Chairperson

Based at the Castle Leslie Estate in County Monaghan, The Leslie Foundation was established in 2015. Its mission is to promote regenerative land use, environmental restoration, and sustainable community development by using the approximately 1,000-acre Castle Leslie Estate as a living laboratory for testing and demonstrating innovative solutions.

The foundation’s purpose is “to rebalance our relationship with our land and collectively restore our future”. It focuses on creating practical models that integrate nature, people, heritage, culture and local economic activity.

The foundation aims to:

·       Develop and test nature-based solutions to environmental challenges

·       Promote regenerative agriculture and improved soil health

·       Support biodiversity

·       Create collaborative projects

Key Areas of Work

1. Regenerative Land Use and Agriculture

This includes:

• Improving soil health
• Enhancing biodiversity
• Developing sustainable food-production systems
• Exploring landscape-scale regeneration models where ecological, agricultural, and economic activities coexist sustainably.

2. Environmental Innovation and Education

The Green Portal project promotes exploration of future environmental and societal challenges, encouraging collaboration, learning, and action around climate, nature, and sustainability issues.

3. Heritage Preservation and Adaptive Reuse

The Foundation seeks to use the estate's historic buildings and heritage assets as part of its sustainability mission, combining conservation of heritage with new community and environmental purposes.

4. Community Wellbeing and Equine Therapy

The Foundation has proposed an All-Ireland Centre of Excellence for Equine Assisted Therapy and Movement Therapy, bringing together health, wellbeing, and nature-based therapeutic approaches.

5. Community Benefit and Regional Development

The Foundation aims to manage the lands and built heritage of the Leslie Estate for community benefit, supporting projects that contribute to rural development, environmental sustainability, heritage, and education.

The Role

The Leslie Foundation is seeking a Chairperson to lead the Board of Trustees. This crucial role encompasses guiding the Board in overseeing the organisation’s strategic direction, governance, and overall performance.

The Chairperson will be responsible for ensuring the Board operates effectively and that the executive team is held accountable for achieving the foundation’s strategic objectives.

The ideal candidate will be a strong facilitator, decisive, empathetic, and accountable leader, with the expertise to steer the organisation effectively. The Leslie Foundation encourages applications from individuals with extensive experience in leadership and governance.

They will be strong relationship builders with multiple stakeholders.

·       Act as Chairperson for the meetings they attend.

·       Ensure the charity is managed effectively.

·       Promote a culture of openness and debate by facilitating the effective contribution of key management and all Board members.

·       Promote good governance.

·       Ensuring that the Board receives accurate, timely and clear information.

·       The Chairperson should ensure effective communication with all relevant stakeholders.

·       Act as a figurehead or spokesperson where required e.g. to meet funders.

·       Provide supervision and support to the executive team.

General duties of a Trustee

·       Comply with the Charity’s governing document.

·       Ensure the charity complies with its charitable purpose for the public benefit.

·       Acting in the best interest of the charity.

·       Act with reasonable care and skill.

·       Manage the assets of your charity.

The Person

·       The Candidate will have considerable leadership capabilities and previous experience of serving as a chair of a Board is desirable.

·       They must demonstrate the ability to oversee strategic plans and understand the importance of the mission of the organisation.

·       Candidates should have an understanding of collaborative cross-border initiatives and networks.

·       Governance and compliance expertise.

Time Commitment

There are six board meetings a year which are a mixture of hybrid and in-person. There may be additional subcommittees, occasional events and a half day workshop each year.