Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is the University's supreme governing body and board of charity trustees. It operates within the framework provided by the Charter and Statutes and the legal and regulatory framework to which the University is subject.

On this page

Responsibilities and terms of reference

The primary responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are set out in Ordinance 1.

All Board members are expected to comply with the role description and code of conduct as set out in Ordinance 1.

Membership

Find out more about board membership and diversity monitoring.

Attendees

The following people attend meetings of the Board of Trustees:

  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Deputy University Secretary and Head of Governance

Other members of University staff may be asked to attend for relevant items.

Board Secretary

Post-holder: Michael Flay, Director of Governance and University Secretary
 Email: michael.flay@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 117 45 54881

Committees of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees has several committees which undertake specific responsibilities. ‌

F‌ind out committee meeting dates and paper submission deadlines. 

Vacancies

The Board of Trustees is seeking to appoint two student members (the Student Trustees) to join the Board from 1 July 2025, more information is provided below. 

To apply, please complete the online form by 10am on Tuesday 20 May 2025.  Applications will not be accepted after this point.  

Use “Question 8: Personal Statement” to explain in no more than 500 words how you meet the criteria to be a Student Trustee and why you are interested in the role.  In your application, please refer to the essential and desirable criteria outlined in the Role Description & Person Specification.  

If you would like to discuss this opportunity or have questions not dealt with above, please contact: helen.cole@bristol.ac.uk 

Meeting dates and paper submission deadlines 2024/25

View paper submission deadlines

View paper submission guidance. 

  • Friday 20 September 2024, 9am
  • Friday 22 November 2024, 9am
  • Friday 31 January 2025, 9am
  • Thursday 27 March 2025, 9am - development day
  • Friday 28 March 2025, 9am
  • Friday 23 May 2025, 9am
  • Friday 18 July 2025, 9am

Annual reports

2023/24

Reports from this year will be added as they become available.

2022/23

Reports from this year will be added as they become available.

2021/22

Reports from this year will be added as they become available.

Agendas and minutes

Download agendas and minutes from previous Board of Trustees meetings.

2024/25

2023/24

2022/23

2021/22

Register of interests

The University maintains a register of interests of members of the Board of Trustees, members of the Committees of the Board of Trustees, members of the University Executive Board and members of the Board of any University Subsidiary.

The Register of interests (PDF, 181kB) is available for inspection under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.‌

If you have any queries in relation to the register of interests, email governance@bristol.ac.uk.