The Royal Photographic Society is a company incorporated by Royal Charter, and also a registered charity. It is regulated by the Charity Commission. View our Royal Charter and RPS By-Laws here.
The RPS 2026 Trustee Election
About the Election
Voting for your next Elected Trustee will open on 1 September 2026 and will close at 12:00 noon (BST) on Monday 21 September 2026.
An email with voting instructions was sent to all members on Tuesday 1 September.
- Subject line: Trustee Election 2026 – Voting open
- Sent from: governance@rps.org
If you have not received this email please check your junk or email membership@rps.org with the subject line "Trustee election voting query".
We have four candidates for one Elected Trustee position. Candidates have gained support from 10 RPS members and have reached this stage following a robust review and interview process conducted by the Nominations Committee.
We’re looking for an engaged and motivated Trustee to guide and support the RPS on the next stages of its mission to bring photography to everyone. The key experiences and skills we are searching for to help the RPS in the next chapter of its mission are:
- Photographic education
- Fundraising
- Income diversification
- Membership organisations and engagement
- Exhibitions and events
- Legal and commercial skills
Please take time to read the Candidate Prospectus at and get to know your candidates. The voting platform opens on 1 September.
Essential Information
Under the RPS By-laws, the RPS Nominations Committee scrutinises all applications and has an important role in recommending suitable candidates that meet the above requirements for the Board of Trustees to endorse as they are put forward to the wider Membership for voting.
Trustees are elected or appointed for a 3-year term. It is anticipated that Trustees will need to dedicate approximately 150 hours per annum to Trustee activities (with a significantly greater commitment for those holding office: President, Deputy Chair, or Treasurer). Trustee commitments include:
- Approximately 8 Board meetings and up to 4 Committee meetings a year, either in Bristol, London, Birmingham or online, plus appropriate preparation.
- Involvement with the Trustee ‘buddy’ programme for the wider RPS community (Regions, Groups, International).
- Occasional attendance at training events, conferences, and Board ‘away days’.
- Providing consultation and advice as appropriate.
Key Dates
|
Date |
Activity |
|
23:59 on 24 July 2026 |
Expressions of interest on becoming an RPS Trustee along with the EDI form must be received by this deadline. |
|
23:59 on 7 August 2026 |
Applicants will then need to gain the support of at least 10 RPS members and confirmation of this support for their nomination must be received no later than this date. |
|
1-14 August 2026 |
Interviews will take place during this period. |
|
w/c 17 August 2026 |
A Candidate Prospectus will be published. |
|
1-21 September 2026 |
An online voting platform will be open for votes. |
|
26 September 2026 |
The result will be announced at the AGM. |
The Royal Photographic Society is governed by a nine member Board of Trustees, led by the President, which oversees our charitable mission, strategic direction and support for our staff and volunteers.
The Royal Photographic Society is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive organisation.
Supporting documents on charity governance and trustee responsibilities are available to view and download below.