About Gaia Education
Gaia Education provides holistic education for sustainable development through online and face-to-face courses, webinars, masterclasses and collaborative projects. Our programmes have helped train more than 26,000 people in 55 countries. We were awarded the Luxembourg Prize for Peace Education in 2022.
We were created by a group of educators from around the world known as the GEESE, Global Ecovillage Educators for a Sustainable Earth, who met to formulate a transdisciplinary approach to education for sustainability. Our four-dimensional curriculum, Ecovillage Design Education, launched at Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland in October 2005.
Gaia Education is a charitable company limited by guarantee, established under Scottish law and based in Scotland, with an independent sister company in Brussels. We have employees in Scotland, and most of our team work with us remotely from around the world. We work virtually, through online meetings and email.
Our purpose is to encourage sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, through education and inspiration.
What our Board does
Our Board provides strategic direction and legal and financial oversight. Board Members are the Directors and Members of the company, and are also referred to as the Trustees. They:
- provide legal and financial oversight to promote the success of Gaia Education
- encourage and support the Co-Chief Executives and their staff
- exercise independent judgement and act with due care and diligence
- disclose any conflicts of interest
- ensure that proper records and accounts are kept
- attend quarterly Board meetings, held by video conference
- join committees and working groups if required
- attend our major events where practical
- introduce and communicate Gaia Education to other organisations and the public
There are currently five Board Members, drawn from around the world. A full complement is seven. Our current challenges are extending the choice in and reach of our educational offerings, updating our online delivery, and achieving financial independence after long-term support from the Gaia Trust. Good progress is being made by our Co-Chief Executives and their team.
Who we are looking for
There is no blueprint for the perfect Board Member. New Members will complement the current group and ideally bring fresh and different experience, expertise and perspective. You will have some of the following:
- an awareness of sustainable development
- experience of developing or delivering education
- experience of managing or guiding an organisation or projects
- a history of working collaboratively
- a willingness to share legal and financial responsibility for Gaia Education with the rest of the Board
- capacity to think strategically about an organisation
- the confidence and ability to question, challenge, encourage and motivate others constructively
We would also welcome experience in charity or company finance, in generating income beyond grants, or in online learning delivery.
We want a Board that is diverse across age, gender, ethnicity, experience and global background. We would particularly like to hear from younger candidates and from women in South America, Africa and Asia, to complement our current Members.
An awareness of Gaia Education is beneficial but not essential. Older people do not have a monopoly on wisdom, so do not assume you need to be older, or even old, to apply. We can provide training and induction to help you learn the role and make your best contribution.
What is involved
Four quarterly Board meetings by video conference, with papers to read beforehand, plus committee or working group time. Around eight to ten days a year. Meetings are scheduled to work across time zones.
The term is three years, renewable once by agreement, to a maximum of six.
The role is unpaid. We reimburse appropriate and reasonable expenses relating to the duties. Please do not rule yourself out on cost.
Board business is conducted in English.
If you are not quite ready to take up a role but may be in future, please still apply. An appointment can be deferred.
How to apply
The form asks for your background, what you see as the key challenges for Gaia Education, and anything else you would like the Board to know. It takes about twenty minutes. You can attach a CV but you do not have to.
If you need any adjustment to take part, tell us on the form and we will make it. If you would like a conversation before applying, email us using the addresses at the bottom of this page.