Mike McKiernan

1. First of all, about you: what attracted you to becoming a chair/trustee?

A small charity with an ambitious mission to make a difference to a massive national problem.

2. Which organisation(s) do you represent?

BackCare (www.backcare.org.uk).

3. What particularly attracted you to these organisations?

Please see question one above.

4. Is there anything that would make you an even more effective trustee/chair?

More time and location nearer to London.

5. What’s the biggest challenge you have faced in your role?

Finding a new chief executive.

6. What do you consider the most satisfying aspect of your role?

Seeing the charity thrive and having an impact.

7. Do you think there is enough general recognition of the value of the trustee/chair role?

I think there is generally enough recognition of the chair’s role but not of the trustees.

8. (If you have been a trustee/chair for some time) have you felt that the demands made on trustees/chairs have grown over time?

There are certainly more demands on chairs and chief executives.

9. What do you think is the ideal term of office that a trustee/chair should serve?

Five years for a chair and a little longer for a trustee.

10. What tip would you give to a new trustee?

Get to know the charity. Get to know your fellow trustees. Visit head office, meet the staff and find out what they do. Listen. Try to understand where the charity’s come from and where it’s trying to get to. Ask yourself the question “How can I help?”

11. If you weren’t a trustee, what would you do with that time?

Pursue other interests particularly travel, art history and writing.

12. What steps do you take to increase/retain your organisation’s membership?

We’re currently questioning whether we should still be a membership organisation and if so what kind. There is not a lot written about the possible choices, so we’re having to make up our own minds.

13. What question do you want to ask next week’s trustee?

Do you have any bright ideas for fundraising in these difficult times?

For your opportunity to answer Mike’s question, please click on the link which takes you to the Forum.