The mark of the conservation professional
This page carries the resources and updates for the IHBC’s General Meeting and AGMs (Annual General Meetings), including as relevant the background to the development of the ‘Articles of Association’ adopted in December 2020.
IHBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2026 Online
7 January 2026
Online from 5:30pm with free talk, for 6:00pm AGM
AGM CHAIR: David McDonald, IHBC Chair
The IHBC will hold its next Annual General Meeting online at 6.00pm on Wednesday 7 January, with proceedings to start from 5.30pm. It is open to IHBC members in ANY membership category and is free.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - BOOK HERE
DOWNLOAD THE 2026 AGM AGENDA
PROXY VOTING ENCOURAGED: IHBC Accredited Members only
Use SHORT PROXY OR LONG PROXY
SUBMIT APOLOGIES
The full programme of IHBC CPD for the AGM will open at 5.30pm (LOG IN BY 5.25PM) when all members are invited to join Historic England's Co-Chief Executive for a short presentation, with time for questions, on 'Historic England: New Co-Chief Executive roles and priorities - Growth, Place, and the Heritage Sector'.
AGM from 6.00pm
The AGM itself is, as ever, a critical moment in our cycle of governance and all categories of membership are strongly encouraged to attend.
The AGM Agenda can be accessed HERE and includes links to the Trustees' Report and Financial statement for the year ending 30 September 2024, nomination details for the Trustees to be appointed at this AGM, as well as a formal resolution on next steps in our ongoing exploration of a Charter.
Our accredited members – that is Associates, Full Members and Retired – may vote on all the resolutions, including the current appointments of Trustees to the Board following an uncontested election, in line with our new Articles.
Those Trustees being appointed this year are as follows:
Attendance at the AGM is free, but if you would like to make a donation to support the IHBC's core charitable operations through our CREATIVE Conservation Fund, you may do so HERE.
IHBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 Online
13 May 2025
Online from 5:30pm with free talk, for 6:00pm AGM
AGM CHAIR: David McDonald, IHBC Chair
The IHBC will hold its next Annual General Meeting online at 6.00pm on Tuesday 13 May, with proceedings to start from 5.30pm. It is open to IHBC members in ANY membership category and is free.
FOR ALL MEMBERS: SUBMIT APOLOGIES HERE
PROXY VOTING ENCOURAGED: USE SHORT PROXY OR LONG PROXY
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - BOOK HERE
DOWNLOAD THE 2025 AGM AGENDA
PROGRAMME: 5.30 pm (LOG-IN BY 5.25)
The full programme of IHBC CPD for the AGM will open at 5.30pm with a talk by Tim Greensmith entitled 'Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings - Back from the Brink', and serves as a membership-only prelude to our 2025 Annual School in Shrewsbury, from 12-14 June: #IHBCShrewsbury2025.
Tim Greensmith is a conservation architect specialising in the repair and re-use of industrial heritage to deliver socio-economic regeneration. Over the past decade and a half Tim was Project Architect, for architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, on the £30m conservation and repair of the Grade I listed Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, dubbed 'the grandparent of the skyscraper'. Tim led a team of brilliant designers and engineers, working hand in hand with client Historic England, conservation contractor Croft Building & Conservation and a very supportive local community.
AGM: FROM 6.00PM
In line with our new Articles, business will include:
Following the business of the meeting there will be an opportunity to raise, discuss and explore current issues of interest to members with officers and members.
The AGM is a critical moment in our cycle of governance and all categories of member are strongly encouraged to attend.
Among ordinary business matters at the AGM, our accredited members – that is Associates, Full Members and Retired – will vote on the election of our new Board of Trustees. Members will also be asked to vote on the proposals in the Resolution linked to the next steps on the exploration of an IHBC Petition for Charter, the submission of a ‘memorandum’ on the IHBC to the Privy Council Office to understand its views the matter.
Further details of the 2025 AGM will be notified to members in our forthcoming digital suite of AGM Papers, and will include the 'Trustees’ report’ for the financial year 2022-23 - as the next report due for members – while also updating on current operations.
AGM Elections
Among other business matters at the AGM, our accredited members – that is Associates, Full Members and Retired – will elect new members of our Board of Trustees. Formal roles and posts are open to accredited members only, and subject to the timely receipt of nominations by the closing date of 2 April.
There is more background on how to prepare for nomination and service as Trustee on our NewsBlog guidance HERE.
Nominations
Nominations are always sought for vacant posts, especially to address current gaps, early and mid-career; diversity; fundraising or marketing experience. This year there is currently only one post open, as noted above, as other trustees are continuing in their current roles. However Trustees remain available to help in the ongoing induction of prospective successors.
If you are interested in a Board role we would encourage you to contact the most relevant officer, Trustee or postholder to find out more. If you are unsure please contact Lydia Porter, our Company Secretary, at admin@ihbc.org.uk.
Please also note that a nominee for election as IHBC trustee at the AGM must be accredited by IHBC, either as an IHBC Associate, Full Member or Retired Member.
See the 2025 nomination form here
Remember too that while all IHBC members of all categories are encouraged to attend the AGM – with IHBC CPD certificates available on request, reflecting the status of the business – only Full, Associates and Retired members may vote.
Voting by proxy will be available to qualifying members who cannot attend, or who want to vote in advance. More information will be published in due course.
PLEASE NOTE:
IHBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2024 Online
30 April 2024
Online from 5:30pm with Dr Robyn Pender, for 6:00pm AGM
AGM CHAIR: David McDonald, IHBC Chair
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - BOOK HERE
VOTING FOR ACCREDITED (INCLUDING RETIRED) MEMBERS ONLY
SUBMIT YOUR ONLINE SHORT PROXY FORM HERE
DOWNLOAD YOUR LONG PROXY FORM HERE
FOR ALL MEMBERS: SUBMIT APOLOGIES HERE
The IHBC will hold its next Annual General Meeting online at 6.00pm on Tuesday 30 April, with proceedings to start from 5.30pm.. It is open to IHBC members in ANY membership category and is free.
PROGRAMME: 5.30 pm (LOG-IN BY 5.25)
The full programme of IHBC CPD will open at 5.30pm with a free talk by Dr Robyn Pender entitled 'Taming the elephant in the room: 'Why exactly are we using so much energy in buildings in the first place'?
Dr Pender recently retired from the Building Climate Adaptation Team at Historic England, having been a Senior Building Conservation Advisor there and at English Heritage since 2005. Robyn is currently a Director at the 'climate emergency' training and research consultancy, Whethergauge. You can find more background to her work and presentation on our NewsBlog update HERE.
AGM: FROM 6.00PM
In line with our new Articles, business will include:
You can see more background to discussions on the resolution HERE and the covering report HERE
Following the business of the meeting there will be an opportunity to raise, discuss and explore current issues of interest to members with officers and members.
As the AGM is a critical moment in our cycle of governance, all categories of member are strongly encouraged to attend.
Among ordinary business matters at the AGM, our accredited members – that is Associates, Full Members and Retired – will vote on the election of our new Board of Trustees. Members will also be asked to vote on the proposals in the Resolution linked to the next steps on the exploration of an IHBC Petition for Charter, the submission of a ‘memorandum’ on the IHBC to the Privy Council Office to understand its views the matter.
Detailed content of the 2024 AGM will be notified in a forthcoming full Agenda, and will include the ‘Trustees report’ for 2021-22 – as the next report due for approval – as well as the names of trustees going forward for election and updates on current operations.
Remember too that while all IHBC members of all categories are encouraged to attend the AGM – with IHBC CPD certificates available on request, reflecting the status of the business – only Full, Associates and Retired members may vote.
Voting by proxy will be available to qualifying members who cannot attend, or who want to vote in advance. More information will be published in due course.
PLEASE NOTE:
IHBC Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023
Online: 3 May 2023
Proceedings open at 5.30 PM; AGM starts 6PM prompt
AGM CHAIR: David McDonald, IHBC Chair
The IHBC will hold its next Annual General Meeting at 6 PM on 3 May 2023. It is open to IHBC members in ANY membership category and is free.
It will be preceded by a presentation and discussion, details to be confirmed.
Business for the AGM will include:
Following the business of the meeting there will be an opportunity to raise, discuss and explore current issues of interest to members with officers and members.
See the 2023 call for Trustees HERE and background details to the 2023 AGM HERE.
Download the IHBC TRUSTEES PERSON SPECIFICATIONS etc December 2021. See also the IHBC Board’s Statement on ‘Equity, Diversity and Inclusion’ - January 2023.
Download the Trustee Nomination Form 2023
For more background to the AGM, see links to our Trustees and our Corporate Papers.
PLEASE NOTE:
Only IHBC Full, Associate and Retired members have the right to vote at the General Meeting.
Voting members are encouraged to vote by proxy, whether or not attending the Annual General Meeting. This helps the institute manage resources needed for the timely counting of votes while delivering the programme, and also avoids any unforeseen technical problems on the day.
There are two options for voting by proxy:
Voting members may otherwise vote during the meeting using the virtual platform's polling and linked functions as directed on the day.
After the AGM there will be updates from the IHBC Chair, David McDonald, and the opportunity to raise current issues such as:
All categories of membership welcome
Download the 2022 AGM Agenda
These events are FREE but you can donate to the IHBC CREATIVE Conservation Fund, which exclusively delivers on the IHBC’s charitable activities, HERE.
Only IHBC Full, Associate and Retired IHBC members have the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Voting members are encouraged to vote by proxy, whether or not attending the General Meeting or Council. This helps the institute manage resources needed for the timely counting of votes while delivering the programme, and also avoids any unforeseen technical problems on the day.
There are two options for voting by proxy:
The IHBC held a General Meeting at 1 pm on 26 March 2021 to pass a Special Resolution to the new Articles that clarifies the institute's capacity to hold entirely 'virtual' General Meetings. It will include an opportunity to update members on new arrangements under way following the AGM in December 2020.
Following the conclusion of the meeting the IHBC will open the first Council meeting under our new constitution.
Both events are FREE.
NOTES:
Only IHBC Full, Associate and Retired members have the right to vote at the General Meeting.
Voting members are encouraged to vote by proxy, whether or not attending the General Meeting or Council. This helps the institute manage resources needed for the timely counting of votes while delivering the programme, and also avoids any unforeseen technical problems on the day.
Voting members may otherwise vote during the meeting using the virtual platform's polling and linked functions as directed on the day.
The meeting will include updates from the IHBC Chair, David McDonald, and other officers, on current issues for the institute such as:
The early development of the IHBC’s current proposal to adopt new Articles at the 2020 AGM on 3 December is outlined below. This culminated in the IHBC’s 2019 AGM adoption of the ‘Proposal for future governance of the Institute’. The recommendation to members of the new Articles here marks the next step in the modernisation of the IHBC as a specialist and professional body and charity for the 21st century.
Since the adoption of the 2019 ‘Proposal for future governance…’, the IHBC has been working hard with our legal advisers, Knights, and national charity regulators in England and Wales and in Scotland to agree a text that represents the ambitions agreed then. We opened the consultation on the draft new Articles in January 2020. Although in-person discussions had to stop in the Spring due to the pandemic, the consultation has remained open, operating alongside the discussions with legal advisers and charity regulators.
Over the summer the IHBC received ‘in principle’ approval from the regulators on a text only slightly modified from the consultation draft, with the adjustments noted below.
Members are encouraged to continue their historic support for the developments agreed in 2019 through even more energetic support for the adoption of the new Articles at our AGM December 2020.
Regarding the Articles proposed for adoption at the 2020 AGM, Members should note that:
After more than a decade of exploration, interrogation, and debate, the IHBC has produced a discussion document on what form modern governance in the IHBC might take, drafted by IHBC Chair - and past Consultations Consultant - James Caird.
Already offered for consultation across the Institute the IHBC's board of trustees is recommending for approval at the next AGM, in Nottingham on 5 July the most recent version of the working document, the 'Proposal for future governance of the Institute'.
David McDonald said: ‘The new discussion document encapsulates our thoughts on the future of the IHBC as a modern professional body, fit for purpose and working to modern standards. By contributing to these plans, you can help shape and refine our thoughts to date, and help us bring them to fruition in the best possible way.’
‘Here James has pulled together a huge variety of data, strategies and issues, following more than a decade of exploration, interrogation, and debate across the IHBC.’
‘In the past, as our consultations consultant, we have all seen James tie together innumerable threads and dispositions into a meaningful, coherent and balanced set of conclusions, and help us find the right way forward. We think he has managed to do that again in this document, helping us nail down structures for the modernisation of our governance.’
‘Also, like our ordinary consultations, James’ draft demands further input and refinement from those who care about the IHBC and our work – our members – and now we want members of all categories and levels of engagement to help us plan and refine our next steps’.
James Caird said: ‘The modernisation of our constitution must respond to modern standards of governance of course, but also reflect the new operations and capacity in the institute. And it needs to be able to respond to the rapidly changing working environment and needs of all of our members: offering both flexibility, but also stability.’
‘So, after drawing together thoughts, lessons and initiatives that have evolved since we first established the National Office in 2004, we have our base-line discussion document, approved by trustees at no less than two board meetings.’
‘Now, David and I are travelling around those Branches and member meetings to discuss the issues and thoughts. And I’m delighted to have such positive feedback, and new ideas to work with too, and I look forward to hearing more over the coming weeks and months.’
IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘Not everyone will be able to make those meetings – or want to – so James’ paper offers everyone the chance to read and review current thoughts, and feed thoughts back to us.’
‘Members – of all categories – are encouraged to do that direct to the dedicated email address governance@ihbc.org.uk or to any of us, or at any of the local meetings too that we are attending across the country.’
Respond to the document at governance@ihbc.org.uk
David McDonald
James Caird
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