Experience of being a Trustee at UKSG

You can view the list of current board members and their affiliations here

Charlie Rapple, Kudos (Chair)

What I have gained: Being a trustee of UKSG has taught me so much about what it takes to run an organisation, and I’ve gained valuable experience in leadership, strategy and financial management that has been really useful in my ‘day job’. I’ve also had a chance to meet and build relationships with people from all across the sector. Being involved in and ‘visible’ via UKSG has been really pivotal to the development of my career.

What I have contributed: I have acted in various roles for UKSG, including chairing a subcommittee, helping with programming events, and serving as treasurer, vice chair and now chair. Tasks I have helped with range from organizing the dates for trustee meetings, to researching potential speakers for events (with a particular goal of ensuring UKSG speaking opportunities are fairly shared across our diverse community), to chairing meetings.

Rob Johnson, Research Consulting (Vice Chair)

What I have gained: The opportunity to work alongside our Board members and UKSG team has been incredibly rewarding – everyone works to make UKSG an inclusive and uplifting organization, and I’ve learned so much from the diverse perspectives we bring together.

What I have contributed: As a Board member I’ve helped to strengthen our financial management and controls and have really enjoyed engaging with our community through contributions to UKSG Insights, eNews and our events.

Tasha Mellins-Cohen, Mellins-Cohen Consulting (Treasurer)

What I have gained: Being a part of the Board has given me a deeper understanding of how UKSG works to bring the whole community together, as well as allowing me to work closely with other Trustees, volunteers and the UKSG team on projects that take me outside of the day job.

What I have contributed: I’ve had various roles with UKSG over the years, from the education and conference organising committees, to the Board, November conference coordinator and now Treasurer. Each has given me an opportunity to share ideas and help advance UKSG and our community in different ways.

Jennifer Bayjoo, Manchester Metropolitan University

What I have gained: Having an opportunity to look at the sector as a whole and make big decisions is an incredibly valuable experience, and I am really enjoying conversations with a Board who are passionate, engaged, and really care about our mission.

What I have contributed: It’s my first year on the Board of Trustees so I have been in learning mode, but I find it a really welcoming and open space to share ideas and collaborate. I’ve taken on our new EDI group so I’m really excited to get it up and running. 

Liam Bullingham, University of Essex

What I have gained: I’ve learned from the best! The Board of Trustees is bursting with talent, and they’re really kind, open-minded and fun people too! Meetings are always a pleasure.

What I have contributed: I co-organise and also share hosting duties for the November Conference. This allows me to draw together a diverse range of topics from the knowledge community and ‘package it up’ so insights can be shared and absorbed for the benefit of our delegates.

Bethany Logan, University of Sussex

What I have gained: Being on the Board of Trustees has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve had the chance to really push my thinking around the shape of the scholarly communications sector, and there are opportunities to pull in so many different perspectives. Fellow trustees and UKSG colleagues are a joy to work with; they have incredible expertise to learn from and we’ve cultivated a safe space where we can challenge each other knowing we are all working towards the same goal.

 What I have contributed: I am proud to have played a part in supporting volunteers setting up our – now famous- UKSG podcast series, and I have been able to champion early career professionals across the sector though the expansion of our sponsored conference places programme

Katherine Rose, Imperial College London

Katherine Rose

What I have gained: During my time as a trustee I’ve learnt to look at major issues from different perspectives and to find points of connection and common ground. One of UKSG’s jobs is to identify the key topics and issues of interest to our sector and its valuable to take this time to look beyond the day job. 

What I have contributed: I’ve been involved in organising the programmes for both the November conference and more recently the Forum. I’m particularly proud that UKSG have brought back the Forum. This free-to-members event is so valuable to those without access to big training budgets.

Josh Sendall, University of Leeds

What I have gained: I love our UKSG knowledge community. The work we do to enable the effective flow of scientific and scholarly communications is so important. My work with UKSG has helped me to gain a deeper insight into and engage with the extraordinary range of stakeholders in our community. To better understand and appreciate the contributions of all of us: library, information and knowledge workers, publishers, intermediaries, technology vendors, learned and scholarly societies, and consultants. We all play a part in ensuring our ecosystem’s vibrancy, diversity and sustainability.  

Josh Sendall

There isn’t another organisation quite like UKSG. We provide forums through our publications, conferences, webinars and committees for us to mark out and build on common ground. As well as deepening my knowledge and expanding my network, serving our community as a Trustee has enabled me to develop and refine my skill set to support effective charity governance, sustainable stewardship and development. All the above continue to contribute enormously to my professional effectiveness, fulfilment, and enjoyment.   

What I have contributed: One of the joys of being a trustee is that you’re able to identify challenges and opportunities in our sector and develop corresponding proposals that have the potential to make a positive difference. As a Trustee, I’ve brought various proposals forward for discussion at our Board meetings. It is hugely rewarding to propose an idea that aligns with our Vision and see it taken from ideation to implementation.  

As a Trustee, you can also take on another significant area of responsibility. For me, this has been leading our Conference Planning Committee. It’s a time commitment, but it’s well worth it. I’m continuously amazed by the calibre of the proposals we receive each year and the dedication of the Committee. It’s this gift of time and effort, right across our community, from those who submit proposals to our committee members to our UKSG staff, that culminates in such an enriching conference. Leading and coordinating this activity has been a highlight of my time as a trustee.

Magaly Taylor, Cengage Learning, Gale

Magaly Bascones

What I Have Gained: Serving on the Board has given me a deeper understanding of how UKSG operates to bring the entire community together, as well as the challenges the organization faces. I have also had the opportunity to collaborate closely with other Trustees, volunteers, and the UKSG team on projects that extend beyond my usual responsibilities.

What I Have Contributed: This is my first year on the Board of Trustees, and I take pride in being the first representative from content providers and publishers in quite some time. While my primary focus has been on learning how UKSG functions, I have found the environment to be welcoming and open, which has made it easy to share ideas and collaborate. I have actively participated in organizing programs for the UKSG Forum, a free event for members that is invaluable in strengthening our community spirit without barriers. Additionally, I continue to be a part of the UKSG Education Committee, where I help organize and run webinars for the sector.