Our governance

The Board of Trustees is the RCP’s governing body. It meets four times a year and is responsible for:

• agreeing the RCP business plan and monitoring the progress of RCP affairs
• the custody of the RCP, ensuring effective management and administration.

It has the authority to carry out the RCP’s charitable responsibilities and can delegate to the RCP’s boards and committees. It works closely and liaises with the Council but ultimately, all decisions (apart from changes to the bye-laws and regulations) are either taken by, or on behalf of, the Board of Trustees and reported to the fellows at the AGM.

The Board of Trustees comprises:

• a lay chair (one)
• senior officers of the RCP (ex officio – five)
• members nominated from Council (three)
• lay members appointed by the Board of Trustees (up to six)

The senior officers of the RCP (president, registrar, treasurer, clinical vice president, academic vice president, and vice president for education and training) are all trustees of the RCP and are elected by the fellows or, in the case of the registrar and treasurer, appointed following an open process. Their involvement in the RCP’s main boards and committees ensures that consideration is always given to our Charter and bye-laws, and the views of the membership are represented.