Description
Role: Trustee - Research
Organisation: Epilepsy Society
Location: Can be based anywhere in the UK with a mix of online and in person meetings.
Remuneration: This is a voluntary position but includes reasonable expenses.
Time Commitment: On average one day per month.
Shape the Future of Epilepsy - Join the Board of a Charity with National Impact
Epilepsy affects more than 630,000 people in the UK - yet too many still face stigma, preventable risks, fragmented services and unequal access to treatment. As the UK’s only charity uniting world-leading research, specialist care and national advocacy, Epilepsy Society is uniquely positioned to drive change at scale.
We are entering one of the most significant periods in our history. Advances in genetics, data, diagnostics and personalised medicine are unlocking new possibilities, while the care system faces unprecedented pressure. The need for a stronger national voice - and a Board with the insight to steer it - has never been greater.
We are now seeking a new Trustee to help guide our strategy, strengthen our governance and accelerate progress for the people we exist to serve.
Trustee – Research
You will help unlock the next generation of scientific breakthroughs. With recent experience in highquality academic or clinical research, you will guide our research direction, strengthen global collaborations and support the translation of discovery into realworld impact. You will help ensure that the Society remains at the forefront of epilepsy science - and that the knowledge we generate reaches the people who need it most.
What You Bring
We are seeking individuals who are:
- Deeply committed to the mission and values of Epilepsy Society
- Empathetic, ethical and guided by sound judgement
- Confident interpreting complex information and shaping decisions at Board level
- Collaborative, fair and diplomatic - with the courage to speak independently
- Dedicated to improving outcomes for people with epilepsy
We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and those stepping into their first nonexecutive role.
Time Commitment
Four Board meetings per year (in person), a twoday annual residential, and membership of at least one committee (three to four meetings annually). Reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
Why Now? Why You?
Joining our Board means helping shape national conversations on research, treatment and care. It means contributing your expertise to a cause where the stakes are real, the challenges are complex, and the potential for progress is extraordinary.
If you want to play a part in creating a future where people with epilepsy are understood, supported and empowered, we would be delighted to hear from you.
For an informal and confidential conversation please contact:
Oliver Startup: oliver.startup@gatenbysanderson.com
Liz Dean: liz.dean@gatenbysanderson.com
Closing date: 9am Wednesday 24th June 2026
Final panel: w/c 20th July
