Applications open for Nominated and Independent Director role on RYA Northern Ireland board

Applications for Nominated and Independent Directors on the RYA Northern Ireland board are now open.

These positions allow individuals to have a significant input towards the direction of development in Northern Ireland and how RYA Northern Ireland continues to make progress towards the strategic goals outlined in our five-year strategy, Navigating the future.

An Independent Director may be a member of a sailing club, or connected with the sport in another way, but they may not be a member of a club committee. This helps to ensure a lack of bias within the viewpoints across the board and that the Northern Irish sailing community is well represented. We are also welcoming applications from individuals who have no connection to sailing or boating but may add value to the board through alternative expertise or experience.

Nominated Directors must be nominated for the position by their club, so they will naturally have a strong connection and commitment to sailing and boating in Northern Ireland. This experience is crucial to the key decisions which the RYA Northern Ireland make towards the development of sailing across the country.

Being part of the RYA Northern Ireland board is also fantastic for professional and personal development and provides learning opportunities from a diverse range of individuals.

All applicants are welcome, but the current RYA Northern Ireland have identified a number of areas of expertise which would add particular value to the board.

• Communications and PR
• Marketing
• Measuring and understanding impact
• Sponsorship
• Fundraising
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Strategy implementation
• Cruising and the environment

Independent Director positions

• An individual with an interest or expertise in the areas listed above

Nominated Director positions

• Chair- the term of current RYA NI Chair, Susan McKnight, comes to an end in November 2025
• Cruising and Environment Committee Chair
• Director (with no specific portfolio)

It is also preferable if Nominated and Independent Directors have an interest in keeping people physically active, the outdoors, supporting sailors to maximise their athletic potential, raising the profile of the sport of sailing and engaging new audiences to sailing.

To read more about becoming a Nominated or Independent Director, and to learn about the values and strategic aims of RYA Northern Ireland, click here. 

RYA Northern Ireland is proud to champion diversity across the organisation and applications are welcome regardless of gender, age marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation or whether or not you have dependants. All applications for appointment are considered strictly on merit.

If you have any further questions about becoming a Nominated or Independent Director on the RYA Northern Ireland board, please contact greg.yarnall@rya.org.uk