local branch levels.
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Member |
Union |
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Gordon Davies |
AMICUS |
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Harriet Eisner |
AMICUS |
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Tom Hedley - Chair |
Community |
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Heather Phillips |
Connect |
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John Pestle - Vice-Chair |
CSP |
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Warren Glover |
CSP |
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Rob Goldspink |
NGSU |
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Amanda Allaway |
NIPSA |
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Mindy Ran |
NUJ |
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Tim Lezard |
NUJ |
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Alan Maloney |
PCS |
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Victoria Steeples |
PCS |
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Dave Barnes |
TSSA |
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Shavaugn Halil |
TSSA |
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Paul Bennett |
UCU |
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Mairin Power |
UNISON |
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Helen Jenner |
UNISON |
Download the Trade Union Network Committee Terms of Reference (pdf)
Trainers Working Group
The Training Working Group (TWG) is made up of up to ten experienced trainers, including the staff Campaigns Training Managers. It is responsible for monitoring and developing the training programme. When vacancies arise, experienced trainers are invited to join the group. The TWG meets 3 - 4 times a year and its members carry out a wide variety of work between meetings, such as running 'Training of Trainers' weekends, writing and updating some of the training materials, running workshops at national and regional events, helping with trainer recruitment and monitoring and acting as advisors.
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Current Members |
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Barbara Lodge |
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Caroline Butler |
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Sarah Oliver |
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Hannah Clayton |
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Mike Reed |
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Dave Plumb |
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Clare Bracey (Amnesty staff) |
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Julie Kavanagh (Amnesty staff) |
Student Action Network and Committee
Student groups are represented by the Student Action Network (STAN) committee whose members are elected every November at the annual national student conference. The STAN committee works on behalf of student groups in universities throughout UK and provide advice to Amnesty staff.
STAN members keep abreast of the work and needs of student groups. They provide support and assist in the organisation of the annual student conference and they ensure the voice of students is heard in key policy debates. They provide a crucial link between Amnesty staff, particularly the student network coordinator in the education and student team, and student groups.
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Members |
| John-Paul Kozah Bryn Cochrane-Milne Eilidh Douglas Euan Raffle Michelle Nyberg Daisy Baldwin |