The Swoboda Research Centre (Swoboda) is seeking to appoint up to three new volunteer directors to its board and is looking for applications from credit union practitioners and stakeholders.
Swoboda was launched in 2017 by Dr Paul A. Jones, Nick Money and Ralph Swoboda, its founder directors, and quickly established itself as a provider of influential research and stimulating events to the credit union movements in Ireland and Great Britain. Swoboda is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, and is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Dublin, Ireland.
In recognition of Swoboda’s rapid growth, in 2019 Michael Byrne and Caroline Domanski, respectively the CEOs of Core Credit Union in Ireland and No1 CopperPot Credit Union in Great Britain, joined the board as directors to provide oversight and advice. Caroline, Swoboda’s chair, and Michael represent long-standing Swoboda member credit unions. The current board has presided over a continued steady expansion in membership and impact.
Swoboda has ambitious plans, and after a governance review, the board has identified the need for additional directors to support its development. Directors of Swoboda must have a strong commitment to the credit union movement, a belief in the value of research, and experience of serving on a board. Desirable characteristics include: a background in professional research or academia, experience as a credit union director or CEO, expertise in regulation or policy-making in financial services, knowledge of the economic, social and market environment in which credit unions operate.
Director duties are primarily to participate in online board meetings (usually three per year). Terms are for three years and the post is not remunerated. A role description can be viewed here. The formal application process will comprise submission of a letter explaining motivation and suitability together with a short CV, which after evaluation will lead to short-listing and subsequently an interview with two current directors. Expressions of interest should be made by 30 November 2022.
For more information and an initial, informal conversation about the role, contact Nick Money, director of development and company secretary (nick.money@swobodacentre.org).
