The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a leading humanitarian, development and peacebuilding organisation that limits the causes and addresses the consequences of conflict and armed violence.
Since MAG was founded in 1989, the evolving nature of conflict has led to new and escalating needs for those caught up in war and conflict. Climate change, food insecurity, the proliferation of weapons, pressure on aid budgets, and wider geopolitical tensions have led to contexts and consequences that are complex, varied and unpredictable.
Our work saves lives, eases suffering, protects human rights and contributes to sustainable peace for the hundreds of millions of people affected. Our work is guided by our Strategic Framework 2024 to 2028. This is our compass for action for the next five years. It provides a roadmap, not just for what we do but how we do it, and has been developed by talking with and listening to people in the communities we serve, our colleagues, the partners we work with and the donors who place their trust in us.
Our core aims for the next strategic period are twofold: to increase our impact and extend our influence.
- We will have the maximum possible positive impact on people affected by conflict and armed violence by delivering responsive, high quality and high-impact programming at scale.
- We will harness our operational experience, our insight and our trusted partner status to bring about meaningful policy change at national, regional and global levels that benefits communities affected by conflict and armed violence. We were a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), a join Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and remain a critical voice for disarmament, arms control, and civilian protection.
Our Strategic Framework 2024 to 2028 reflects our ambition to go further – partnering with communities, governments, and the international system to drive progress toward a mine-free world and a safer environment for civilians.
Why This Moment Matters: Navigating a More Volatile Landscape
MAG is responding to a world that is changing fast. The scale and severity of conflict—from Gaza to Sudan, Myanmar to Ukraine—has led to a surge in explosive contamination and civilian harm. Yet as need increases, funding is not keeping pace. Humanitarian budgets are under pressure, where a shift toward domestic security and defence spending is creating new challenges for organisations like ours. At the same time, the centre of gravity in global philanthropy is shifting, as are trends in global philanthropy and humanitarian leadership.
For MAG, this is a vital opportunity: to build new partnerships, reach new audiences, and unlock funding models that are more diverse, resilient, and aligned with our values.
Trustee Recruitment: Strengthening Leadership for a Complex World
To support the next phase of MAG’s development, we are seeking to appoint Trustees with the experience, networks and insight needed to help us meet the demands of a changing world.
In particular we are seeking a Trustee with deep experience and access to major philanthropic markets beyond Europe and North America. As traditional donor funding competition for institutional funding increases, private philanthropic capital will play a vital role in supporting humanitarian innovation and sustainability. One of the priorities if our Strategic Framework 2024 to 2028 – Funding Our Ambition – sets out a vision for financial, sustainability through diversified income streams, increased unrestricted funding and transformative partnerships. This Trustee will play a pivotal role in realising that vision.
Our Trustees
MAG’s Board of Trustees is responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation, whilst operational decision making is delegated by the Board to the Chief Executive and MAG’s Leadership Team, who coordinate and direct MAG’s work worldwide.
The delegation of authority from the Board to Leadership Team is reviewed at least annually alongside the Board Reserved Powers.
MAG takes a rigorous approach to Trustee recruitment, performance and development, and to the Board’s conduct, and so the Board works as an effective team, using the appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and knowledge to make informed decisions.
MAG and MAG US
MAG’s Board, as well as its Leadership team and staff, work closely with their equivalents in MAG US. Two members of the MAG US Board sit on MAG’s Fundraising Committee; MAG US is also able to nominate an individual to be a member of MAG’s Board.
Our Diversity Goals
MAG’s mission is driven by its staff, donors and the communities we work with around the world.
They have shaped MAG to be a global charity, made up from people who, in the majority, come from the communities we serve.
The MAG Board believes reflecting this diversity in our leadership is an essential underpinning of strong governance and responsible decision making.
The MAG Board is currently focused on collectively achieving:
- A 50/50 balance of women and men;
- Increased representation of ethnic and racial diversity;
- Having at least one (but preferably more) Trustees who have lived experience of the communities in which we are working: reflecting the voices and experiences of different generations.
MAG’s Board currently consists of six women and five men, of whom four are people of colour.
We will continue to work on being more representative and inclusive whilst still ensuring we collectively provide the leadership, and skills MAG needs to fulfil its mission and safeguard our communities.
We remain determined to better represent MAG as a global and diverse organisation on our Board.
We want to recruit trustees who broaden the range of experience and skills on our Board. We are also keen to diversify where our trustees live, and welcome applications from those living outside of the UK, especially in countries where MAG operates.