2026 ELECTION NOTICE
BGS PRESIDENT ELECT
ROLE SPECIFICATION AND
PROCESS FOR THE SELF-NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES
This is a crucial, honorary role at the highest level of the BGS. The post holder serves for two years as President Elect, followed immediately by two further years as President.
TERM
The new President Elect will take office at the BGS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 6 November 2026.
They will serve as President Elect for two years ending at the AGM in 2028, on which date they will succeed automatically to the post of President and serve for two years in that role.
DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT ELECT
The precise responsibilities of the President Elect will be agreed between them and the President, and what follows is an outline of the role. As well as the duties outlined below, the President Elect will be shadowing the President in preparation for their own term as President.
- Member and Deputy Chair of the BGS Trustee Board
- Member of several BGS standing committees
- Attends BGS biannual national conferences, chairing sessions and introducing guest speakers
- Member of the Age and Ageing Executive Committee
- Represents the BGS at meetings of other professional organisations and government/NHS bodies as necessary
- Deputises for the President at BGS meetings as necessary, including supporting the Vice Presidents and other officers
- Attends and possibly chairs any special working groups that may be set up
- Represents the BGS on the RCP Medical Specialties Board
- Works with the BGS Chief Executive and other staff.
TIME INVOLVED
The overall time commitment is roughly half a day per week on average, but varies considerably from week to week, and includes the following regular meetings:
- Trustee Board: four meetings a year, each usually lasting approximately four hours (currently 2 in person, 2 online). The July meeting is a full Board away day.
- Age and Ageing Executive Committee: four conference calls a year, lasting approx. 1.5 hours (online)
- RCP/BGS liaison meetings: two/three per year lasting 2 hours (currently online)
DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The President Elect should be aware of the workload associated with the subsequent position of President:
- Raising the profile of the BGS and enhancing its impact and influence; being the national figurehead of BGS
- Advocating for high standards of healthcare for older people, and for the specialist professions delivering high-quality, person-centred care for older people
- Working closely with, supporting, motivating and constructively challenging the Chief Executive, and leading on recruiting their successor
- Representing the BGS at meetings of other professional organisations and government/NHS bodies as necessary and championing older people’s healthcare in all meetings
- Leading, chairing and developing the Trustee Board in its governance and strategic leadership of the BGS
- Working with and supporting the Vice Presidents, committee and SIG chairs to lead their work areas and deliver the activities agreed in annual operational plans
- Actively promoting the BGS and the benefits of membership to all healthcare professionals working with older people in different care settings across the four nations
- Helping to formulate BGS policy on a wide range of issues, in line with the Strategic Plan agreed by the Trustee Board and the membership
- Hosting the opening and closing sessions and chairing sessions at BGS conferences; chairing the BGS AGM and presiding at BGS Meeting dinners and at other events
- Providing urgent responses to national political and policy issues related to the health and wellbeing of older people
- Acting as a spokesperson for the BGS in media and press interviews and articles
- Signing off reports, position statements and press releases (in conjunction with the Honorary Secretary)
- Ensuring the BGS remains solvent and sustainable in its generation of income and management of costs
- Chairing the BGS/RCP liaison meetings two/three times a year and representing the BGS on the RCP Council
- Communicating with the BGS membership by contributing a regular column to the quarterly BGS newsletter, Agenda, and short introductions to the BGS monthly e-bulletin, FrontPage.
The following may arise from time to time for both the President and President Elect
- Giving presentations on geriatric medicine and the care of older people in response to invitations from other professional organisations, and representing the BGS at their meetings
- Liaising with government departments, senior civil servants, ministers and NHS leaders on issues related to healthcare of older people
- Representing the BGS and liaising with other geriatrics societies directly and through engagement with European and global membership bodies
- Liaising with the Royal Colleges in the UK
- Liaising with other professional organisations such as the BMA and other medical societies
- Liaising with voluntary sector, social care and academic organisations
- Maintaining regular contact with BGS regions, nations and Special Interest Groups and with professional groups.
Both the President and President Elect roles are unpaid, but expenses incurred while undertaking the roles will be reimbursed in line with the BGS Expenses policy.
TIME COMMITMENT - President
It is difficult to predict, and work pressure ebbs and flows, but over the course of a year the role takes an average of at least one day a week, including responding to correspondence, attending online and in-person meetings, and undertaking occasional visits within the UK and the odd one abroad. It is necessary to be contactable by the Chief Executive and Communications Manager even during holiday periods in case any urgent issues arise.
The post provides substantial scope to influence the development of the BGS, the specialty and the care of older people at a national level.
The post of President Elect, and in due course the post of President, does require a heavy commitment to the Society and will involve a considerable responsibility on top of clinical commitments. Successful presidents provide leadership for the BGS to achieve more impact, influence and member value; they invest in building a mutually supportive relationship with their chief executive; they have skills and experience as a good advocate, communicator, and strategist; they are well-organised, and are able to delegate and collaborate effectively.
PAST PRESIDENT
The BGS Trustee Board has agreed that the President on completing two years in office may use the title ‘Past President BGS’ for a further period of two years and undertake specific representation or project tasks in agreement with the incoming President and the CEO.
ELECTION PROCESS 2026
Self-nominations are invited for the post of President Elect, who would take office on 6 November2026.
Self-nominations must reach the BGS Office & Business Manager, Mark Stewart, no later than 5.00pm on Monday 25 May 2026 M.Stewart@bgs.org.uk
Anyone considering self-nominating is welcome to discuss the role with the current President, Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, or the President Elect, Dr Amit Arora. This can be arranged by emailing the BGS Chief Executive, Sarah Mistry S.Mistry@bgs.org.uk
Self-nominations procedure
Prospective candidates (who must be full members of the BGS, based in the UK) should self-nominate; there is no requirement to apply via your region or Council. The self-nomination must be supported, in writing, by at least five other BGS members who are eligible to vote at an AGM of the Society. The members directory can be used to help identify current members.
How to self-nominate
The candidate must submit a statement of consent, in writing, to the effect that: "I, XX, do hereby consent that my name be put forward for nomination to the post of President Elect of the British Geriatrics Society for the period 2026-2028". Candidates must also submit a statement supporting their nomination, not exceeding 400 words.
The statement of consent must be supported by statements of support from five other members of the BGS. These need to say: ‘I support XX’s nomination for the post of President Elect of the BGS,” and should be accompanied by a recommendation of up to 250 words detailing why the candidate, in the view of the supporting member, would be an effective BGS President.
The self-nomination and five statements of support must be received by the BGS Office and Business Manager, Mark Stewart, by email (M.Stewart@bgs.org.uk) no later than 5.00pm on Monday 25 May 2026. Late or incomplete nominations will not be accepted. Your self-nomination will be acknowledged by midday the following day.
If only one self-nomination which fulfils the rules is received by the closing date and time, that candidate will be deemed to have been elected unopposed. If an election is to be held, we will notify candidates on 26 May.
Election ballot
Should there be more than one nomination, a ballot of members will be held in June/July 2026.
If an election is to be held, all candidates will be encouraged to convert their written statement into a manifesto (400-600 words), together with a photograph, which will be published on the BGS website as part of the election process. They will also be invited to film a short video about what they would bring to the role. The manifesto and videos need to be completed by 19 June. Voting will open at 9.00 a.m. on 22 June and close at 9.00 a.m. on 23 July.
