Trustee

Applications for Trustee position with the Daphne Jackson Trust
Candidate information pack 2026

Who we are
The Daphne Jackson Trust - Restarting Careers in Research was founded in 1992 in memory of Daphne
Jackson, the UK’s first female Professor of Physics. The Trust has evolved to become the UK’s leading
organisation dedicated to realising the potential of returners to research following a career break taken
for a family, caring or health reason. We offer Daphne Jackson Research Fellowships and Daphne
Jackson Research Technical Professional Fellowships to enable and empower individuals to return to
their career with confidence. We have proven expertise in assessing the potential of individuals
to make a successful return to their chosen career, supporting applicants at every stage of
the process and then through their fellowship, taking into account their career break, their
personal circumstances and their aspirations.

We have helped over 500 researchers return to their careers and have just published our latest Impact
Report (Our Impact – Daphne Jackson Trust). No other Fellowship offers the combination of mentoring,
retraining and flexibility that the Daphne Jackson Fellowship offers. The Fellowship application process
supports applicants at every stage, taking into account their career break, their personal
circumstances and their career aspirations.  It is this extra support that has led to the overwhelming
success rate of Daphne Jackson Fellows.

The Trust has become a key contributor to national policy developments in EDI (equality, diversity and
inclusion), engaging with stakeholders such as Ministers, shadow Ministers, the Department for
Science, Innovation & Technology ; the Commons Science & Technology Select Committee; and a
number of All Party Parliamentary Groups.

Whilst the Trust provides the infrastructure and dedicated staff to facilitate the fellowships, funding by
external organisations and hosts is fundamental to us being able to deliver our mission.  We therefore
work hard to identify suitable new funders, as well as continuing to enhance our relationships with
existing stakeholders.

What we are looking for
Trustees are central to the success of a charity, being responsible for the overall direction, strategy and
vision of the Trust.  It is therefore essential that Trustees are effective both individually and collectively
if they are to have a positive impact on the charity and enable the organisation to fulfil its charitable
objects.

While we have a strong Board, we aspire to develop our Board further and seek to adopt practices that
promote diversity as there is general acceptance that diversity strengthens decision making and

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reduces the possibility of ‘group think’.  We want our Board to have a blend of complementary skills
and attributes as well as a mix of ideal personal qualities.  We are using diversity in its widest sense to
include not just visible differences but those which can’t be seen, such as neurodiversity, by which we
mean an individual’s experiences, personality and the way they think and approach problem solving.
We wish to be as representative as we can be of all of the Trust’s constituent stakeholders, including
returners, higher education, research, charities, learned societies and professional bodies, and
commercial organisations.

We encourage applications from under-represented groups, including people from Black, Asian and
Minority Ethnic communities, people living with disabilities, individuals who have not previously held
Trustee positions and from younger people who may not have had previous Board experience but have
the required personal attributes, skills and enthusiasm for the role.  All new appointments will be
supported with a full induction as they establish themselves as Trustees and will be encouraged to
make the most of external opportunities for development in line with the Trust’s mission and objects.

Whatever your background and experience, you will need to show evidence of the following essential
competencies and behaviours:

•  an ability to work successfully as part of a team, respecting and listening to others and

contributing constructively to collective decision-making processes

•  an ability to understand and contribute to the strategic issues faced by the Trust
•  analytical skills and sound judgement
•  a clear appreciation of the requirements of a Trustee role and the importance of supporting the

Chief Executive and other team members to achieve their strategic objectives

•  a clear commitment to, and demonstrable enthusiasm for, the objectives of the Trust
•  a willingness to respond positively to requests made by the Board and Chief Executive for ad

hoc additional support such as membership of working and project groups, and specific calls to
bring specialist knowledge to bear proactively on issues facing the Trust

•  an understanding of the higher education and research sector in which the Trust operates and

an awareness of the challenges and opportunities faced by the sector

Trustee - Role Summary
The Daphne Jackson Trust’s Board of Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic
direction of the Trust, developing its aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing
document, legal and regulatory guidelines.

General Responsibilities of a Trustee

•  contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the Trust,

setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed
targets

•  ensure the Trust applies its resources exclusively in pursuing its objectives
•  safeguard the good name and values of the Trust
•  declare any conflict of interest while carrying out the duties of a Trustee

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•  be collectively responsible for the actions of the Trust and other Trustees
•  ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Trust
•  ensure the financial stability of the Trust and the proper investment of its funds
•  protect and manage the property of the Trust
•  attend meetings and read papers in advance of meetings
•  attend committee meetings and working party meetings as appropriate
•  participate in other tasks as they arise from time to time, such as representing the Trust at

events, strategic networking, interviewing new staff, helping with fundraising

•  keep proactively informed about the activities of the Trust and wider issues which affect its

work

In addition to the duties of all Trustees, each individual Trustee should use any specific skills,
knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This will
involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice
and guidance requested by the Board on new initiatives or other issues relevant to the area of the
Trust’s work in which the Trustee has special expertise.

Further information about the general duties and responsibilities of Trustees can be found in the
Charity Commission document entitled ‘The Essential Trustee’.

Time required for the role
The Board meets twice a year.

The following Board sub-committees are in place and have their own additional time commitments

•  Finance and General Purposes Committee meets three times a year.
•  Awards strategy Committee meets twice a year.

It is desirable that Trustees are able to attend some meetings and events in person (hybrid option is
available) and be available to the Chief Executive on an occasional basis for contact by email or phone.

In addition to the formal meeting schedule, it is expected that Trustees will be available at times for
other contact by phone, teams, email or in person with staff and have time to contribute to working
groups as the need arises.  Availability to attend events organised by the Trust or to attend external
events as a representative of the Trust from time to time is necessary.

Terms of Office

Trustees are appointed to the Board for a three year term, with another term of three years if desired
and agreed by the Chair.

Remuneration
Unpaid, expenses covered in line with Trust policy

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