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Stronger, smarter, more inclusive: The future of our Association

HomeNews & opinionNews Stronger, smarter, more inclusive: The future of our Association

Stronger, smarter, more inclusive: The future of our Association



With our specialty under increasing pressure and capacity stretched more than ever, it is more important than ever before to have a strong, resilient Association working for the benefit of our members and anaesthesia as a whole.

In late 2023, we began a governance review to assess whether our company structure is still fit for purpose. We appointed the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to lead this review. Their recommendations, based on the updated Charity Governance Code, aim to streamline our operations to make the most of our people and resources.

 

Find out more and have your say

"It's never been more important to have a strong Association advocating for real anaesthetists out there. These governance changes will only strengthen our position and I hope that members will see our outputs improve and better reflect what they want us to do." Dr Tim Meek, President

Our current structure

Right now, the Association operates as two separate entities:

  • Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) – a company limited by guarantee with an elected board of directors.
  • AAGBI Foundation – a registered charity. The AAGBI is its sole member and appoints its board of trustees.

This dual structure causes inefficiencies and adds complexity to our work.

 

What’s changing

We are proposing to move to a single charitable company structure.

  • The AAGBI company will merge into the charity.
  •  A wholly owned trading subsidiary will handle any commercial activity, with profits going to the charity. 
  • The charity will be renamed Association of Anaesthetists (Great Britain & Ireland) to reflect our heritage.


What this means for our members

For most members, these changes will be seamless, but they'll make a big difference behind the scenes.

  • Your membership will continue uninterrupted 
  • You will keep the same rights, benefits, and ability to vote 
  • Subscriptions will be paid directly to the charity 
  • There will be more opportunities to join or chair committees 
  • Committee structures will evolve to increase diversity, representation, and accessibility


What happens next

To complete the merger, voting members will need to approve key changes at a General Meeting in June 2025. The General Meeting will be conducted by Civica on our behalf, and eligible members will receive full details soon – look out for emails from [email protected].