ukactive is inviting applications for its new board from today (4 March) as it embarks on a “new era,” following the conclusion of a nine-month governance review.

The call for applications marks the start of a new chapter for the physical activity organisation, following the recent announcement that longstanding CEO David Stalker is to stand down this June after seven years at the helm.

The recently-concluded governance evaluation – led by management specialist Portas Consulting – was carried out as part of the body’s ongoing repositioning from health and fitness representative to wider physical activity advocate. Among the major changes going forward will be the streamlining of the ukactive board, down from 22 members to just nine.

The board will be comprised of a new independent chair and treasurer; three appointed independent non-executive directors with specialism in defined areas; and three elected representatives drawn from the ukactive membership to represent the views of members. In addition, there will be Stalker, who will stay on the board for at least 12 months to support the next CEO and also the new chair, who will replace the outgoing Fred Turok.

According to ukactive, the new board has been designed based on best practice principles for effective governance and this will always ensure a minimum of 25 per cent of the board are independent and a minimum 25 per cent are female.

ukactive is requesting applications from its members for elected board positions across the following three seats:

• Commercial Fitness & Activity

• Local Authority Activity• Wider Activity Promotion

“This is an exciting time for ukactive and for the sector as a whole – we’re delighted to give our members the opportunity to sit on our board and take responsibility for the future direction of their trade body,” said ukactive CEO David Stalker.

“In my time at ukactive we’ve seen a seismic shift in the way the physical activity narrative has reverberated around government, the media and corporate UK and we’re looking forward to welcoming a board to step up to the challenge of leading us into a new era of collaboration, influence and the realisation of our mission of getting more people, more active, more often.”

The deadline for applications is 25 March, 2015. For a detailed description on the qualifying criteria for each role and the subsequent voting process, including how to submit an application, click here.

Subsequent to review of all applications by the ukactive Nominations Committee, the election voting will open on 8 April and close on 29 April 2015.