Event Details

There are many board and committee opportunities within the ARMA network and we want to encourage a wider group of people to consider putting themselves forward for these, and for board-level vacancies across the sector.  We firmly believe our sector leadership should reflect the communities we serve.

This session will cover the role of board members, common misconceptions about serving on a board and how becoming a board member could contribute to your personal and professional goals. You will also hear from a panel of board members about their experiences, as well as from an ARMA representative about forthcoming board and committee opportunities.

This session will be facilitated by Getting on Board, a charity committed to transforming the face of trusteeship.  Getting on Board supports people to join to non-profit boards and committees, particularly those currently under-represented at those levels.

Everyone is welcome to attend this session.

Anj Handa (Facilitator)

Anj Handa has 17 years’ experience of Board participation, including five years as Chair of arts organisation, Freedom Studios and seven years as an independent Governor of Leeds Arts University (where she was also the Equality & Safeguarding lead Governor, Chair of the Search & Selection Committee and ex officio member of the Remuneration Committee). She has completed the Institute of Directors Certificate in Company Direction and training in the Nolan Principles of public life.

Named as one of Grant Thornton’s 100 Faces of a Vibrant Economy in 2018, and winner of the AFSA 2017 Positive Action Award, Anj was recently recognised in Forbes as one of the ‘10 Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazers You Need to Get Familiar With.’

Camelia Dijkstra

Dr Camelia Dijkstra is the Head of Research Services at the University of Wolverhampton (UoW). Camelia holds a PhD in Biosciences (University of Nottingham) and an MBA (The Open University) with 15 years’ experience of research and business management at UK Universities. Past leadership positions include Head of Research Development, Director of Grand Challenges Initiative and Co-Director of the Centre for Biological and Sport Sciences at Coventry University.

Beyond her role at UoW, Camelia is an expert evaluator for the European Commission. She is committed to showcasing and informing ways in which HEIs can make a difference to the regions where they operate and she has developed initiatives in collaborations with HEIs across the UK, ARMA, UKRI and the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN). For the latter, Camelia is chairing a subcommittee on Regional and Devolved policy matters.

Camelia has a varied and active engagement with ARMA. She has chaired a series of activities on the theme of Place from policy, impact and funding perspectives; she is a member of the ARMA delivery team for qualifications as well as of the working group for secondments. In recent years Camelia has also delivered talks and mentored others on research support team management and development.

Arun Verma

Dr Arun Verma is a strategic, tenacious and passionate leader in embedding intersectionality, diversity and inclusion into evidence, learning and impact strategies. He is a Senior Evidence and Learning Advisor and co-Chair for the BAME Staff Network for Save the Children UK, where he leads national and global evidence and impact projects to support the most marginalised and deprived children and families living in poverty.

Arun completed his Master’s in Clinical Applications of Psychology and a PhD in intersectionality and health professions education in 2018 and is invited to speak and influence on these issues at events internationally. He has shaped and informed diversity and inclusion policy and practice in higher education, local government and the third sector. He holds two academic appointments at the University of Dundee as an Academic Tutor and member of the International Network of Transitions Researchers. He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Surrey. Additionally, Arun mentors BAME undergraduate students to support and coach them through their experiences in higher education and future career ambitions.

As a practitioner of a rights-based approach to systemic change, he organises the National Participation Forum with a coalition of over 20 charities across the sector to empower the voice of people living through intersecting inequalities. Arun is also leading the UK’s first Higher Education Anti-Racism Action Policy led by the expert voices of Black, Asian and ethnic minority identifying staff and students, to role model a new approach to policymaking and implement real changes to dismantling racism in higher education.

Rodolfo Barradas

Rodolfo Barradas is a Policy Advisor, communications professional and charity trustee. He has been a trustee at Freedom Studios for five years and has recently taken on the role of Vice Chair at East Street Arts. Rodolfo is also an Ambassador for the Young Trustees Movement. He has worked for multiple charities, including Ilkley Literature Festival, Cast in Doncaster and York Theatre Royal.