Director Recruitment
The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is a charity and a limited company. The conference itself, which runs in early January every year, has become high-profile within the farming industry, but more importantly to wider audiences and stakeholders. The OFC's mission is to 'Include, Challenge and Inspire'.
The conference is designed and run by the OFC Council, a secretariat team, partnership coordinator and a marketing professional agency. You can view the Council at www.ofc.org.uk
The OFC Council is made up of 10 voluntary directors, one of whom is the treasurer. With the exception of the treasurer, each director serves a three-year term. In other words, the make-up of the Council changes every year, with three new directors joining and three retiring. Its members are drawn from a range of agricultural, agri-business, land management and food industry areas.
The chairmanship of the OFC changes each year too, with the Chairman being chosen by the Council from among the three directors serving their third year. The annual report and accounts can be downloaded from the website by clicking here
The OFC is a charity with a remit to educate and transfer knowledge in the agricultural sector. As part of our charitable undertakings, the OFC supports young people, those who face social and economic barriers, and future agricultural and rural leaders to attend the conference and offers a bursary program to first time attendees.
The requirements of an OFC Director - now open for applications
We are now inviting expressions of interest for joining the Council for the 2025 - 2027 conferences.
Candidates are expected to have attended at least one OFC, either in-person or online, reflecting the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic. Positions are wholly honorary but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
Those selected as members will be invited to attend and observe two Council meetings in November (in Birmingham on 10 November with remote dial-in an option) and 6th December (in Oxford in person) (prior to formal appointment in January 2024 at the conference) and will then be expected to attend approximately ten Council meetings each year (some are online meetings) and the Oxford Farming Conference itself for their three-year term in office. Heavy use of IT is made (documents are shared through Teams, for example).
In addition to meetings, the time commitment expected of directors is expected to be 1-2 days per month, perhaps more depending on particular responsibilities taken on. The time commitment of the Chairman is considerably greater. Your availability to travel to meetings, and your ability to give the time needed to the organisation of the conference, reading board meeting minutes etc, is vital, but we use online platforms to ensure participation is as inclusive as possible.
Successful candidates will be expected to attend the 2024 Conference (3 - 5 January), before being formally appointed as a Director, at the close of the Conference. Reasonable accommodation and travel expenses will be paid (full details of the expenses policy can be obtained from the secretariat by emailing secretariat@ofc.org.uk).
More information about the Conference is available across this website, and more details about the Council can be obtained from the Secretariat on 01507 602427 or email secretariat@ofc.org.uk. The Secretariat will also supply contact details for directors should you wish to talk through the role in more detail.
The closing date for 2025 – 2027 Council applications is 5pm on Monday 4th September. (date extended from 31st August 2023)
To download the full information pack and application form, click here.