New Council members elected

^{Society garden courtesy of Panel 8 Photography.}

Congratulations to the newest members of our Council, who were elected at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday.

The AGM included a speech by outgoing Society President, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, who thanked Society staff, members of Council, and Society Director Professor Joe Smith for coping with the numerous additional demands on their time.

In her speech, which drew on her long political experience of international negotiations, Baroness Chalker said: “There are formidable challenges ahead in advancing action on climate change and biodiversity, but my experience of working in relevant fields of policy including African foreign policy, international development, transport, and public health all point to the very positive things that can be achieved where good quality evidence, an engaged public and patient but purposeful policies combine. I look forward to seeing geography, and the Society, sustaining and growing its impact on these critical issues in the years to come.”

After the President’s address, our new members of Council were elected:

• Nigel Clifford – President

• Stephen Jones – Honorary Secretary: Expeditions and Fieldwork

• Professor Helen Walkington – Councillor: Expeditions and Fieldwork

• Dr Melanie Norman – Vice President: Education

• Narinder Mann – Councillor: Education

• Professor Rachel Pain – Chair of conference for 2022

• Dr Vandana Desai – Councillor: Research and Higher Education

• Jordi Buckley – Postgraduate Representative

The newly elected trustees join 15 existing members of Council who are responsible for the governance of the Society. Thank you to our outgoing members of Council for their hard work and dedication to the Society.

Find out more about our Council.