About the Role
Our Board of Trustees provides strategic leadership and strong governance, helping to shape Earthwatch’s direction and impact. Trustees act as ambassadors for our mission, bringing diverse perspectives and expertise to guide our work.
The Board meets four times a year, usually for full‑day meetings on a Friday, held either in person or online via Microsoft Teams. Meetings usually take place in London or Oxford. Two standing committees — Finance (meets quarterly) and Nominations (meets twice a year) — provide additional oversight. We also form ad‑hoc working groups as needed, typically involving staff and trustees, to support strategic priorities or to manage the organisation through a challenging process.
Earthwatch Europe has a board of 12 trustees. Trustees come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have a wide range of skills and experience, including governance, science, communications and finance. The Chair of the board is supported by two Vice Chairs and an Honorary Treasurer.
Role Purpose
To lead trustee‑level oversight of Earthwatch Europe’s financial governance, ensuring robust controls, clear reporting, sound risk management and strong financial decision making that supports long‑term sustainability and impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic oversight of budgets, management accounts, cashflow, reserves and forecasting.
- Ensure strong controls, compliance and risk management (including audit where applicable).
- Chair or help shape the Finance Committee.
- Support the Board to understand financial trade‑offs and sustainability choices.
- Help shape the financial foundations for income growth (e.g., investment cases, risk/return thinking, sustainability modelling).
