OFC seeks new Directors

The OFC is seeking three new directors for a three year-term for the 2020-22 conferences. The positions are wholly honorary. 

Download the application form in PDF or word format.  

To find out more about what being a director entails, read and watch Matthew Naylor, who is serving as a Director for the 2018-2020 conferences. 

About the OFC

The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) is a charity and a limited company. The OFC's Patron is the HRH Princess Royal. The conference itself, which runs in early January every year, has become ever more high-profile within the farming industry, but more importantly to wider audiences and stakeholders. The OFC's mission is to 'Inform, Challenge and Inspire'.

The conference is designed and run by the OFC Council, a secretariat team and a marketing professional.  

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 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 sponsors young people to attend the conference, to travel overseas and it seeks to develop emerging leaders. The OFC has also partnered other organisations in the sector on specific initiatives, including a debate at the Royal Highland Show.

The requirements of an OFC Director

The OFC seeks three new directors annually, one of whom will take the role of Chairman of the OFC in their third year as a director. The positions are wholly honorary but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
 
We are now inviting applications for joining the Council for the 2020-2022 conferences; applicants MUST have attended the conference in the past for their application to be considered.  
 
Those selected as members will be invited to attend one Council meeting in November 2018 and one teleconference in December 2018 (prior to formal appointment) and will then be expected to attend approximately eight Council meetings each year (some are teleconference meetings) and the Oxford Farming Conference itself for their three-year term in office. Heavy use of IT is made (documents are shared through Dropbox, 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. 
 
Successful candidates will be expected to attend the 2019 Conference (3-4 January 2018). Reasonable accommodation and travel expenses will be paid.

Timelines

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 18 May 2018.

We will be in touch with shortlisted candidates by Fri 01 June 2018.

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 12 June.