The Board of Directors meet at least four times a year. The Board is responsible for setting strategy, direction and governance of our work. As is required of all limited companies, Arthritis Ireland files its accounts on time every year with the Companies Registrations Office and the charity’s sector of the Revenue Commissioners. The company is managed by a full-time executive staff, led by a chief executive, who reports directly to the board.

Under our memorandum and articles of association, the Board of Arthritis Ireland is represented by the constituent elements of society that are best positioned to help achieve the organisation’s goals. It is a voluntary board. Each Director serves a three year term and is entitled to serve a second term of three years.

The three elements of the board are;

• Elected Directors: There are four board places set aside for members of Arthritis Ireland who are nominated by any branch committee and elected by the members. They are generally, but not necessarily, people living with arthritis and offer a unique insight into the challenges, issues and opportunities of living with the disease.
• Society Directors: As we are a medical charity, it is important that we have the insight and direction into scientific matters and research affecting arthritis. To this end, there are four board places set aside for our partners, The Irish Society for Rheumatology (3) and The Irish Rheumatology Health Professionals Society (1).
• Co-Opted Directors: As with every board, there is a requirement for specialist skills and input from experienced members of society who have a passion and desire to help us achieve our goals. These specialist areas could be finance, government affairs or marketing, to name but a few. Arthritis Ireland has set aside seven board places for people with such skills.

The board is chaired by a Chairman, assisted by a Co-Chair, Hon Secretary, Hon Treasurer and Hon Medical Advisor.