For more than 15 years, our work has illuminated both China’s environmental crises and its global environmental footprint. With its expertise and rich experience in high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis and strategic communications around global environmental and climate change challenges, China Dialogue Trust raises awareness and makes online and real-world dialogues happen – to promote and support perspectives that increase understanding and inspire greater awareness of the planet’s challenges. As our Founder, Isabel Hilton, and longstanding Chair, Tom Burke, step away from the China Dialogue Trust, we are looking for a new Chair to support our evolution.
The fundamental role of Chair is to lead and facilitate the Board to carry out its responsibilities as well as work effectively with our Executive Team, especially our CEO, Sam Geall. This is an exciting time for CDT as we look to double our budget and raise our profile internationally, and our Chair will play a crucial role in the execution of our new strategy. The space we occupy has unique tensions and enormous opportunities. Our work is complex, both internally and externally, and our Chair will need excellent strategic nous and geopolitical acumen, helping CDT retain its important reputation as an independent broker and platform.
This job is all about supporting CDT at a critical stage in the organisation’s growth, as we take on new staff, execute and implement a global strategy, and expand our areas of geographical focus at a time of great geopolitical flux and uncertainty. As our Chair, you will play a vital role in a critical conversation that concerns every one of us – how China and the world’s approach to climate change and development will affect global sustainable development and climate goals.
Strategic Leadership:
- Provide leadership to CDT and its Board, ensuring that we achieve maximum impact
- Ensure the Board provides a clear strategic direction for CDT
- Work effectively with relevant members of staff, particularly our CEO, mentoring, guiding and holding to account as appropriate, ensuring that CDT is well led
- Ensure the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the organisation
- Act as a key figurehead as appropriate, building and maintaining networks, e.g. with funders
- Ensure that CDT retains and strengthens its reputation as an independent platform and that we remain influential internationally
- Ensure that the Board is able to regularly review risks and associated opportunities and satisfy itself that systems are in place to capitalise on opportunities and mitigate the risks
- Promote a culture of intentional inclusion and participation
Governance:
- Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees, e.g. supporting Trustees to access training and development that supports their participation
- Lead on ensuring we have the highest standards of corporate governance, that we are an adaptable and resilient Board
- Address and resolve any conflicts of interest as appropriate
- With the CEO, set the agenda of and Chair CDT’s Board meetings
External Relations:
- Support in the development and stewardship of funder relationships
- Play an ambassadorial role in public events, including with partners and stakeholders
- Act as a spokesperson if necessary