Applications close at midnight on Friday 6 March.
Help us develop our future strategy for the benefit of the region – WRE is seeking two new non-executive directors to join our board. Now is an exciting time to join as the government announces the way forward in response to Sir Jon Cunliffe’s Independent Water Commission including the potential for WRE to take a wider ‘regional system planning’ role on the water environment. The updated National Framework for Water Resources, published in June 2025, has already commissioned WRE to build on the success of the first five-year round of regional planning and develop an updated, more integrated and multi-sector Regional Water Resources Plan for Eastern England over the coming years.
Introduction
Water Resources East is the independent, not-for-profit membership organisation tasked by government to create a regional water resources plan for Eastern England. We were set up in 2014 as a collaboration between water companies and key representatives of other water-using sectors and environmental interests. Our Board structure and governance is deliberately multi-sector due to the strategic importance of water to the regional economy, including to agriculture and to the natural environment.
Vacancies for new non-executive directors
To increase diversity, sectoral representation and breadth of expertise across the region, WRE is inviting applications for two non-executive director roles:
- Principal Funding Member – Open to organisations able to contribute a minimum of £15,000 per annum towards WRE’s core operational costs. The organisation may nominate a representative to sit on WRE’s Board.
- Stakeholder Director – A nominated individual from a not-for-profit, charitable environmental or community organisation without the financial means to contribute toward WRE’s core costs, but who nevertheless would be able to bring important skills, knowledge or perspectives to the Board.
All Board members are registered with Companies House, so nominated representatives must be eligible to serve as a director of a UK company. Applicants do not need to be directors of their current organisations, nor do they require prior experience as a company director. We strongly encourage applications from individuals in under-represented groups.
These are unpaid positions, although some expenses may be reclaimed. You can read about our current Board members here.
Benefits and duties
As a non-executive director of WRE, you will play a key role with other Board members in developing the vision, strategy and business plan for the organisation. This includes making key decisions on priorities and funding, senior appointments, and approving key documents for publication. Specifically you would responsible for:
• Setting of the overall strategy and vision for Water Resources East.
• Appointment of the Independent Chairman and the Managing Director.
• Remuneration policy for the Chairman, Managing Director and Technical Director.
• Review of progress against WRE’s Business Plan for 2024 – 2028.
• Review and approval of the annual operational budget.
• Formal approval of the Regional Water Resources Plan for Eastern England.
• Appointment of new Principal Funding Members and Standard Members1.
The board meets quarterly via Microsoft Teams for 2-3 hours plus at least one full day meeting in person each year to discuss future strategy. In addition, you may also be asked to join sub-committees and specific working groups relevant to your skills and background (for example our Audit & Risk Committee). Board directors are also invited to attend quarterly Strategic Advisory Group meetings with our wider membership, and our Annual General Meeting (all held via Microsoft Teams). All Principal Funding Directors are entitled to nominate a deputy to attend meetings if they are unavailable.
All Stakeholder and Principal Funding Directors are entitled to a single vote on key matters, irrespective of their organisations’ financial or other contribution.
How to apply
Please write a letter to WRE’s Independent Chair, Dr Paul Leinster CBE, via contact@wre.org.uk to set out your interest in the role and the skills and experience you would bring. Letters should be on your organisation’s headed notepaper, and run to no more than two sides. You may also attach a personal profile or CV to provide additional background.
Whilst we are open to considering applications from any organisation with an interest in improved water and environmental management in Eastern England, we anticipate the vacancies being of most interest to nominated individuals from regional and local government, growth partnerships, infrastructure developers, academic and research institutions, land agents, abstractor groups, catchment and nature partnerships, environmental NGOs, community groups, water companies including water retailers, food and drink manufacturers and retailers, and trade associations and other membership organisations in the agriculture, energy, food and drink, leisure, and manufacturing industries.
There is no minimum or essential set of skills and experience we expect candidates to have. Of most importance is your support for WRE’s vision and goals backed by a personal commitment to inclusive leadership, equality and diversity. However, any of the following skills and experience would be of particular interest:
• Media and communications.
• Legal, governance and contractual risk management.
• Financial management and accounting.
• Nature markets and green finance.
All applicants should confirm in their letters:
• That their application has the full support of their organisation including to the commitment of time described above.
• They are eligible to serve as a non-executive director of a UK company.
• They anticipate no material conflicts of interest. Letters should note any other roles including existing directorships that may be relevant.
• For the Principal Funding Member post, a financial commitment from their organisation of at least £15,000 per year to support WRE’s core operational costs for an initial period of three years. Future years’ contributions are agreed by the Board each summer for the following financial year. Contributions in kind may be considered if they directly reduce WRE’s core costs by at least £15,000.
Sifting and appointment process
A sub-group of Board members will oversee the process of short-listing candidates and making recommendations to the Board. Short-listed candidates may be invited to a short interview over Microsoft Teams before final decisions are made.
We hope to conclude the process in time to appoint new directors this summer.
If you are thinking of applying and would like an informal discussion about the role with either WRE’s Independent Chair or WRE’s Managing Director, please get in touch via contact@wre.org.uk.
1 Becoming a Standard Member of WRE is free, with members invited to attend our Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) meetings and Annual General Meeting. WRE has more than 200 Standard Members drawn from local councils, environmental organisations, individual businesses, abstractor groups, water retailers, catchment partnerships and trade associations. See our full list of our Standard Members.