How we are governed

Our governing body is the Board of Trustees, which works with staff and committees. Our Trustees and committee members are all volunteers.

Governance

Our charitable objectives

BTO was established as a Registered Charity to 'promote, organise, carry on and encourage study and research – and especially fieldwork – for the advancement of knowledge in all branches of the science of ornithology. Additionally, we seek permanently to preserve and protect lands and objects which by their natural features are suitable for the preservation and stud of bird life, and of fauna and flora generally.'  

How we are governed

BTO is governed by a Board of Trustees, who work with our Senior Leadership Team and staff. The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for all matters relating to BTO. Because BTO is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, our Board members are Directors as well as Trustees.

The Board delegates tasks and matters of detail to other committees and to the Senior Leadership Team, leaving it time to deal with primarily strategic matters. The Board meets four times a year: in March, July, September and December. More details of our Board and its committees are available below.

We are also supported in this work by our Patron, President and Vice-Presidents.

BTO Board

Ultimately responsible for all matters relating to BTO, Board members are Directors as well as Trustees.

BTO Board

Finance & Risk Committee

Responsible for financial controls, planning and reporting, together with risk management.

F&R Committee

Regional Network Committee

Responsible for planning and supervising a long-term programme of volunteer surveys.

RN Committee

Governance, Safeguarding & Inclusion

Responsible for Board processes more broadly, development, succession planning and strategic resourcing.

GSI Committee

Ringing Committee

Responsible for the ringing operations of BTO The committee includes members elected by ringers.

Ringing Committee

Youth Advisory Panel

Responsible for ensuring that BTO is working with young people in an inclusive and engaging way.

Youth Advisory Panel

Accounts and annual reporting

Our work, together with the support that we receive to deliver our charitable objectives, is outlined in our Annual Report and Accounts. These are published alongside our Annual General Meeting, at which our Members can ask questions and vote on business matters.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the meeting of BTO Members at which the Board of Trustees present their annual report on the preceding year, and the Members elect new Trustees and appoint Auditors. It may also be used to make changes to BTO’s governing documents (the Memorandum and Articles of Association).

AGM 2025

We will update this page with the relevant information about the 2025 AGM in due course and in good time prior to the event. Please bookmark this page and return to check for updates and email agm@bto.org with any questions.

AGM 2024

Notice was given that the 85th Annual General Meeting of the British Trust for Ornithology would be held on Saturday 30 November 2024 at 2 p.m. by videoconference. 

  • This was a members-only event.
  • Attendees booked a place at the AGM via MyBTO. 

The following documents from the 2024 AGM (and Minutes from the 2023 AGM) are available to download:

Paper copies may be obtained by telephoning 01842 750050 or emailing agm@bto.org.

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